Former NFL punter and California Assembly District 72 candidate Chris Kluwe has expressed support for higher taxes on wealthy Californians, including millionaires, as the state debates a controversial billionaire wealth tax proposal that has divided Democrats and drawn opposition from Gov. Gavin Newsom.
During a Laguna Woods Democratic Club event, Kluwe was asked whether he supported a millionaire tax and delivered an unequivocal response.
“Hell yeah,” Kluwe said. “I am absolutely in favor of the millionaire tax.”
The former Minnesota Vikings punter acknowledged his own wealth, saying he earned approximately $4.5 million during his NFL career and invested the money. He maintained that wealthy Californians, including himself, should contribute more.
“I’m willing to pay more taxes as a millionaire. I think we should all be paying more taxes as millionaires,” Kluwe said.
Kluwe also advocated higher taxes on wealthy individuals in an August 2025 Bluesky exchange, where he discussed California’s agricultural industry and economic inequality.
“By taxing the shit out of the almond mafia so they stop using up all the water, as well as generally stronger limitations on large corporations/billionaires as a whole. The wealth inequality gap is at the heart of almost all of our current problems, and we need to start busting the robber barons,” Kluwe said.
The debate comes as California considers Proposition 40, which would impose a one-time 5% tax on billionaires’ wealth, with most proceeds designated for health care.
The California Secretary of State’s fiscal analysis estimates the proposal would temporarily generate tens of billions of dollars, although it could also reduce annual income tax revenue by less than $1 billion.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has opposed the proposal over concerns about its economic consequences, while supporters, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), maintain that California’s wealthiest residents should contribute more toward public services.
