HONOLULU — A former Hawaii governor on Monday called for long-shot presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard to resign from Congress after she voted “present” on two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
Gabbard must resign her seat “the sooner the better,” representing Hawaii in the U.S. House of Representatives because “she’s missing votes on almost everything”, said Neil Abercrombie, who was governor from 2010 to 2014. Before that, he represented Hawaii in the U.S. House and resigned to run for governor.
Gabbard said last week she was “standing in the center” by voting present.
Gabbard announced earlier this year she would not run for reelection to the House so she could focus on her presidential campaign. This decision came after she spent much of the year traveling to Iowa and New Hampshire.
According to the website govtrack.us, Gabbard missed 88.7% of the 141 House votes taken in the past three months.
Abercrombie is co-chair for the campaign of Kai Kahele, a Democratic state senator running to succeed Gabbard in Congress.
A spokesman for Gabbard said she has a strong commitment to serving Hawaii.
“Hawaii is Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s home and her heart. Just this session, she has secured major legislative wins for Hawaii including better reporting on Red Hill aquifer protection, consultation between the military and Native Hawaiians, helping our veterans affected by toxic burn pits, opportunities for defense contracting for Native Hawaiian companies, and more,” T. Ilihia Gionson said. “Her pursuit of the highest office in the land has not compromised her and her team’s commitment to serving the people of Hawaii in her fourth term in Congress.”
Hawaii’s other representative in the House, Rep. Ed Case, another Democrat, voted in favor of impeachment.