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The former transportation secretary looks like he's keeping his options open.
He is one of the most popular Democrats in the country.
Pete Buttigieg seems to be playing the long game. The former transportation secretary and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate has decided not to run for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat, which may signal he has his eyes set on something bigger: the White House in 2028.
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Buttigieg, the first gay person confirmed to a cabinet position by the U.S. Senate, lives in Traverse City with his husband, Chasten, and their two children. But make no mistake—he’s probably not stepping away from politics. If anything, he may be setting the stage for his biggest campaign yet.
Related: Pete Buttigieg eyeing potential Michigan U.S. Senate race
The New York Times reports that three people briefed on his deliberations revealed Buttigieg’s decision. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, was widely viewed as a top contender to replace retiring Democrat Sen. Gary Peters, with strong name recognition and a robust fundraising network. But his recent move to Michigan in 2022 opened him up to “carpetbagger” attacks, and jumping into a Senate race in 2026 would have made a presidential bid two years later far more difficult.
According toPolitico, Buttigieg met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to discuss the possibility of a run, but ultimately, he opted out. Allies say the decision was strategic, keeping his options open for 2028.
“The hardest decision in politics is to pass on a race you have a very good chance to win,” veteran Democratic strategist David Axelrod, a mentor to Buttigieg, told Politico. “Pete was an A-list recruit and would have been a formidable candidate. But had he won in ’26, it would almost certainly have taken him out of the conversation for ’28.”
Related: Pete Buttigieg blasts ‘despicable’ Donald Trump for blaming D.C. plane crash on DEI
His choice reshapes the Michigan Senate race, a must-win for Democrats looking to defend their slim majority. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow and Rep. Haley Stevens are expected to enter a high-profile battle. Meanwhile, Republicans see the seat as a prime opportunity to flip after President Donald Trump won Michigan, a key battleground state, in November. Buttigieg was also rumored to be eyeing the Michigan governor's mansion since Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is term-limited, but he passed on that opportunity as well.
Even without a Senate run, Buttigieg remains one of the Democratic Party’s most potent voices against Trump. In January, he condemned the president for blaming a deadly plane crash over the Potomac River on diversity, equity, and inclusion policies at the Federal Aviation Administration.
Trump used the tragedy—which killed 64 passengers and three Army service members—to push his anti-DEI rhetoric and attack Buttigieg, calling him a “disaster.”
“Despicable. As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying,” Buttigieg fired back on X, pointing out that air safety had improved under his watch.
That sharp messaging was also on display during his recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where he dissected Trump’s rhetoric with humor and clarity.
Related:Pete Buttigieg & Stephen Colbert take turns roasting Donald Trump for his unhinged presidential address
Colbert brought up Trump’s bizarre claim that Democrats are “turning mice transgender,” referencing right-wing misinformation about scientific research. Buttigieg brushed off the absurdity before pivoting to real issues impacting Americans.
He called out Trump’s foreign policy contradictions, criticizing his attacks on Canada while aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Canada is our friend. Russia is our adversary. And he’s got us fighting Canada and helping Russia,” Buttigieg said.
Buttigieg warned that Trump’s new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China would hit working-class Americans the hardest.
“By the end of this week, you’re going to go to the store and find some things are more expensive because you are paying this tax,” he explained. “Let’s be clear what a tariff is—it’s a tax.”
Buttigieg is keeping his next moves under wraps for now, but signs point to a 2028 run. According to Politico, he’s polling just behind former Vice President Kamala Harris among potential Democratic contenders. His fundraising network remains active, and last year, he helped raise more than $15 million for the Harris-Walz campaign.
