Ms. Gabbard grew up in a secretive offshoot of the Hare Krishna movement and has made a dizzying journey from conservative to liberal darling to Trump ally.

WASHINGTON—The Senate Intelligence Committee narrowly advanced Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to oversee the nation’s intelligence agencies, another step in President Trump’s effort to stock his second administration with loyal but sometimes unconventional cabinet appointments.

Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s controversial pick to lead U.S. intelligence agencies, escaped from a close committee ballot and heads to a full Senate vote.