Pete Buttigieg, the former Transportation Secretary, announced on Thursday that he will not be running for governor or the open Senate seat in Michigan. This decision clears the way for a potential White House bid in 2028.
In a statement released on Thursday morning, Buttigieg said that he cares deeply about who Michigan will elect as Governor and send to the U.S. Senate next year, but he has decided against competing in either race. He remains enthusiastic about helping candidates who share his values and who understand that in this moment, leadership means not only opposing today's cruel chaos, but also presenting a vision of a better alternative.
A number of allies have noted that the move would put the former 2020 presidential candidate and South Bend, Indiana, mayor in a stronger position to run for president in the next Democratic primary. Running campaigns in 2026 and 2028 would be challenging.
Buttigieg said recently that he had been looking at a Senate campaign, and that he had a meeting with Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as the party is working to hold on to the swing state seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. Republicans hope to flip the seat after nearly winning the state's other Senate seat in the last election.
Buttigieg moved to Traverse City, Michigan, along with his husband and children after four years in the Biden cabinet. Those in his inner circle told Politico that the workload of being in the Cabinet, the travel that accompanies such a job, and the idea of starting a campaign soon after, affected the decision not to run for the Senate.
In the months ahead, Buttigieg will be spending more time engaging both legacy and digital media in the service of a politics of everyday life, rooted in the values of freedom, security, and democracy. He will be engaging partners, allies, friends and strangers in the service of a more convincing and widespread account of American prosperity than either side has so far offered. He will also be taking advantage of his exit from office to spend much more time offline, in dialogue with people like his neighbors in Michigan and communities like South Bend, Indiana, where he grew up and served as mayor.
6 Comments
Rotfront
He's got the energy and the passion to lead this country into a brighter future.
Karamba
He's got a strong moral compass. He'll always do what's right, even when it's difficult.
Matzomaster
His time as Transportation Secretary was a disaster. Imagine him in charge of the whole country?
Karamba
He's a role model for young people. He shows them that anything is possible if you work hard and believe in yourself.
Rotfront
He's part of the problem, not the solution. We need new blood, not recycled politicians.
KittyKat
He's too inexperienced. We need someone with a proven track record to lead the nation.