Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic presidential candidate who has recently identified as an independent, announced at a Donald Trump rally in North Carolina on Tuesday that she is officially joining the Republican Party.
“I’m joining the party of the people, the party of equality, the party that was founded to fight against and end slavery in this country. It is the party of common sense, and the party that is led by a President who has the courage and strength to fight for peace,” Gabbard stated. She expressed her disappointment with the current Democratic Party, saying, “Today’s Democrat Party is completely unrecognizable… Kamala Harris is anti-freedom, pro-censorship, pro-open borders, and pro-war without even pretending to care about peace.”
At 43 years old, Gabbard’s shift to the Republican Party does not surprise those familiar with her political journey, especially her criticism of Democrats and her support for Trump. Her party switch comes after notable Republicans, including former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz Cheney, endorsed Harris in the upcoming 2024 election, which Gabbard argues showcases the Democratic Party as a group of “warmongers.”
Gabbard began her political career in 2002 as the youngest person elected to the Hawaii state legislature, representing District 42 as a Democrat. She served in the Army National Guard from 2004 and later won a seat on the Honolulu City Council in 2010 after returning from military deployments.
In 2011, she entered the Democratic primary for Hawaii’s second congressional seat, ultimately winning against five other candidates. Gabbard gained recognition for her vocal opposition to foreign wars and her evolving stance on same-sex marriage. She quickly rose through the Democratic ranks, becoming the first Hindu and first American Samoan elected to Congress in 2012.
Known for her populist economic views and a mix of pro-veteran yet anti-interventionist politics, Gabbard often found herself at odds with party leadership, famously resigning from her DNC vice-chair position in 2016 to endorse Bernie Sanders. She later met positively with Trump after his election win, sparking rumors of a Cabinet position.
Gabbard’s presidential campaign in 2019 ended in March 2020 after failing to gain significant traction. Following her departure from Congress in 2021, she became a prominent critic of the Democratic Party, making frequent appearances on conservative media and endorsing various Republican candidates.
In October 2022, she officially left the Democratic Party, branding it as an elitist “cabal of warmongers” influenced by “cowardly wokeness.” She supported several GOP candidates in the 2022 midterms, including Trump ally J.D. Vance.
Speculation around her potential role as Trump’s running mate intensified earlier this year. After formally endorsing him in August, Gabbard was invited to co-lead his transition team if he is elected in November. When Gabbard announced her new affiliation during the rally, Trump expressed his surprise and called it a “great honor.”