Wikipedia

Tulsi Gabbard

United States Representative from Hawaii from 2013 to 2021

Tulsi Gabbard (born April 12, 1981) is an American politician and a veteran serving as Lieutenant colonel with the US Army Reserve since 2021.[2] She was a United States House of Representatives from Hawaii from 2013 to 2021. Gabbard worked with Hawaii Army National Guard for 17 years from 2003 till 2020 before transferring to US Army Reserve. While in US Congress, she was a member of the Democratic Party. After leaving Congress, she left the party to become an Independent.[3] She was the first American Samoan[4] and the first Hindu member of the United States Congress.[5] Along with Tammy Duckworth, she was also one of its first female combat veterans.[6]

Tulsi Gabbard
Gabbard speaking at an event in Detroit, Michigan
Gabbard in 2024
Director of National Intelligence
Nominee
Assuming office
TBD
PresidentDonald Trump
SucceedingAvril Haines
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Hawaii's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2021
Preceded byMazie Hirono
Succeeded byKai Kahele
Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee
In office
January 22, 2013 – February 27, 2016
ChairDebbie Wasserman Schultz
Preceded byMike Honda
Succeeded byGrace Meng
Member of the Honolulu City Council
from the 6th district
In office
January 2, 2011 – August 16, 2012
Preceded byRod Tam
Succeeded byCarol Fukunaga
Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives
from the 42nd district
In office
November 5, 2002 – November 2, 2004
Preceded byMark Moses
Succeeded byRida Cabanilla
Personal details
Born
Tulsi Gabbard

(1981-04-12) April 12, 1981 (age 43)
Leloaloa, American Samoa
Other namesTulsi Gabbard Tamayo[1]
Political partyRepublican (2024–present)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic (1999–2022)
Independent (2022–2024)
Spouse(s)
Eduardo Tamayo
​
​
(m. 2002; div. 2006)​
Abraham Williams
​
(m. 2015)​
FatherMike Gabbard
RelativesCaroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard (aunt)
EducationHawaii Pacific University (BS)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service2003–present
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
UnitUnited States Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command
United States Army Reserve
Battles/warsIraq War
Awards
Gabbard's voice
Gabbard speaks in support of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide
Recorded October 31, 2019

Earlier, Gabbard joined the Hawaii Army National Guard in 2003 and was deployed in Iraq from 2004 to 2005, where she served in a medical unit.[7] In 2007, Gabbard completed the Officer training program at the Alabama Military Academy as a distinguished honor graduate.[8] She was stationed in Kuwait from 2008 to 2009 as an Army Military Police platoon leader.[9][10] In 2015 Gabbard became a Major with the Hawaii Army National Guard.[11] In 2020, she transferred to US Army Reserve and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant colonel in 2021.[8]

In January 2019, Gabbard announced her plans to run for President of the United States in the 2020 presidential election. On October 25, 2019, Gabbard announced that she would not seek another term in Congress.[12] She dropped out from the primaries on March 19, 2020 and announced her support for Joe Biden.

After leaving the U.S. House in 2021, she became more conservative on social issues such as abortion and transgender rights and even spoke at the 2022 CPAC.[13][14][15] Gabbard joined the Republican Party in October 2024.[16] A month later, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Gabbard to serve as the Director of National Intelligence during his second administration.

Early life

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Gabbard was born on April 12, 1981, in Leloaloa, American Samoa,[17] the fourth of five children.[18] Her father, Mike Gabbard, is of American Samoan descent. She graduated from Hawaii Pacific University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 2009.[19][20]

Hawaii House of Representatives (2002–2004)

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In 2002, Gabbard ran to represent the 42nd House District of the Hawaii House of Representatives. She won the four-candidate Democratic primary with a plurality of 48% of the vote over Rida Cabanilla (30%), Dolfo Ramos (18%), and Gerald Vidal (4%).[21] Gabbard then defeated Republican Alfonso Jimenez in the general election, 65%–35%.[22] In 2002, at the age of 21, Gabbard had become the youngest legislator ever elected in Hawaii's history and the youngest woman ever elected to a U.S. state legislature.[23][24] She represented the Oahu 42nd District, which covers Waipahu, Honolulu, and Ewa Beach.

