Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s announcement that she would be running for president in 2020 has come as a surprise to many, including her Dad.
Hawaii Sen. Mike Gabbard told Hawaii News Now that he was traveling and “pleasantly surprised” to see his daughter had announced her 2020 bid for the White House.
“I didn’t know she had made a final decision,” Gabbard said. “She has so much aloha for the people. She’ll make a great president!”
Congresswoman Gabbard told CNN’s, “The Van Jones Show,” Friday: ” I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week”.
Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran, currently serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The American Samoan born Democrat said, “There are a lot of reasons for me to make this decision. There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that I’m concerned about and that I want to help solve.”
She said health care access, criminal justice reform and climate change are key platform issues.
Later in the day, she wrote on Twitter: “When we stand together, united by our love for each other and for our country, there is no challenge we cannot overcome. Will you join me?”
Gabbard easily won re-election to her U.S. House seat in November for a fourth term.
But at the same time, she appeared to be testing the waters for a White House run.
Last month, she met with Democrats in New Hampshire, traditionally the first state to hold a presidential primary.
She’s also coming out with a book in April, “Is Today the Day?”
And she has sought to insert herself into more national discussions, including last week, when she called out Democratic colleagues for how they questioned a judicial nominee.
Among the targets of her rebuke: U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, who called Gabbard’s comments “off base.”
