Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic presidential candidate who recently became an independent, revealed her decision to join the Republican Party at a Donald Trump rally in North Carolina on Tuesday.
“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 criticized the current Democratic Party, stating, “You know, I was a Democrat for over 20 years. Today’s Democrat Party is completely unrecognizable.” She specifically called out Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing her of being “anti-freedom” and “pro-censorship,” and wrote off the Democratic Party as filled with “warmongers.”
Gabbard’s move to the GOP aligns with her long-standing criticism of the Democratic Party, particularly in recent years, and her support for Trump. Her announcement follows endorsements of Harris from prominent Republicans like former Vice President Dick Cheney and his daughter, former House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney, which Gabbard highlighted as a troubling indication of the party’s direction.
Gabbard, raised in a family of educators and small business owners active in local politics, began her political career in 2002 when she was elected to the Hawaii state legislature as the youngest member ever. She later served in the Army National Guard and returned to politics to win a seat on the Honolulu City Council in 2010.
In 2011, Gabbard ran for Congress and gained recognition by defeating five opponents in the Democratic primary, leveraging her strong opposition to foreign wars and a shift in her stance on same-sex marriage. Her rise was rapid; she became the first Hindu and first American Samoan elected to Congress in 2012 and was subsequently elected as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in 2013.
However, Gabbard diverged from the party line with her anti-interventionist views and public criticism of President Obama’s foreign policy. She resigned from her DNC post in 2016 to support Bernie Sanders and later became known for her engagement in the Democratic debates, particularly in challenging Harris’ prosecutorial history.
After Trump’s 2016 victory, Gabbard reportedly had a positive meeting with him, yet she launched her own presidential campaign in 2019 and chose not to seek re-election to Congress. Her campaign faced challenges, and she ultimately endorsed Joe Biden in 2020 but was not invited to speak at that year’s Democratic convention.
Post-congress, Gabbard emerged as a vocal critic of the Democratic Party, often appearing on Fox News and endorsing Republican candidates. She officially left the Democratic Party in October 2022, characterizing it as controlled by an “elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness.” Gabbard has backed various GOP candidates in subsequent elections and earlier this year hinted at taking a role in Trump’s administration if he were to be elected.
As Gabbard announced her affiliation with the GOP on Tuesday, Trump acknowledged her decision, calling it a “great honor” and expressing surprise.