Gabbard strongly supported legislation to promote clean energy.[25] Regarding the environment, Gabbard supported legislation to better protect air quality and the water supply.

Honolulu City Council (2011–2012)

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After returning home from her second deployment to the Middle East in 2009, Gabbard ran for a seat on the Honolulu City Council.[26] Gabbard finished first with 33% of the vote in the primary.[27] In the November 2 runoff election, she defeated Sesnita Moepono, 58%–42%, to win the seat.[28] Gabbard introduced a measure to help food truck vendors by loosening parking restrictions.[29] She also introduced Bill 54, a measure that authorized city workers to confiscate personal belongings stored on public property with 24 hours' notice to its owner.[30]

United States House of Representatives (2013–present)

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In early 2011, Mazie Hirono, the incumbent Congresswoman in Hawaii's second congressional district, announced that she would run for a U.S. Senate seat. Soon after that, in May 2011, Gabbard announced her candidacy for the House seat.[31] Gabbard won with 62,882 votes or 55% of the total. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser described her win as an "improbable rise from a distant underdog to victory."[32] Gabbard resigned from the City Council on August 16 to prevent the cost of holding a special election.[33]

Gabbard traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina and spoke at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.[34]

In December 2012, Gabbard was highly thought to be the frontrunner replaced for the U.S. Senator from Hawaii after Daniel Inouye died.[35]

Gabbard was reelected on November 8, 2016, defeating her Republican opponent, Angela Kaaihue, by about 130,000 votes, or 170,848 to 39,668 votes (81.2%–18.8%).[36] Gabbard was overwhelmingly reelected in 2018.[37] She defeated her Republican opponent, Brian Evans, by around 110,000 votes, or 153,271 to 44,850 votes (77.4%–22.6%).

Gabbard is the first Samoan American member of the United States Congress[38] and the first Hindu member of the United States Congress.[39][40]

In October 2019, Gabbard announced her retirement from congress.

Democratic National Committee

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Gabbard, a vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee, was critical of the decision by DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to hold only six debates during the 2016 Democratic Party primary season, compared with 26 in 2008 and 15 in 2004.[41][42]

Gabbard resigned as DNC vice-chair on February 28, 2016, in order to endorse Senator Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential nomination.[43][44] She was the first female U.S. Representative to endorse Sanders.[45] At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Gabbard gave the nominating speech putting his name forward.[46]

2020 presidential campaign

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See the main article: Tulsi Gabbard 2020 presidential campaign

On October 19, 2018, Politico announced that Gabbard was "weighing a 2020 presidential bid", and would wait until after the 2018 midterms for an official announcement.[47] On January 11, 2019 interview with CNN, Gabbard confirmed her plans to seek the Democratic nomination and officially announced her candidacy the following week.[48]

After failing to qualify in recent debates or winning any primary contests, Gabbard left the race on March 19, 2020 and supported Joe Biden.[49][50][51]

Post-congressional career

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Since leaving the House of Representatives on January 3, 2021, Gabbard has become more conservative about issues such as abortion, foreign policy, transgender rights, and border security.[52] She has appeared on Fox News, including serving as a fill-in host for Tucker Carlson Tonight.[53]

In October 2022, Gabbard announced that she had left the Democratic Party altogether.[54] Gabbard campaigned for several Republican candidates in the 2022 midterm elections.[55] She lated endorsed former President Donald Trump for the 2024 United States presidential election.[56][57][58]

Gabbard joined the Republican Party in October 2024 while campaigning for Trump in North Carolina.[16]

Director of National Intelligence

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In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his plans to nominated Gabbard as the Director of National Intelligence for his second administration.[59]

Personal life

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In 2002, Gabbard was a martial arts instructor.[60]

In 2002, Gabbard married Eduardo Tamayo. The couple divorced in 2006.[61] In February 2015, Gabbard got engaged to Abraham Williams, and the two married on April 9, 2015.[62]

While on Meghan McCain's podcast in 2024, Gabbard mentioned that she and Williams had tried to start a family and had undergone several in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures, without success.[63]

