Endorsement: Chris Kluwe for Assembly District 72!

On Thursday, December 11, the Proudly Unchartered Anaheim Democrats hosted California Assembly District 72 candidate Chris Kluwe in the cozy environs of The Untold Story Bookstore. Chris stands out as a strong candidate with integrity, foresight, and bravery, challenging both the Republicans, who have held that seat since 1992, and the Democrats in Sacramento, who are sometimes overly complacent.

He is the ideal candidate for this moment. While increasing the number of Democrats in Sacramento is not essential per se, we do need more progressive Democrats—particularly those as courageous as Kluwe.

An Overview of AD 72

The district’s political demographics indicate that conditions are not as difficult for Democratic candidates as recent election outcomes may imply. Registered Republicans constitute 36% of voters, Democrats account for 35%, and approximately 25% are registered with No Party Preference. Diane Dixon, the incumbent, has served two terms and won both elections by large margins. However, Dixon is relinquishing her seat to run for the OC Board of Supervisors position currently held by Katrina Foley.

The three Republicans who have stepped up to take Dixon’s seat will surely focus on their contempt for immigrants, trans kids, and public schools.

• Gracey Van Der Mark is giving up her Huntington Beach City Council seat to run, and despite a lifetime of controversies, has the backing of the County GOP. Former assemblyman & HB Councilman
• Matt Harper is a somewhat moderate GOP candidate by today’s standards who will have to navigate the culture wars that will certainly emerge at the center of this campaign.
• The third Republican candidate, Nick Taurus, is even more MAGA than Van Der Mark, a self-proclaimed White Supremacist with a history of political violence.

Their infighting in the months leading up to the June primary will be divisive, hate-filled, and appalling. Let the stupid spree begin!

In comparison, Kluwe stands as the sole Democratic candidate and has secured endorsements from prominent Democrats inside and outside AD 72. His primary task now is to reach as many voters in the district as possible before November. This means visiting the homes and neighborhoods of Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Woods, and Lake Forest. Let the conversations begin!

From the NFL to Politics

Kluwe, a punter for the Minnesota Vikings for eight years, was also known for his activism, particularly supporting gay rights before the Obergefell decision. Before turning to his activism while playing in the NFL, it is worth identifying a few highlights of the career of this gifted and dedicated athlete. Further details on this can be found on his Wikipedia page.

To understand the risks Kluwe took by standing up for his beliefs, it’s essential to recognize his achievements as an athlete. Before UCLA, where he started as the Bruins’ punter during his junior and senior years, Kluwe had an impressive run at Los Alamitos High School, excelling as both a kicker and a punter. He set an enduring Orange County and CIF Southern Section playoff record with a 60-yard field goal against Loyola. Renowned for his punting abilities, Kluwe averaged nearly 47 yards per punt in high school, with ten kicks exceeding 60 yards. He went on to establish several punting records at UCLA and later with the Minnesota Vikings, where many consider him among the greatest punters in team history, rivaling Greg Coleman.

Kluwe showed his commitment to his principles by supporting the induction of acclaimed Oakland Raiders punter Ray Guy into the Hall of Fame. In 2012, Kluwe received a $5,250 fine for placing a “Vote Ray Guy” post it note over the NFL Hall of Fame patch on his uniform. While the fine was insignificant by NFL terms, Guy was inducted in 2014 as the first and only punter to have that honor. Kluwe’s actions played a significant role in Guy’s receiving this distinguished recognition as an exceptional special teams athlete.

He also did not back down from calling out the biggest names in the game. In 2011, amid the NFL lockout, Kluwe criticized Payton Manning, Drew Brees, Vincent Jackson, and Logan Mankins for seeking special compensation that delayed a settlement for all the other players in the league. Kluwe criticized them as “douchebags” because they ignored the needs of the league’s other players.

Kluwe’s stance on gay rights sparked controversy and likely contributed to his early departure from the NFL. In 2012, Kluwe teamed up with Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo in support of gay marriage and in specific opposition to the homophobic California Proposition 8. This stance led to his being named the Grand Marshall of the 41st Annual Twin Cities Pride festival in Minneapolis.

