Immigration and gay rights: Gillibrand and Gabbard questioned on past views

• Democrats face tricky questions about former positions
• Opinion: Gillibrand is a feminist. No wonder she’s attacked

Martin Pengelly in New York
Sun 20 Jan 2019 19.03 GMT

Kirsten Gillibrand and Tulsi Gabbard, declared candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination, faced tricky questions on Sunday about former political positions.

In a growing 2020 field, Gillibrand, who succeeded Hillary Clinton as a New York senator, could be one of the more substantial candidates. Gabbard, a Hawaii congresswoman and army veteran who would be the youngest president ever, starts as a rank outsider. On Sunday, both appeared on the political talkshows.

Among other issues, Gillibrand was asked about previous campaigns and the hardline immigration views she held. In a shorter interview, Gabbard was asked about past anti-LGBTQ sentiments and work for an anti-LGBTQ group.

CNN reported this week that Gillibrand once advocated positions including closed borders and “expedited” deportations and, among other statements, said she was “firmly against providing amnesty to illegal immigrants”. The senator responded by saying it was “important to know when you are wrong and to do what is right”.

On Sunday she faced her first test as a candidate on the same outlet’s Sunday show, State of the Union. She was speaking from West Des Moines, Iowa, where she was setting her stall out to voters.

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