Buttigieg Offers the Most Definitive Indication Yet Regarding His Future Plans
The ex-Transportation Secretary is considering a pursuit that's beyond the Senate.
TroibNews 
Pete Buttigieg is expected to announce on Thursday that he will not pursue Michigan’s open Senate seat, as per a person familiar with his decision. This move may enable him to focus on a possible presidential campaign instead.
Allies and close associates have framed his decision as a strategic step to position him more favorably for the presidency, citing the challenges of running consecutive campaigns in 2026 and 2028.
The former Transportation Secretary has acknowledged that he was “looking” into a Senate campaign and had discussions with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about the possibility.
With the departure of retiring Sen. Gary Peters, Democrats are eager to retain this crucial swing state seat. Republicans consider the vacancy a prime opportunity, having nearly flipped Michigan’s other Senate seat in the previous election cycle.
Buttigieg returned to Traverse City, Michigan, with his young family after four years in former President Joe Biden's Cabinet. Those close to him indicated that the demands of Cabinet duties and the likelihood of launching a campaign soon afterward influenced his decision.
Prior to ruling out a Senate run, Buttigieg had also dismissed the possibility of running for Michigan governor. Polling suggested that he would have entered the primary in a strong position.
David Axelrod, a veteran Democratic operative who played a significant role in Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns and has mentored Buttigieg, remarked, “The hardest decision in politics is to pass on a race you have a very good chance to win.” He added, “Pete was an A-list recruit and would have been a formidable candidate for the Senate had he chosen to run. But had he won in '26, it would almost certainly have taken him out of the conversation for '28. This certainly keeps that option open. Beyond that, I have a sense that he wanted to spend more time with his family, and with people in communities like his, where the conversations and concerns are so different than the ones you hear in the echo chamber of Washington.”
Buttigieg's decision alters the Senate primary landscape for Democrats, who are keen to maintain control of the seat after President Donald Trump’s victory in Michigan last November. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow has expressed her intent to run for the position, while Rep. Haley Stevens has made preliminary moves toward a Senate campaign, including staff hires.
Sen. Brian Schatz, who had multiple conversations with Buttigieg throughout his decision-making process, stated, “He wanted to decide quickly enough to give other folks a chance to mobilize if they wanted to run. He handled it responsibly. He’s a rising star in the Democratic Party.”
Buttigieg is now eyeing a potential presidential run in 2028. In this race, he currently polls just behind former Vice President Kamala Harris, who is contemplating a gubernatorial bid in California.
He has also established a strong fundraising network within the party, having raised over $15 million for the Harris-Walz campaign last year.
Should he decide to run for president, Buttigieg could face challenges stemming from his association with an unpopular Biden administration. However, various aspects of the political landscape post-2024 may work in his favor. Buttigieg has consistently prioritized outreach to voters, which is a focus for the Democratic Party at this time.
As he weighs a presidential run, he has become more visible lately. In the past week alone, Buttigieg joined "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," hosted a Bluesky ask-me-anything, and participated in an Instagram chat with Paul Rieckhoff, an independent veteran advocate. Their conversation covered topics such as Elon Musk and budget cuts to the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Rieckhoff emphasized the need for Buttigieg's leadership, stating, “We need you now more than ever," while discussing his potential presidential ambitions.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
Allies and close associates have framed his decision as a strategic step to position him more favorably for the presidency, citing the challenges of running consecutive campaigns in 2026 and 2028.
The former Transportation Secretary has acknowledged that he was “looking” into a Senate campaign and had discussions with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about the possibility.
With the departure of retiring Sen. Gary Peters, Democrats are eager to retain this crucial swing state seat. Republicans consider the vacancy a prime opportunity, having nearly flipped Michigan’s other Senate seat in the previous election cycle.
Buttigieg returned to Traverse City, Michigan, with his young family after four years in former President Joe Biden's Cabinet. Those close to him indicated that the demands of Cabinet duties and the likelihood of launching a campaign soon afterward influenced his decision.
Prior to ruling out a Senate run, Buttigieg had also dismissed the possibility of running for Michigan governor. Polling suggested that he would have entered the primary in a strong position.
David Axelrod, a veteran Democratic operative who played a significant role in Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns and has mentored Buttigieg, remarked, “The hardest decision in politics is to pass on a race you have a very good chance to win.” He added, “Pete was an A-list recruit and would have been a formidable candidate for the Senate had he chosen to run. But had he won in '26, it would almost certainly have taken him out of the conversation for '28. This certainly keeps that option open. Beyond that, I have a sense that he wanted to spend more time with his family, and with people in communities like his, where the conversations and concerns are so different than the ones you hear in the echo chamber of Washington.”
Buttigieg's decision alters the Senate primary landscape for Democrats, who are keen to maintain control of the seat after President Donald Trump’s victory in Michigan last November. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow has expressed her intent to run for the position, while Rep. Haley Stevens has made preliminary moves toward a Senate campaign, including staff hires.
Sen. Brian Schatz, who had multiple conversations with Buttigieg throughout his decision-making process, stated, “He wanted to decide quickly enough to give other folks a chance to mobilize if they wanted to run. He handled it responsibly. He’s a rising star in the Democratic Party.”
Buttigieg is now eyeing a potential presidential run in 2028. In this race, he currently polls just behind former Vice President Kamala Harris, who is contemplating a gubernatorial bid in California.
He has also established a strong fundraising network within the party, having raised over $15 million for the Harris-Walz campaign last year.
Should he decide to run for president, Buttigieg could face challenges stemming from his association with an unpopular Biden administration. However, various aspects of the political landscape post-2024 may work in his favor. Buttigieg has consistently prioritized outreach to voters, which is a focus for the Democratic Party at this time.
As he weighs a presidential run, he has become more visible lately. In the past week alone, Buttigieg joined "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," hosted a Bluesky ask-me-anything, and participated in an Instagram chat with Paul Rieckhoff, an independent veteran advocate. Their conversation covered topics such as Elon Musk and budget cuts to the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Rieckhoff emphasized the need for Buttigieg's leadership, stating, “We need you now more than ever," while discussing his potential presidential ambitions.
Navid Kalantari contributed to this report for TROIB News
