Buttigieg Signals He Is Leaning Toward 2028 Presidential Campaign

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he is currently more likely than not to seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, though family responsibilities and an uncertain political landscape could still shape his decision.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he is leaning toward another campaign for the White House in 2028, offering one of his clearest indications yet that he may enter the next Democratic presidential primary.

“I think I’m more inclined than not, but there’s so much we don’t know,” Buttigieg said during an appearance on “The Diary of a CEO” podcast released Monday.

Buttigieg has not formally announced a campaign, and his remarks left open the possibility that personal and political circumstances could lead him to remain out of the race.

He said becoming a father changed how he evaluates the demands of running for president and serving in public office. Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten Buttigieg, adopted twins in 2021.

Buttigieg suggested that he did not fully appreciate the weight of a presidential campaign until he had children and that the effect on his family would be an important consideration as he decides whether to run.

A 2028 campaign would be Buttigieg’s second attempt to secure the Democratic presidential nomination. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, finished fifth in the party’s 2020 primary before later serving as transportation secretary under President Joe Biden.

Despite that earlier finish, Buttigieg has emerged as a prominent prospective candidate in early surveys of Democratic voters. Polling has placed him among the leading possible contenders for the 2028 nomination if he enters the race, The Hill reported.

His comments mark a shift from more cautious responses he has previously offered when asked about another presidential campaign. Although he stopped short of making a commitment, saying he is “more inclined than not” places him closer to a potential candidacy than a number of other Democrats being discussed for 2028.

Buttigieg’s eventual decision is expected to depend on conditions that remain unsettled, including the composition of the Democratic field, the national political environment and the impact a campaign would have on his husband and children.