Former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard is set to campaign for a Republican Senate hopeful after announcing her departure from the Democratic Party on Tuesday.
Gabbard’s support of New Hampshire GOP Senate candidate Don Bolduc comes just one day after she said she is no longer a Democrat. Polls have Bolduc within striking distance of Hassan, with some speculating the Republican could pull off an upset.
“We don’t agree on every issue, but I am honored to have the support of Tulsi Gabbard who shares my view that the status quo is broken, and we need a change of direction,” Bolduc said in a statement.
“Tulsi is a fellow change agent and independent-minded outsider willing to speak truth to power. I am going to spend every day between now and Election Day building a wide coalition of supporters that includes Republicans, independents and even disaffected Democrats who know that Senator Hassan is a career politician and must be retired,” he added.
Bolduc is a retired Army brigadier general who won a close race against state Sen. Chuck Morse in the GOP primary. He currently slightly trails Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan in polls, with the incumbent averaging a 5.8% lead, according to RealClearPolitics.
The general also took to Twitter to announce a forthcoming slate of events with Gabbard.
“[Tulsi Gabbard] is a fellow change agent and independent-minded outsider willing to speak truth to power. I’m honored to have her support and looking forward to barnstorming NH with her!” he tweeted.
.@TulsiGabbard is a fellow change agent and independent-minded outsider willing to speak truth to power. I'm honored to have her support and looking forward to barnstorming NH with her! #NHSEN pic.twitter.com/XRB14LaMhx
— Don Bolduc (@GenDonBolduc) October 12, 2022
Gabbard represented Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District after serving two combat tours in the Middle East. The former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate has been vocal in her criticisms of the Biden-Harris administration in recent months over Afghanistan, the border, and other concerns.
On Tuesday, she announced in a video posted to her social media accounts that she would cut ties with her political party.
“I can no longer remain in today’s Democratic Party that is under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers who are driven by cowardly wokeness, who divide us by racializing every issue and stoking anti-white racism, who actively work to undermine our God-given freedoms that are enshrined in our Constitution, who are hostile to people of faith and spirituality,” she said.
I can no longer remain in today’s Democratic Party that is now under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness, who divide us by racializing every issue & stoke anti-white racism, actively work to undermine our God-given freedoms, are… pic.twitter.com/oAuTnxZldf
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) October 11, 2022
Gabbard boldly called for other Democrats to join her in leaving the party.
“I believe in a government that is of, by, and for the people. Unfortunately, today’s Democratic Party does not. Instead, it stands for a government of, by, and for the powerful elite,” she continued. “I’m calling on my fellow common sense independent-minded Democrats to join me in leaving the Democratic Party. If you can no longer stomach the direction that so-called woke Democratic Party ideologues are taking our country, I invite you to join me.”
The former Hawaiian congresswoman also recently criticized Vice President Kamala Harris regarding her claim that the border is secure.
“Kamala Harris’ statement that ‘we have a secure border’ is further evidence that she’s either completely disconnected from reality or she’s blatantly lying,” Gabbard said, citing the vice president’s interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
“Either way, she has no business being a heartbeat away from the presidency,” she added.
Kamala Harris' statement that “we have a secure border” is further evidence that she’s either completely disconnected from reality or she's blatantly lying. Either way, she has no business being a heartbeat away from the presidency. pic.twitter.com/H7cPeJCad9
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) September 17, 2022