Fox News contributor Tulsi Gabbard is set to headline a Republican fundraiser in Ohio on Friday. Her scheduled appearance violates the network’s policy against “talent participating in campaign events.” 

Gabbard is a former Democratic member of Congress from Hawaii who has a long anti-LGBTQ track record. She announced last year that she was leaving the Democratic Party and then participated in 2022 campaign events for election deniers and far-right politicians – the vast majority of whom lost. 

Shortly after the conclusion of the 2022 midterms, Gabbard predictably signed a contributor deal with Fox News. In addition to appearing across the network’s programming, she is also a repeat guest host for the network’s prime-time star, Tucker Carlson. 

The Republican Party of Mahoning County, Ohio, announced that Gabbard is the special guest for its fundraising dinner on March 10. Tickets for the sold-out event are $125, while $350 is the cost of a VIP reception and photo with Gabbard. 

Fox News claimed in November 2018 that it “does not condone any talent participating in campaign events,” and The Washington Post reported in December 2019 that a Fox News “spokeswoman said the network has addressed the issue with its contributors and hosts, as well as third-party agents who book events.” 

Despite the policy, numerous Fox News personalities have participated in Republican events in recent years. (Numerous Fox News personalities have also dropped out of events after Media Matters documented their planned appearances.)  

Fox News host Laura Ingraham recently participated in a donor event for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to run for the Republican presidential nomination against former President Donald Trump and others. Fox News contributor and podcast host Jason Chaffetz, who has pocketed Republican fundraiser speaking fees while working for the network, also spoke at a GOP event  in Utah last month.