Former presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard leaving Democratic Party, claims it is 'elitist'

WASHINGTON - Former Democratic presidential candidate and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard announced Tuesday she is leaving the Democratic Party.

Gabbard tweeted a video saying she can no longer remain in today's Democratic Party, which is "now under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness."

In the minute-long video, Gabbard said Democrats are divisive by racializing issues and "stoking anti-white racism." She said she believes the left-leaning party works to "undermine our God-given freedoms" in the Constitution.

"I believe in a government that's of the people, by the people and for the people," she said. "Unfortunately, today's Democrat party does not. Instead, it stands for a government that is of, by and for the powerful elite."

Gabbard ran in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary race before suspending her campaign in March 2020 saying she would support President Joe Biden. She served in the House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021.

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In the video, Gabbard said Democrats are hostile to people of faith, demonize police but protect criminals, weaponize the national security state to attack political opponents and are driving the country closer to nuclear war.

She called on "fellow commonsense independent-minded Democrats" to join her in leaving the Democratic Party.

"If you can no longer stomach the direction the so-called woke Democratic Party ideologues are taking our country, then I invite you to join me," she said.

Gabbard did not include details as to which political party she will join or whether she plans to switch to the Republican Party.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tulsi Gabbard leaving Democratic Party, calls it 'elitist cabal'