Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) is undergoing hearings this week before the Senate Intelligence Committee regarding her qualifications for confirmation as director of national intelligence.
Gabbard reportedly faces an uphill battle to get confirmed as she attempts to rally enough votes from lawmakers.
Long before Gabbard made it into President Donald Trump's list of potential cabinet members, Gabbard was traveling the country to garner support for her Democratic nomination as president in the 2020 election.
While running, Gabbard attended an Alabama football game to support Hawaiian quarterback and former Crimson Tide star Tua Tagovailoa and his younger brother Taulia. It turns out that Gabbard and the Tagovailoa family are close friends.
The special thing about today was celebrating family & aloha. We are so proud of Tua & Taulia Tagovailoa who represent their ohana, our home state of Hawaii, and the Polynesian people with honor and pride. Grateful to Galu and Diane for inviting us! @alabamafbl #RollTide #RTR pic.twitter.com/2rZQfWJauf
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) September 1, 2019
Gabbard witnessed Alabama's 42-3 blowout win over Duke in the 2019 Chick-fil-A Kickoff in Atlanta, Ga. Tua's father Galu was seen wearing a "Tulsi 2020" hat at the game. According to Gabbard, Tua's aunt was her first hire when she worked in the Hawaii state legislature and she has known the football star since he was a kid.
So excited to be here in #ATL with our good friends to cheer on @tuaamann! I first met Tua when he was just a kid - His aunt, Sai, was my first hire when I was elected to the State House in 2002. #rolltide #Hawaii @AlabamaFTBL #CFBison pic.twitter.com/NZIkyFCeq4
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) August 31, 2019
Gabbard has described the Tagovailoa family as "an amazing family," something Crimson Tide fans also learned while watching Tagovailoa in Tuscaloosa.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email trent.baker@1819news.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.