In 2014, Kluwe said his support for gay rights influenced the Vikings’ decision to release him, a claim the team has strongly denied. When Kluwe asserted that the Vikings special teams coach had made homophobic remarks and that the head coach told him to stop making public statements on the topic of gay rights, the team arranged an investigation by the Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court and a former Department of Justice attorney. The investigation lasted for several months and resulted in the Vikings making an undisclosed contribution to organizations serving LGBTQIA causes. This seems to suggest that the Vikings implicitly acknowledged their misconduct and their violation of Kluwe’s free speech rights.

Highlighting concerns about employers restricting employees’ free speech rights as private citizens is a central theme that underscores Kluwe’s shift from activist to candidate. On July 28, 2025, Kluwe filed a federal lawsuit against several Huntington Beach Unified School District employees, the Board of Trustees President, and Chris Epting, a local conservative activist [whom this blog has covered plenty in the past.] He claimed he was wrongfully fired for exercising free speech and accused them of defamation in response to comments he made at the Huntington Beach City Council and later posts on social media. Since he was an assistant coach at Edison High School and worked as an at-will employee without protection under the collective bargaining agreements for local classified or certificated associations, his job within the district did not offer security. The district could dismiss him for any reason, provided it did not violate his right to free expression.

The district and the local Epting almost certainly regret taking on the quixotic Kluwe. Both have already had to retract and revise public statements they made in the aftermath of the incident that had occurred at the February 18 HB City Council meeting. A wise lawyer once remarked that filing lawsuits is like gambling—if your motivation is money, you’re approaching it for the wrong reason. At this point in his life and as a retiree on an NFL pension, Kluwe does nothing for the money. That is what make him so compelling as a political candidate and so dangerous as a plaintiff.

The HB City Council meeting held on February 18 marked a significant shift in local politics and foreshadowed events that occurred in November. Every council member is a fully dedicated Trump supporter who in the wake of Trump’s reelection felt emboldened to brand public institutions with concepts related to the Dear Leader. At the meeting, the Council unanimously voted to mark HB Public Library’s 50th anniversary with a plaque featuring the vertical acrostic: Magical Alluring Galvanizing Adventurous (MAGA). Kluwe used his one-minute public comment at the council meeting to criticize the politicization of public institutions and highlight similarities between MAGA ideology and fascism. He then began a non-violent protest by refusing to leave the podium and was arrested for disturbing the assembly. This set off an array of events that has focused media attention on the HB City Council, particularly Gracey Van Der Mark, the HBUSD, and the HB Public Library. The February 18 incident marks both Kluwe’s reluctant start in electoral politics and the possible decline of MAGA influence in HB politics.

MAGA extremism, Proposition 50, and two ballot measures related to the HB Library dominated recent local politics in November, and the results of the election were not good news for the GOP favorite Gracey Van Der Mark. Proposition 50 won in AD 72 by ten points. By a more than 16-point margin, HB voters rejected the City Council’s Guardian Review Board that was specifically created to deny people access to literature that engaged questions of sexual behavior and gender identity in realistic and mature terms. By an even greater margin, voters rejected Van Der Mark’s efforts to privatize and outsource the library’s operations. HB voters said “No” to Van Der Mark and “Yes” to public libraries free from the totalitarian aspirations of Christian Nationalism. Though it’s difficult to measure Kluwe’s exact contribution, his courage likely had an impact on getting Measures A and B passed in HB.

Huntington Beach, like the rest of the country, has become disgusted by MAGA, its economic grifts, and its protection scheme for pedophiles. Huntington Beach, and the rest of AD 72, is ready for new leadership.

Kluwe to Shake Up California Democrats.

Kluwe, if victorious, won’t simply increase the current Democratic supermajority in the Assembly; he intends to contribute a forward-thinking perspective. His key issues as identified on his webpage are affordable housing, public education, climate action, LGBTQ+ and civil rights, and A.I. Regulation. At the Proudly Unchartered Anaheim Democrat Club meeting on December 11, he also discussed matters concerning police accountability, healthcare, and the situation in Gaza. His position on these problems is likely to present a challenge for those Democrats who have tended to prioritize lobbyist interests over principled policies.