References

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  1. ↑ "Legislative Assistant Honored". hawaiinewsnow.com. April 2, 2007.
  2. ↑ "Trump names Tulsi Gabbard as pick for head of National Intelligence". Axios. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024. former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.. Iraq War veteran and lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve
  3. ↑ Dress, Brad (October 11, 2022). "Gabbard Says She Can't Stay in 'Today's Democratic Party'". The Hill. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Faleomavaega congratulates Tulsi Gabbard as first Samoan woman elected to the U.S. Congress". Samoa News. November 30, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2012. Congressman Faleomavaega has congratulated Tulsi Gabbard on her recent election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Gabbard will become the first Samoan-American congresswoman after her swearing in ceremony at the opening of the 113th Congress.
  5. ↑ "Hindu-American Tulsi Gabbard wins Democratic primary in Hawaii". The Economic Times. August 12, 2012.
  6. ↑ Cindy Huang and Ellen Rolfes (November 12, 2012). "Meet the Incoming Congressional Class Veterans". PBS. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Tulsi Gabbard says military combat service shapes her life, drives her political, policy views". The Telegraph. August 17, 2019. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Tulsi Gabbard Fast Facts". CNN. March 27, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024. Hawaii Army National Guard, 2003-2020, Major; US Army Reserve, 2020-present, Lieutenant Colonel
  9. ↑ Ismail, Asif (September 15, 2012). "'Our family was raised with the important value of karma yoga', says Democrat Tulsi Gabbard". The Economic Times. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Tulsi Gabbard could be the president America needs". Pasadena Star News. February 16, 2019. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  11. ↑ US Rep. Tulsi Gabbard promoted to Army major West Hawaii Today; October 13, 2015
  12. ↑ Elfrink, Tim (October 25, 2019). "Tulsi Gabbard wont' run for re-election to Congress as she seeks Democratic presidential nomination". Washington Post. Retrieved October 25, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Is Tulsi Gabbard the GOP's Dark Horse?". New Statesman. 2022-01-13. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  14. ↑ "A Bold Pro-Life Move for a Democrat". National Review. 2020-12-17. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  15. ↑ "Tulsi Gabbard Introduces Bill That Would Ban Trans Women and Girls from Female Sports". Time. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Fortinsky, Sarah (October 22, 2024). "Tulsi Gabbard says she's joining the GOP at Trump rally in North Carolina". The Hill. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  17. ↑ "GABBARD, Tulsi - US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov.
  18. ↑ "The Gabbards: Raising Hawaii's next political star (Part 1)". www.hawaiinewsnow.com.
  19. ↑ Tulsi Gabbard (January 1, 2012). "The Unique, Historic, and Inspiring Life of Tulsi Gabbard". Tulsi Gabbard. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Alumni News". HPU Alumni Newsletter (12). Hawaii Pacific University: 23. 2012. Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. Retrieved December 29, 2012. Congresswoman-elect Tulsi Gabbard (BSBA International Business 2009)
  21. ↑ RBH. "HI State House 42 – D Primary". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  22. ↑ Wishful Thinking. "HI State House 42". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  23. ↑ Blake, Aaron; Sullivan, Sean (September 7, 2012). "The 10 Biggest Surprises of the Conventions". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  24. ↑ Wyler, Grace; Hickey, Walter (December 8, 2012). "12 Fascinating People Who Are Heading To Congress Next Year". Business Insider. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  25. ↑ "Hawaii State Legislature". Capitol.hawaii.gov. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  26. ↑ Gabbard Tamayo, Tulsi (July 6, 2010). "Hawaii Veteran Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo Runs for Honolulu City Council". Hawaii Reporter. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  27. ↑ eddy 9_99. "Honolulu Council 6". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 30, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ↑ RBH. "Honolulu Council 6 – Runoff". Our Campaigns. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  29. ↑ "Parking restrictions eased for food truck vendors". KHON2. April 3, 2012. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  30. ↑ Leong, Jodi (December 8, 2011). "Honolulu Council Votes To Allow Property Removal From City Sidewalks: Measure Still Needs Mayor's Signature". KITV News. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  31. ↑ "Tulsi Gabbard announces candidacy for U.S. Congress". Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  32. ↑ Pang, Gordon Y.K. (August 11, 2012). "Gabbard Upsets Hanneman". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  33. ↑ "Tulsi Gabbard Post Primary Election". KITV. August 13, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2012.
