How Old Is Tulsi Gabbard Of Hawaii?

If you’re wondering about the age of Tulsi Gabbard, the American politician from Hawaii, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive article, we’ll provide a detailed look at Tulsi Gabbard’s background and current age.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Tulsi Gabbard is 41 years old as of December 2022. She was born on April 12, 1981 in American Samoa.

Early Life and Upbringing

Date and Place of Birth

Tulsi Gabbard was born on April 12, 1981 in Leloaloa, American Samoa. Her birth name is Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo. She was born to Catholic father Mike Gabbard and Hindu mother Carol Porter Gabbard. Her diverse background shaped her worldview from an early age.

Childhood and Family Background

Tulsi’s mother Carol was of European descent and her father Mike was Samoan-American. Mike was also a practicing Catholic deacon in the Catholic church as well as a member of the Hawaii state legislature. Tulsi was raised with both Hindu and Catholic influences at home.

At age 21, Tulsi fully embraced Hinduism as her faith.

As a child, Tulsi surfed and enjoyed outdoor sports and activities native to Hawaii. She also practiced vegetarianism from an early age. Politically, her father was a conservative Democrat which also shaped some of her early thinking.

Education and Early Career

High School and University Education

Tulsi Gabbard attended Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 2009. Prior to that, she attended Punahou School, a prestigious private school in Honolulu, for her high school education from 1997-2000.

At Punahou, Gabbard was an excellent student and athlete. She served as the student body president during her junior and senior years and was a leader on the varsity volleyball team. After graduation, she enrolled in a 12-month accelerated program at Hawaii Pacific University, allowing her to complete her business degree in just 3 years.

Entering Politics

In 2002 at age 21, while still an undergraduate student, Gabbard became the youngest legislator ever elected in Hawaii. She served in the Hawaii House of Representatives from 2002-2004. Remarkably, she was elected to a seat on the Honolulu City Council at age 23 in 2004, becoming the youngest councilmember in city history.

On the City Council, Gabbard focused on environmental issues and infrastructure improvement for her district. She was re-elected in 2006. In 2010 at age 28, Gabbard stepped down from the City Council when she was deployed to Iraq with her Hawaii Army National Guard unit.

After returning from her 12-month deployment in 2011, she launched her campaign for Congress the following year at age 31.

Congressional Career

Running for Congress

In 2010, at just 21 years old, Tulsi Gabbard ran for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. Despite facing considerable odds, Tulsi waged an underdog campaign focused on the issues that matter most, rather than the politics of the past.

With the help of thousands of dedicated volunteers, she overcame those long odds to become the youngest woman ever elected to Congress in American history.

During her campaign, Tulsi emphasized her experience serving in the Middle East with the Hawaii Army National Guard, her plans to bring a balanced approach to fiscal policy, and her determination to chart a new course in foreign policy and environmental protection.

Her message of service before self resonated with the people of Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District.

Tenure and Accomplishments

During her tenure in Congress, Tulsi has gained recognition for her uncompromising leadership and courage. She introduced pivotal legislation on a wide range of issues that have impacted the lives of people across the country. Some highlights include:

• Introducing and passing vital legislation to provide life-saving body armor and better medical care for our troops and veterans.
• Leading the effort in Congress to stop U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s genocidal war in Yemen.
• Securing and expanding federal assistance for damage from natural disasters in Hawaii.
• Advocating for landmark legislation to reform our broken criminal justice system and end mass incarceration.

Tulsi has become known in Congress for her willingness to work with those who think differently and get things done. Whether it’s serving on the House Armed Services Committee or the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Tulsi has introduced and passed numerous bills through bipartisan and bicameral compromise.

With a vision anchored in the principle of servant leadership instilled in her by her experiences in the military and growing up in Hawaii, Tulsi works hard every day to make a difference in the lives of the people she represents.

2020 and 2022 Presidential Campaigns

2020 Campaign

In January 2019, Tulsi Gabbard announced her intention to run for President of the United States in the 2020 election. As a Congresswoman from Hawaii and Iraq war veteran, Gabbard brought an unusual background to the race.

Her campaign emphasized issues like ending regime-change wars, tackling climate change, criminal justice reform and Medicare for All.

Gabbard participated in the first two Democratic primary debates, where she criticized aspects of US foreign policy and argued against military intervention. She also feuded briefly with Hillary Clinton after Clinton suggested Gabbard was a “Russian asset.”

Despite these attention-grabbing moments, Gabbard struggled to gain traction in the polls. By March 2020, she lagged far behind candidates like Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. After disappointing results in the first few primary contests, Gabbard ended her campaign and endorsed Joe Biden.

2022 Campaign

In early 2022, there was speculation that Tulsi Gabbard might launch another presidential bid, this time as an independent or third-party candidate. However, in March 2022, Gabbard announced she had no plans to run for president in 2024.

Instead, Gabbard said she would be focusing on reforming the Democratic Party to “truly reflect the values and spirit of the American people.” She argued the party had become an “elitist cabal” of warmongers beholden to corporate interests.

Gabbard’s decision not to run came after Russia invaded Ukraine, which would have put her controversial foreign policy views under increased scrutiny during a campaign. So for now, her presidential ambitions appear to be on hold as she continues to criticize the Democratic establishment from the sidelines.

Conclusion

In summary, Tulsi Gabbard was born on April 12, 1981 in American Samoa, making her 41 years old as of late 2022. We traced key milestones in her early life, education, political career in Congress, and recent presidential campaigns to provide context around her current age.

We hope this comprehensive overview answered your question about how old Tulsi Gabbard is. Let us know if you have any other questions!

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