Pete Buttigieg cleared the path for a much-anticipated 2028 presidential campaign this week after announcing that he will not run for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat.
Although he had previously stated that he was “looking” at trying to unseat retiring Democrat Gary Peters in one of the most competitive seats in the 2026 cycle, the former Transportation Secretary stated that he had “decided against competing” to be either governor or senator.
“I care deeply about who Michigan will elect as Governor and send to the U.S. Senate next year, but I have decided against competing in either race. I remain enthusiastic about helping candidates who share our values – and who understand that in this moment, leadership means not only opposing today’s cruel chaos, but also presenting a vision of a better alternative,” he wrote on X.
If Buttigieg won the seat in 2026, however, it would “almost certainly” take him out of the conversation for 2028, according to Axelrod.
“This certainly keeps that option open,” Axelrod added.
In addition, Buttigieg ran in the crowded 2020 Democratic primary, which former President Joe Biden won.
As of right now, Buttigieg is only trailing former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2028 presidential contest. But Harris has been considering whether to enter a more pressing political campaign.
According to reports, the unsuccessful 2024 presidential candidate has been considering running for governor of California in 2026 in an attempt to unseat term-out Governor Gavin Newsom.
Politico previously reported, citing two people familiar with her plans, that she is expected to decide on her next course of action by the end of the summer.
In a pivotal swing state that favored President Trump in November, Buttigieg’s announcement has Democrats scrambling to try and fill the seat being vacated by Peters.
In 2022, Buttigieg, a former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, moved to Michigan, the home state of his husband Chasten.
