Tulsi Gabbard — onetime Democrat and independent — is joining the Grand Old Party.
Garbbard, who ran for president as a Democrat, made the announcement at a rally for Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump Tuesday night.
Gabbard recently became an honorary co-chairperson for Trump’s transition team — a position she is serving with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., another former Democrat and independent, Fox News reported.
Gabbard said she looks up to Trump and his leadership “to transform the Republican Party and bring it back to the party of the people and the party of peace.”
“I’m proud to stand here with you today, President Trump, and announce that I’m joining the Republican Party. I am joining the party of the people,” she said in Greensboro, North Carolina, a swing state in the 2024 election.
“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 said.
Trump, in turn, thanked Gabbard for her support.
“Thank you very much, Tulsi. That’s great. Wow, that was a surprise,” the former president said. “That was really, she’s been independent for a long time. That’s a great thing. A great honor. Thank you very much, Tulsi.”
Gabbard was a vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee from 2013 through 2016. She then resigned and endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) in his run for president.
Gabbard then ran for president as a Democrat in 2020.
She and Vice President Kamala Harris, who was also running in the primary, went toe to toe at a primary debate when Gabbard attacked Harris’ record as a prosecutor and California’s attorney general.
Gabbard left the Democrat Party in 2022 and became an independent.
Gabbard served in Congress from 2013 through 2021 as a representative of Hawaii’s 2nd District.
