Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (D) has hinted at a potential 2028 presidential bid shortly after polling ahead of other potential contenders for the Democrat nomination.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (D) is leaning towards running for President in 2028. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “I think I’m more inclined than not, but there’s so much we don’t know,” Buttigieg said during a The Diary of a CEO podcast appearance. 📺 DETAIL: On Monday, Buttigieg, who served as Transportation Secretary under former President Joe Biden, confirmed that he was more likely than not to run for President in 2028. Buttigieg previously ran in the 2020 Democratic primary, where he finished fifth. Buttigieg’s comments follow polling that suggests he would be among the frontrunners for the Democrat nomination. Specifically, last month, a poll from New Hampshire revealed that Buttigieg is polling at 21 percent, just one percentage point behind frontrunner Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). The poll suggested that Buttigieg is the most popular potential Democrat candidate not formally aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a far-left organization currently taking over the Democrat Party. According to recent polling, approximately one-third of Democrat and Democrat-aligned voters identify as Democratic Socialists. Other non-DSA Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, polled in the single digits. In September last year, it was reported that former Vice President and failed 2024 Democrat nominee Kamala Harris wanted Buttigieg as her running mate before opting for outgoing Governor Tim Walz (D-MN). 🎯 IMPACT: Buttigieg’s potential candidacy positions him as an early contender for the Democrat nomination in 2028. The polling from New Hampshire is important as the state often serves a critical bellwether during the primary stage. However, the former Transportation Secretary noted that his decision to run for President hinged upon on personal and family considerations. Back in 2021, Buttigieg and his male spouse, Chasten Buttigieg, adopted twins. Given the recent electoral successes of the DSA, and the rising support for far-left politics in the Democrat Party, it is possible that Buttigieg will be viewed by the insurgents as the candidate of the party establishment. It is also possible that Buttigieg moves leftward to secure the nomination should he decide to run. |
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