Hindu Democrat to enter presidential race

WASHINGTON: Democratic representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii has announced she will run for president next year.

Gabbard said in a CNN interview last night she would be formally announcing her candidacy within the next week.

The 37-year-old Iraq war veteran is the first Hindu elected to Congress. She has written a memoir that’s due to be published in May.

Gabbard was criticised in 2016 for travelling to Syria and meeting President Bashar al-assad, who has been accused of war crimes. She said it was important to meet with adversaries if “you are serious about pursuing peace”.

Gabbard was one of the most prominent lawmakers to back Bernie Sanders over Hillary

Clinton in the 2016

Democratic primary. |