Tulsi Gabbard
Bio | Tulsi Gabbard is an American politician and is currently serving as the U.S Representative for Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district. She is the first Samoan-American member of congress. |
Status and Position | Former US House of Representatives of Hawaii |
Political Party and Jurisdiction | Democrat, Hawaii |
Elections | Election Jurisdiction | Started Campaign | Campaign Status | Poll Rankings (of the vote) |
| 2020 Presidential Election United States | United States | Yes | Dropped Out | N/A |
Campaign Financing | Gabbard is supportive of campaign finance reform efforts, and has been especially critical of the legacy of the Citizens United Supreme Court case. She is not accepting money from PACs. |
Voting Rights | Is supportive of legislation to increase accessibility to voting, including a restoration of the Voting Rights Act. |
Opinions on Issues
Issues | Stance | Summary |
| Universal Healthcare | For | Would aim to ensure universal healthcare. Supports Medicare-for-All. |
| Socialized Healthcare | For | Was supportive of the ACA, but now advocates for Medicare-for-All. |
| Private Healthcare | For | Supports Medicare-for-All, but would not eliminate private insurance. |
| LGBT Rights | For | Is now pro-LGBT rights, although she has a history of anti-LGBT positions. Supports marriage equality, although she has been criticized for her anti-LGBT positions in the past. |
| Taxes | For | Opposed the 2017 tax cuts and supports several measures that would raise taxes. Voted against Republican tax cuts and has expressed support for higher income taxes. |
| Flat Tax Rate | Against | Supports progressive tax rates. Voted against Republican tax cuts and has expressed support for higher income taxes. |
| Abortion | For | Formerly anti-abortion, but has voted for abortion rights since being elected to Congress. Although Gabbard was formerly anti-abortion, she now considers herself to be pro-choice. She does not believe there should be restrictions on abortion access. |
| Gun Control | For | Supports several gun control measures. Supports a ban on assault weapons, universal background checks. She has an F rating from the NRA. |
| Assisted Suicide | For | Believes assisted suicide should be an option after a psychological exam. Supports a ban on assault weapons, universal background checks. She has an F rating from the NRA. |
| Government Interference | For | Supports measures such as gun control and environmental regulations. |
| Planned Parenthood | For | Believes Planned Parenthood provides essential healthcare services for women. |
| Welfare | For | Does not support limitations on welfare. Voted to reduce work requirements for welfare recipients. |
| Welfare | Unknown | Has not made any public statements on the issue. |
| Death Penalty | Against | Would abolish the death penalty. Does not believe that capital punishment contributes productively to the justice system, and would seek to see it abolished. |
| Mandatory Prison Sentence | Against | Supports abolishing mandatory minimums. |
| Military Spending | For | Voted for the Trump Administration's defense budget bill. |
| War on Terrorism | For | Has stated that she believes that the US ought to “root out evil wherever it is.” |
| Foreign Policy International Interaction | For | Would reengage with international institutions, agreements, and alliances. Would rejoin the JCPOA. |
| United Nations power | For | Was once considered for US ambassador to the UN. |
| Nationalism | For | Has expressed support for several nationalist movements and is supported by some white nationalist groups. |
| Free Markets | Nuance | Supports the function of private industries, but does not support free-trade. Gabbard has spoken against many free-trade agreements, such as the TPP, and supports protectionist trade measures. |
| Brexit | Unknown | Has not been vocal on the issue. |
| Affirmative Action | Unknown | Has been vague on her position on affirmative action specifically, but has said that she believes more opportunities should be created for those living in poverty. |
| Government Spending | For | Supports increasing government spending on social programs and defense. |
| Charter Schools | For | Voted for the Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Act. |
| Common Core | Against | Believes uniform standards are damaging to students. Gabbard opposes Common Core standards and does not see them as being helpful for students. |
| Clean Energy | For | Believes the US should increase use of sustainable energy sources. Gabbard supports the Green New Deal. |
| Religious Freedom | Nuance | Has expressed commitment to religious freedom, but has been criticized for Islamophobia in the past. Has expressed commitment to religious freedom, but has been criticized for Islamophobia in the past. |
| Separation of Church and State | For | Believes there should be separation between church and state. |
| Slavery Reparations | Nuance | Has indicated that she would be open to the idea. |
| Border Control | Against | Supports technological border security. While Gabbard opposes the construction of a Southern border wall, she would implement technological border security measures. She does not support calls to abolish ICE. |
| Passenger Profiling | Nuance | Is an advocate for racial equality, but has not been outspoken on this particular issue. |
| DACA | For | Would grant citizenship to DREAMers. |
| Sanctuary Cities | Unknown | Has not been outspoken on the topic. |
| Legalizing Marijuana | For | Supports the legalization of marijuana. |