(BIVN) – Tulsi Gabbard is saying mahalo to Hawaiʻi in a new video, and has announced that she will not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Congresswoman Gabbard (D) will instead focus her efforts on her presidential campaign, a news release stated.

Gabbard represents the 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The district includes the entire island of Hawaiʻi.

Gabbard released the following statement:

“I’m so grateful to the people of Hawaiʻi for allowing me to serve you in Congress for the last seven years. Throughout my life, I’ve been motivated by a desire to serve the people of Hawaiʻi and our country, and have made my decisions based upon where I felt I could do the most good.

Our country is so divided, and we live in an increasingly dangerous world. We are ever closer to being sucked into another even more disastrous war in the Middle East (Iran). Tensions are increasing with other nuclear-armed countries like Russia and China, leading us to a new Cold War and nuclear arms race, pushing us closer to the threat of nuclear annihilation. In light of these challenges, I believe I can best serve the people of Hawaiʻi and our country as President and Commander-in-Chief. 

“Bringing the experience I have both as a soldier serving over 16 years in the Army National Guard, deploying twice to the Middle East, serving in Congress for nearly seven years on the Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, and Homeland Security Committees, I am prepared to walk into the Oval Office ready to take command on day one.

“As President, I will immediately begin work to end the new Cold War and nuclear arms race, end our interventionist foreign policy of being the world’s police, toppling dictators and governments we don’t like, and redirect our precious resources towards serving the needs of the people here at home.

As such, I will not be seeking re-election to Congress in 2020, and humbly ask you for your support for my candidacy for President of the United States.”

Hilo State Senator Kai Kahele, who is running for the 2nd Congressional district seat, was quick to issue a statement over Twitter.

“I wholly respect and appreciate Congresswoman Gabbard’s decision not to pursue re-election for her Congressional seat as she pursues the Presidency,” Sen. Kahele tweeted. “I wish her and her family the best going forward.”

“I remain fully committed to my campaign to becomes Hawaii’s next Congressman,” Kahele added.

UPDATE – Kahele issued this statement to the media:

“Since announcing her Presidential candidacy in January 2019, Congresswoman Gabbard has worked hard visiting towns and cities across the United States. This dedication, while worthy of admiration, meant that her congressional district was often left without a voice in Washington, D.C. I wholly respect and appreciate the Congresswoman’s decision not to seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives as she pursues the Presidency. I thank her for her service, and I wish her and her family the best going forward.”

“I remain fully committed to my campaign to become Hawaiʻi’s next Congressman. While our opponent may change, the fundamentals of building our grassroots campaign will not. When I announced my candidacy earlier this year, I pledged that I would take nothing for granted. I am traveling to each island, engaging with every community and sitting down with our neighbors, friends and ‘ohana to hear directly about their concerns and to see how I may best represent them in Washington, D.C. Thatʻs what I have been focused on for the last 10 months, and that’s what I will continue to do until the primary election next August. I will continue to work hard to earn the faith, confidence and vote of every resident of the 2nd District.”