Brief:

Former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard announced she left the Democratic Party on Tuesday, denouncing the organization as an “elitist cabal.”

Gabbard's announcement served as the inaugural episode of "The Tulsi Gabbard Show," a podcast she is now running. Gabbard has been a popular figure among many for  her moderate stance on many issues.

Background:

Gabbard has been in politics since 2002 when she won her first election at age 21. She was a spokeswoman for the Democratic Party and a Democrat presidential candidate back in 2020.

However, she has been outspoken with her criticism of President Biden, calling him out for “pouring fuel on the flame” of the division in our country, and now has chosen to leave  the party altogether.

In her announcement, Gabbard stated:

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. 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.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich praised Gabbard for leaving the Democrats in a Tuesday statement on Fox News. He argued that she is one of many Americans who traditionally have voted blue but now find the Democratic Party unrecognizable.

Gabbard endorsed Joe Biden after dropping out of the 2020 Presidential Primary.