Former United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, the first openly gay American who sought the Democratic Party nomination for president in 2019, explaining in his Substack blog why he’s not running for office in 2026, while keeping his future electoral plans open:
“Next year will bring elections for the [Michigan] Governor’s office and for one of our state’s seats in the U.S. Senate. I thought seriously about both, especially after being encouraged by some of the leaders in Michigan whom I most respect…I’ve had long conversations with neighbors, advisors, friends, elected officials, and with Chasten about whether to run.
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.
I care deeply about the outcome of both races, but I have decided against competing in either. My party has a deep and talented bench here in Michigan, and I am certain that we will nominate an outstanding candidate for each office.
In the months ahead I will be spending more time engaging both legacy and digital media in the service of a politics of everyday life, rooted in the values of freedom, security, and democracy. I will be engaging partners, allies, friends and strangers in the service of a more convincing and widespread account of American prosperity than either side has so far offered.
And I’ll also be taking advantage of my exit from office to spend much more time offline, in dialogue with people like my neighbors in Michigan and communities like South Bend, Indiana, where I grew up and served as mayor. You’ll be seeing me on familiar platforms and newer ones, developing this vision and discussing with fellow Americans what they most need from their government and their country at a time like this.
In this troubled season of American life, I think that more hope – not just for a party seeking a political win but for a country seeking a better politics – will come by way of action. I will be doing my part, as I know you will.”
