Gabbard, who converted to Hinduism early in her life, is highly popular among Indian-Americans.
If elected, she would be the youngest ever and first woman President of the United States. She would also be the first non-Christian and first Hindu to occupy the top post. However, at this point in time, American political pundits do not give her much chance.
Hindus constitute less than one per cent of the American population, an overwhelming majority of whom are either from India or are people of Indian-origin.
Gabbard, a co-Chair of the powerful House India Caucus, was recently re-elected for the US House of Representatives from Hawaii for the fourth consecutive term.
A winner of the primary elections beginning early 2020 would be finally nominated by the Democratic Party in its convention later that summer to challenge the Republican candidate in the November 2020 elections.
President Trump has announced to seek his re-election. The winner of the Democratic primary would be pitted against him. More than 12 Democratic leaders including Indian-origin Senator from California Kamala Harris are expected to announce their White House run to challenge President Donald Trump in 2020.
Gabbard, a four-time Democratic lawmaker in the US House of Representatives from Hawaii, "I have decided to run and will be making a formal announcement within the next week".
The Iraq war veteran has become the first-ever Hindu to be running for the presidency in the US. Gabbard, who supported Senator Bernie Sanders against former secretary of state Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary.
Former US vice president Joe Biden has also expressed his interest in the 2020 bid.
Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii has announced she will be running for president of the United States in 2020, promising to centre her campaign on the issue of "war and peace".
Ms Gabbard says she will formally announce her candidacy within the next week. She has visited early primary and caucus states New Hampshire and Iowa in recent months and has written a memoir due to be published in May.
"There are a lot of challenges that are facing the American people that I'm concerned about and that I want to help solve."
"There is one main issue that is central to the rest, and that is the issue of war and peace.
"I look forward to being able to get into this and to talk about it in depth when we make our announcement." A crowded list of Democrats is expected to line up to try and stop Donald Trump from winning a second term in 2020.
Ms Gabbard is joining what is expected to be a crowded Democratic field. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who announced her plans to challenge Donald Trump for the presidency last month, is moving quickly with trips across early primary states.
California senator Kamala Harris, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders are all weighing their own presidential bids and are expected to announce decisions in the upcoming weeks.
Former Obama administration housing Chief Julian Castro plans to announce his run for the presidency this weekend. The 2020 presidential primary cycle is scheduled to kick off from the Iowa Caucuses on February 3, 2020, followed by the New Hampshire Primary on February 11, Nevada caucus of February 15 and South Carolina on February 22.
Among other Democrats speculated to run for the 2020 primaries include Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Klobuchar, and Tim Kaine.
