Former NFL punter Chris Kluwe — an outspoken Democrat who has in contrast the MAGA agenda to Nazism — will not be fairly the underdog some would have anticipated whereas working for a state Meeting seat out of deep-red Huntington Seaside.
Kluwe was arrested in February 2025 throughout a Metropolis Council assembly for protesting the set up of a MAGA plaque at a public library, however he seems to be seeing a surge in assist for Orange County’s Meeting seat — not simply due to his opposition to President Trump, but in addition his candid criticism of profession politicians on the left.
“I’m working as a Democrat, however I’ve my points with the Democratic Celebration,” Kluwe instructed The Put up in an unique interview.
“If what we had been doing was working, then we wouldn’t be on this place.”
Kluwe, a former Minnesota Vikings punter who accused the staff of releasing him in 2013 for his assist for homosexual marriage, graded Gov. Gavin Newsom’s time in workplace as a C+ to B-, saying the governor has constantly kowtowed to large tech.
“He’s pushed for lots of excellent issues for individuals, however on the identical time, it’s very clear he’s additionally been beholden to highly effective company pursuits. He’s backed down on points, notably synthetic intelligence points … as a result of he’s making a presidential run and he desires Silicon Valley’s cash.”
Kluwe has raised greater than $351,000 general, outpacing Republican Huntington Seaside Councilwoman Gracey Van Der Mark’s of $279,000 and former Republican Assemblyman Matthew Harper’s $217,555, in response to marketing campaign information.
Kluwe is betting he can survive the top-two main as a result of the Republican vote may break up between Van Harper and Van Der Mark, the latter of whom scored the state GOP endorsement regardless of previous associations with the Proud Boys and posting a Youtube playlist titled “Holocaust hoax?”
“I’m absolutely cognizant of the registration numbers of the district, and it does lean Republican by like seven or eight factors by registration,” Kluwe mentioned. “However the factor is, I grew up on this district.
“The overwhelming majority of people that reside right here, notably on this district, actually simply need their authorities to work and to depart them alone. They don’t need tradition conflict nonsense.”
Harper, who has received 9 elections and served on nearly each degree of native authorities earlier than two phrases within the Meeting, predicted he’ll possible be shut out of the runoff — and he known as it a significant danger for Republicans across the state.
“My opponent [Van Der Mark] represents a significant menace to the Republican Celebration if superior to the final election,” Harper mentioned.
“Democrats will use her as an albatross across the necks of different Republican candidates.”
Kluwe’s marketing campaign has main institutional backing from the state Democratic Celebration, and California Labor Federation and SEIU California, in addition to elected officers like state Lawyer Basic Rob Bonta and Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia.
After being fired from a highschool soccer teaching job after his arrest in February 2025, Kluwe mentioned he has no real interest in working past the utmost 12 years allowed within the Legislature.
“You shouldn’t be taking a look at this as a job you’re retaining in your life,” he mentioned.
“You’re right here to attempt to clear up issues, and you then return to doing no matter it was you had been doing earlier than. That’s clear within the imaginative and prescient that the founders had for our nation. It was by no means meant to be a everlasting political class job.”
Matthew Klink, a conservative political strategist in Southern California, mentioned Kluwe could have an opportunity regardless of President Trump carrying the area by 2.6 factors in 2020 and a pair of.7 factors in 2024.
“The truth that he’s the one Democrat within the race nearly ensures that he’ll be within the runoff, after which the query is can the opposite candidate consolidate Republican assist,” Klink mentioned.
He added that Kluwe’s “progressive populist” message is “a wise play on his half.”
“The demographics of Orange County have modified,” Klink mentioned. “Hungtington Seaside is a conservative bastion, however different elements of the district are quite a bit like downtown Los Angeles.”
