The US political chessboard has begun to shift ahead of the 2026 midterms, and one prominent democrat appears to have begun planning his next move: Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden’s former Transportation Secretary. Buttigieg rose to prominence in 2020, when, as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, he ran for the presidential nomination. His easy way with words, fresh image, and engaging speech made him one of the new faces of American politics. Now, it appears that Buttigieg is considering a run for the Senate in the state of Michigan. Below, I’ll explain his background and what his success would mean on the national stage.
Since his college years, Buttigieg has proven himself a leader. He was president and valedictorian of his high school class. He attended Harvard, graduating magna cum laude in 2004 with a major in history and literature. That same year, he joined John Kerry’s presidential campaign as a policy and research specialist. He later studied at Oxford, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts with first-class honours in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics in 2007.
After several years in the private sector, Buttigieg decided to seek elected office. In 2010, he ran for Indiana Treasurer but was defeated. However, his political aspirations materialized in 2011, when he was elected mayor of South Bend at age 29. During his tenure, Buttigieg went on to implement successful policies such as the “Smart Streets” initiative, which sought to revitalize the city’s downtown through road infrastructure. In 2014, Buttigieg took a leave of absence from his post to serve as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve in Afghanistan. During his deployment, he participated in counterinsurgency and counterterrorism missions.
In June 2015, Buttigieg came out as gay, becoming the first elected official in Indiana to do so while in office. That same year, he was re-elected with more than 80% of the vote. In 2017, he attempted to run for the Democratic National Committee chairmanship, but when his platform failed to take off, he dropped out and continued as mayor.
His arrival on the national scene in 2019 was surprising. He participated in a CNN town hall, where he took relevance as a contender for the Democratic nomination for the 2020 presidential election. His performance in the debates was remarkable, standing out among the other candidates. However, his campaign was not exempt from criticism, especially for his handling of the fight against racial tension in South Bend after an incident in 2019 in which a white officer killed an unarmed African-American man. Buttigieg acknowledged his failure in this regard, which was well received by the electorate and allowed him to remain among the leading candidates.
The great achievement of his campaign was winning the Iowa caucus, becoming the first LGBTQ+ candidate to win a primary election. Despite his great efforts in New Hampshire and Nevada, his political movement came to an end after poor results in South Carolina. Once out of the race, he endorsed Joe Biden, who appointed him Secretary of Transportation, becoming the first openly gay US cabinet member.
As secretary, Buttigieg was one of the administration’s most prominent figures. He played a key role in promoting, implementing, and executing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Insider described him as ‘the most powerful Transportation Secretary in history,’ leaving his significant mark on the position.
Now, Buttigieg appears to be contemplating his political future. Earlier this year, Michigan Sen. Gary Peters announced he would not seek re-election in 2026, opening the door for Buttigieg to compete for that seat, as he has been a Michigan resident since 2022. If he decides to run, he will likely have the support of his party’s political establishment. While nothing is set in stone yet, his participation in the race could be a huge advantage for Democrats as they try to win big in 2026.
With his profile looming large in national politics, Buttigieg could use a potential Senate seat as a springboard to run again for the presidency in 2028 or 2032. His political experience and connection to a diverse voter base position him favourably for a successful campaign.
Pete Buttigieg is a skilled politician, a zoon politikon by nature, and his rapid rise is a testament to his ability to adapt and grow in a changing environment. There is no doubt that his career still has a long way to go. With his intelligence, leadership, and commitment to public service, Buttigieg remains one of the most promising figures of his generation, ready to take on new challenges and leave an even deeper mark on American politics.
