Hawaii: Sierra Club Backs Tulsi Gabbard in 2nd District

Tulsi Gabbard is one of the candidates who got the full stamp of approval from EMILY's List. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Tulsi Gabbard is one of the candidates who got the full stamp of approval from EMILY's List. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Posted April 24, 2012 at 12:00am

The Sierra Club endorsed Honolulu City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard in Hawaii’s open 2nd district Democratic primary.

“Tulsi’s strong environmental record, including helping pass tough laws regulating greenhouse gases and being an outspoken advocate for renewable energy, distinguished her from the other candidates for this office,” said Steve Montgomery, who co-chairs the group’s Hawaii chapter.

Gabbard faces former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, who had $631,000 in cash on hand at the end of March to $465,000 for Gabbard. Esther Kia’aina and Bob Marx, two other Democrats running in the Aug. 11 primary, had less than $20,000 in cash on hand after the first quarter.

This is not the first race in which the Sierra Club has backed Gabbard, an Iraq War veteran and former state legislator who also has the support of EMILY’s List. She’s hoping to replace Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono, who’s running for Senate.