Affordable Housing

Kluwe highlights on his website that rezoning, providing public funding for homebuilding, and merging regulatory agencies are key strategies to accelerate new construction. At the Anaheim meeting, he also expressed his support for robust rent control policies and advocated repealing Costa Hawkins—a 1995 law that limited local communities’ power over rent control and vacancies, ultimately benefiting landlords.

Public Education

Kluwe strongly supports public education, considering it essential to democracy. He is keenly aware of how Christian Nationalist forces are attempting to draw taxpayer money into unaccountable charter schools that promote religious indoctrination under the guise of classical education. He is also aware of how this is a particular problem in Orange County. While the state of California cannot solve Orange County’s problems, it can make it more difficult for the charter school and homeschool rackets to operate here.

Too many state Democrats have been seduced by the slogan of “school choice” and the campaign donations that come with it. Education is a central priority, as approximately 40% of the state budget is allocated to public schools, with an additional 10% dedicated to our distinguished universities.

Climate Action

Trump’s proposal to reopen new gas and oil drilling off the California coast will not likely benefit the MAGA extremists running against Kluwe in AD 72. None of the Republican candidates have distanced themselves from Trump on this or anything, and protection of the coast has long been an effective issue for Democrats in this area, when they do win.

LGBTQ+ and Civil Rights

Kluwe will certainly be among the strongest voices in the state legislature for the rights of minorities, immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ+ community. There is broad agreement within the Democratic Party regarding the rights of minorities, immigrants, and women; however, Kluwe may advocate for more progressive positions on topics such as transgender rights. Kluwe: “We can’t argue about someone’s right to exist.” Republicans, however, do. The problem is that too many Democrats are willing to cede this territory to Republicans. Transgender rights advocates often face claims, even from liberals, that their efforts will fail and should be redirected to other, supposedly more pressing issues. While many Democrats who should know better will compromise on this, Kluwe will not.

A.I. Regulation

Kluwe understands A.I.’s risks and benefits. He believes that without strict regulations, it could endanger privacy, autonomy, and trigger an investment bubble that threatens livelihoods.

Healthcare

Single payer: YES!

Police Accountability

The Anaheim club gathered under the somber circumstances following the police shooting of 19-year-old Albert Arzola. Kluwe highlighted that militarizing police with advanced equipment reduces community engagement. The Arzola case illustrates this issue, which could be mitigated by revising qualified immunity laws and the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights at the state level. While policing is dangerous, better gun control could address many risks. Most importantly, better coordination of police operations with local institutions like schools, businesses, and places of worship would strengthen community ties.

GAZA

Kluwe is unequivocal in his assessment of the current situation in Gaza: it is a genocide attributable to actions of the state of Israel taken at the direction of its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. While this is not normally a matter that is central to the concerns of a state assembly representative, the recent signing into law of AB 715 has made it one. This law seeks to protect Jewish students from the very real rise in antisemitism that has occurred in the United States. The question is whether this law is so vague that it might cause a teacher who identified the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza to be reprimanded or lose their job? In other words, does this law make the actions of the nation-state of Israel above reproach in our public discourse? It would be ironic if Jewish teachers could be dismissed for criticizing Netanyahu.

Maybe Kluwe should frame this issue in the broader context of the Holocaust. The yellow stars of the death camps should never be considered separately from the pink triangles that were also present there. Transphobia and antisemitism are inseparable elements of the fascist agenda. There are far too many teachers, parents, administrators, and school board members who deny the very existence of transgender youth.

The point is that we cannot legislate away ignorance and bigotry. That is why accountable public schools are so vital.

What You Can Do

Chris Kluwe is an approachable and dynamic candidate. He is a great listener and a good storyteller. If you are a resident in or around the communities of Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Woods, and Lake Forest you can act now by donating or inviting Chris over to meet with your friends. Reserve a picnic area with tables and a nearby field. Schedule a taco truck and invite lots of kids. Start with a short punting seminar—kicks with five seconds of “hang time” will impress the youngsters. Afterward, spend the rest of the session talking with Chris. He not only has a “good hang time,” but he is also a good-time hang!