The former transportation secretary ran for president in 2020 and did not rule out another presidential run in 2028.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg revealed that he won’t run for senate or governor in Michigan, prompting further speculation about his possible presidential ambitions.
Buttigieg, 43, announced on Thursday that he will not seek election to either office in 2026.
The Democrat revealed his decision in a statement on X and elaborated on his plans in his own Substack article.
“While my own plans don’t include running for office in 2026, I remain intensely focused on consolidating, communicating, and supporting a vision for this alternative,” he wrote. “The decisions made by elected leaders matter entirely because of how they shape our everyday lives – and the choices made in these years will decide the American people’s access to freedom, security, democracy, and prosperity for the rest of our lifetimes.”
His decision sheds some insight into his political future after leaving his post with the Biden administration in January.
Buttigieg ran for president in 2020 and did not rule out another presidential run in 2028.
“I considered what I could bring to the race compared to other likely candidates, and what running and serving would mean compared to other ways I could make a difference in the years ahead,” Buttigieg wrote, adding that he plans to remain engaged in the “politics of everyday life” in the months ahead.
He also said that the country today is “less free, less secure, less democratic – and less prosperous” under the Trump administration.
Buttigieg dropped several hints that his political life isn’t over, noting that he is thankful to be away from Washington but also “more motivated than ever to contribute” to the nation’s future.
The former Biden administration official grew up near the Michigan border in South Bend, Indiana, and served as mayor from 2012 to 2020. He moved to Traverse City five years ago with his husband, Chasten, and the couple adopted a baby together in 2021.
The Senate seat in Michigan was left vacant after Democratic Sen. Gary Peters announced his intent to retire in late January.
The battleground state faces a crucial election cycle in 2026. The U.S. Senate seat, the governor’s mansion, and attorney general position are all up for grabs. The State House and State Senate are also on the ballot that year.
The races are expected to be closely watched because Michigan remains a hotly-contested state. In the 2024 elections, the battleground state voted Republican and elected Trump while also voting for Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat.
Michigan Democratic state Sen. Mallory McMorrow is expected to announce her bid for the open Senate seat in April. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) is also considering a possible run.
A Republican hasn’t been elected to the U.S. Senate in the Great Lakes State this century.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
From NTD News