  34. ↑ Tulsi Gabbard (September 4, 2012). Watch: Tulsi Gabbard speaks at DNC. Charlotte, NC: KHON News Hawaii.
  35. ↑ Keoki Kerr; Rick Daysog (December 26, 2012). "Dems choose Hanabusa, Kiaaina, Schatz as finalists for Inouye Senate seat". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  36. ↑ "Hawaii U.S. House 2nd District Results: Tulsi Gabbard Wins". New York Times. November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Rep.Tulsi Gabbard wins Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District seat". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2019-12-25. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
  38. ↑ Board, Post Editorial (1 March 2016). "Cheers to Tulsi Gabbard for standing up to the Clinton machine".
  39. ↑ PTI. "Tulsi Gabbard Named Chairperson of World Hindu Congress 2018". India West. Archived from the original on 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
  40. ↑ Kaleem, Jaweed (4 January 2013). "Tulsi Gabbard, First Hindu In Congress, Uses Bhagavad Gita At Swearing-In" – via Huff Post.
  41. ↑ Rick Daysog (October 12, 2015). "Tulsi Gabbard says she was uninvited to Democratic presidential debate". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  42. ↑ Harry Enten (May 6, 2015). "Is Six Democratic Debates Too Few?". FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  43. ↑ "Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard resigns from DNC, endorses Bernie Sanders". Reuters. February 28, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  44. ↑ Alana Wise (February 12, 2016). David Goodman, Jonathan Oatis (ed.). "Congresswoman quits Democratic National Committee, endorses Bernie Sanders". Reuters. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  45. ↑ Gabriel Debenedetti (February 28, 2016). "Tulsi Gabbard backs Sanders". Politico. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  46. ↑ "Hawaii Rep. Gabbard To Nominate Sanders At Dem Convention". Big Island Video News. July 26, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  47. ↑ "Tulsi Gabbard weighing 2020 presidential bid". POLITICO. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
  48. ↑ Kelly, Caroline (11 January 2019). "Rep. Gabbard says she will run for president in 2020". CNN. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  49. ↑ "Tulsi Gabbard ends presidential campaign, backs Joe Biden". USA Today.
  50. ↑ "Gabbard ends long-shot 2020 presidential bid, throws support to Biden". 19 March 2020.
  51. ↑ "Rep. Tulsi Gabbard drops out of the Democratic presidential primary, endorses Joe Biden". CNBC. 19 March 2020.
  52. ↑ Multiple sources:
  53. ↑ "Tulsi Gabbard's Journey From Bernie Sanders Supporter to Guest Host of Tucker Carlson Tonight". Mediaite. August 11, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  54. ↑ Murray, Isabella; Osborne, Mark. "Tulsi Gabbard announces she is leaving Democratic Party, calling it an 'elitist cabal of warmongers'". ABC News. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  55. ↑ Walsh, Sheri (October 12, 2022). "Tulsi Gabbard to campaign for GOP after leaving Democratic Party". United Press International. MSN. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  56. ↑ "Video Tulsi Gabbard endorses former President Trump". ABC News. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  57. ↑ Spady, Aubrie (August 26, 2024). "Former Democrat Tulsi Gabbard endorses Trump in the 2024 presidential race". Fox News. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  58. ↑ Bohannon, Molly. "Ex-Democratic Candidate Tulsi Gabbard Endorses Trump". Forbes. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  59. ↑ "Trump taps Gabbard for director of national intelligence". The Hill. November 13, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  60. ↑ Toth, Catherine E. (September 13, 2002). "'Ewa candidates talk traffic". The Honolulu Advertiser. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
  61. ↑ Eduardo Sangco Tamayo v. Tulasi G. Tamayo (“Divorce Decree 06/05/2006”). Text
  62. ↑ "Quiet, low-key approach to love suits congresswoman just fine". Archived from the original on February 19, 2015.
  63. ↑ Tulsi Gabbard (May 24, 2024). Tulsi Gabbard's Battle With Infertility | Navigating Heartbreak & Finding Peace. Retrieved July 12, 2024 – via YouTube.

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