- Tulsi Gabbard resigns from the Democratic Party, citing deep concerns over its direction.
- She criticizes the party's embrace of "woke" ideology and what she calls a "cabal of elitists."
- The former congresswoman's move underscores growing internal fractures within the party.
A Break with the Party
In a surprise announcement that sent shockwaves through political circles, former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard has resigned from the Democratic Party, according to Fox News. In a video message released Tuesday, Gabbard declared, "I can no longer remain in the Democratic Party that is under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness." The move marks a dramatic escalation of her long-simmering frustration with the party's trajectory.
Gabbard, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, has increasingly distanced herself from party leadership. She pointed to the party's "weaponization" of identity politics and its failure to stand up to what she described as a corrupt political establishment. "The Democratic Party has become a force for division and war, not peace and prosperity," she added.
The resignation is the latest in a series of high-profile defections from the party, highlighting a broader ideological rift that has deepened since the 2020 election. Gabbard did not indicate whether she plans to join another party or remain independent. Attempts to reach her campaign for further comment were unsuccessful.
Political Fallout
Reactions to Gabbard's resignation were swift. Some progressive allies expressed disappointment, while conservatives saw it as validation of their critiques of the Democratic Party. The development comes as the party grapples with internal factional disputes ahead of the 2024 election cycle. Analysts note that Gabbard's decision could signal further fragmentation among moderate and independent-leaning Democrats.
*Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the date of Gabbard's resignation. It occurred on Tuesday, not Wednesday.