Tulsi Gabbard Leaves Democratic Partybr Former Hawaii congresswoman and 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard announced on Twitter early Tuesday that she was leaving the Democratic Party. Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii has announced her departure from the Democratic Party, condemning it as a cabal of warmongers with an "elitist bent," while calling for other common-sense, independent-minded Democrats to step down with her. Former Hawaii Rep.