Chris Kluwe

Chris is a former NFL player, coach, writer, and strong advocate who is passionate about standing up for people who are being left behind. He’s no politician.  

Growing up in Seal Beach, Chris attended Los Alamitos High School and excelled as both a student and an athlete. The oldest of three siblings, he grew up in a middle-class household where his dad worked as a chemical engineer and his mom as an anesthesiologist, instilling in him the importance of hard work and education. 

After graduating with honors, he earned a full athletic scholarship to UCLA, where he became one of the top punters in the country while completing a double major in political science and history. His work ethic and determination helped him earn a position in the NFL, where he played eight seasons for the Minnesota Vikings and set nearly every punting record in the franchise’s history.

Though Chris’s career on the field made him a household name, it’s his courage and passion to stand up for people that sets him apart. He became one of the first active NFL players to publicly champion marriage equality, authoring a widely shared open letter and later contributing to a Supreme Court amicus brief challenging California’s Proposition 8. After retiring from football, Chris continued his advocacy as a local football coach, writer, and speaker, publishing essays, op-eds, and books that highlight the importance of empathy, fairness, and standing up for what’s right. 

Chris has not shied away from standing up for his community here in Orange County. Earlier this year, he was arrested at a Huntington Beach City Council meeting for peacefully protesting the council’s extreme and divisive efforts to politicize the city’s library, underscoring the need for leaders who will work tirelessly to defend the rights of all, protect democratic values, and focus on the issues that matter to working families.

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