RE: MAJOR endorsement announcement

Friend, it's pretty rare that Daily Kos endorses a candidate some 19 months before the election, let alone in a primary. That speaks volumes to how impressed we are by state Sen. Kai Kahele, who's taking on Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District. Gabbard has called herself a progressive despite a history of standing against almost everything that progressives stand for—from resisting Trump, to supporting equality for the LGBTQ community, to passing effective gun-violence prevention measures. It's time we support a better Democrat and real progressive. That's why Daily Kos has endorsed Kai Kahele for Congress. [Not going to lie, Kahele has long road ahead of him, and it's smart that he is jumping into the race now. Will you help get his message out by giving $3 today?]( Keep Fighting, Amanda McKay, Daily Kos P.S. Below is David's email that goes into more detail about how important this race is. --------------------------------------------------------------- Friend, Daily Kos has long adhered to the motto of electing more and better Democrats. We're usually focused on the "more," but today, this endorsement is all about the "better"—and boy, do we ever need that here. Throughout her six years in Congress, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has [repeatedly shown how out-of-step she is]( with mainstream progressive values, despite the fact that she represents Hawaii’s deep-blue 2nd Congressional District: - Gabbard has cozied up to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, even visiting him on a secret trip to Syria two years ago; - Was one of the first (and only) Democrats to meet with Donald Trump after he won in 2016; - Refused to sign a letter from 169 House Democrats denouncing Trump for appointing white nationalist Steve Bannon as a White House strategist; - Has declined to sign on to a ban on assault weapons; - Has cultivated ties with violent Hindu nationalists in India; - Attacked Barack Obama for refusing to use the phrase "radical Islamic terrorism"; - Voted to make it all but impossible for Syrian refugees to settle in the U.S.; - Told a reporter in 2016 that her "personal views" opposing abortion rights "haven't changed;" And just the other day, Gabbard tried to #bothsides the federal government shutdown, literally telling CNN, "Both sides have completely hardened their positions and are unwilling to come together to work out the differences" even though any honest person who's been watching the slow-motion tragedy of the shutdown unfold knows this isn't true. Whatever side Gabbard is on, it's not ours. Fortunately, we have a vastly superior alternative, which is why Daily Kos is pleased to endorse state Sen. Kai Kahele. [It's time to send anti-choice, anti-gun control, pro-dictator "Democrat" Tulsi Gabbard packing. Please give $3 today to send a much better Democrat to Congress: Kai Kahele!]( Kahele is a combat pilot with the Air National Guard who's flown missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and now flies commercial jets for Hawaiian Airlines. He's also a solid progressive who supports Medicare for all, a Green New Deal, and the Equality Act, which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. And Kahele would be just the second native Hawaiian to win a seat in Congress, after the late Sen. Dan Akaka. Gabbard, recently kicked off a bid for president, ensuring that she'll be spending lots of time far from home—and far from the needs of her constituents. Hawaii law allows her to also run for re-election simultaneously, but while she's busy visiting county fairs in Iowa and diners in New Hampshire, Kahele will be making his case that Hawaii needs a dedicated, full-time representative to voters early and often. [Despite her record, Gabbard is still popular in Hawaii, and she won't be easy to beat. So please give $3 to Kai Kahele and help elect a better Democrat to a dark blue district!]( Thank you, David Nir, Political Director Daily Kos Daily Kos, PO Box 70036, Oakland, CA, 94612. Sent via [ActionNetwork.org](. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Daily Kos, please [click here](.