Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democratic Representative from Hawaii, has announced her switch to the Republican Party. This comes after she declared independence from the Democratic Party in 2022.
Gabbard made this revelation during a speech at a Donald Trump rally in North Carolina, praising the GOP nominee for revitalizing the Republican Party as a “party of the people and peace.”
“For independent-minded individuals who cherish our nation and uphold the Constitution, there’s no home for us in the Democratic Party,” Gabbard stated. “Yet the Republican Party welcomes us with open arms, especially under President Trump.”
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Gabbard previously sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and endorsed Trump’s campaign in August, shortly after Biden stepped down and Vice President Harris announced her run.
Trump expressed surprise at Gabbard’s decision, stating, “That was really… she’s been independent for a long time. It’s a great honor.”
Interestingly, Trump also received an endorsement from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who suspended his independent presidential campaign and aligned himself with the former president. Kennedy, whose family has a storied political legacy, has faced backlash from relatives for this choice.
On the other side, Vice President Kamala Harris is attracting support from several Republican figures, including Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz Cheney, as she campaigns to sway Republican voters in crucial swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Update 10/22/24, 10:12 p.m. ET: This article has been revised to include more information and context.