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.
Soon after his announcement, political analyst Mark Halperin suggested that Buttigieg’s status as a “short and gay” man may hurt his chances of winning the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
On “The Morning Meeting,” Halperin noted that taller candidates typically win presidential elections nowadays and that an “openly gay” man has never won the presidency.
“Gotta say it — he’s short and gay. So you can say winning the nomination, being short and gay, is a positive. And for some people, maybe not short, but gay is a positive,” Halperin said. “And I know for some people there is, but there is going to be a premium for the party in 2028 on winning, right? It’s just like ’92. There are going to be a lot of voters who are willing to swallow stuff in order to win.”
“I’ve looked at the list of people who’ve won the presidency. None of them were openly gay — three were gay, but none were openly gay. And so it’s just a risk,” he added. “And in almost every presidential race — not every one, but in almost every presidential race in the television era — the taller person has won. The Republican nominee in 2028 will be taller than Pete Buttigieg.”
Sean Spicer, the former press secretary for the White House in Trump’s first term, pointed out that winning the general election is not the same as winning the Democratic nomination.
Halperin concurred, adding that he was only talking about the nomination.
“I’m torn on whether or not, because he’s gay, it would be a liability,” former Democratic strategist Dan Turrentine chimed in. “I could see it being a liability with certain audiences. I think the question is, do you own it, or are you uncomfortable and hide from it?”
“But this is a time when electability is going to be a massive issue,” Halperin said.
If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minuteNo Installation. Play for free.Navy Quest|
What’s Really Stopping Your Liver from Healing?liverhelpmd|
New York: Three Banks Roll Out 7.5% CD Rates For SeniorsCD Rates | Search Ads|
Solo Sleeper Train Vacations For Seniors At Unbeatable Prices (Take A Look)10 Unbeatable Solo Escapes For Seniors Await-Choose Your Perfect Getaway (See List).Solo Trips | Search Ads|
4 Signs Of Overworked Liver (Write These Down)liverhelpmd|
Two Bedroom Apartment For Seniors in New York Going For Very Cheap! (Take A Look)Accessible Homes For Seniors And Disabled-Independent Living Starts Now (See Options).Housing For Seniors And Disabled | Search ads|
Here Is What Cremation And Burial Packages Should Cost You In 2025! (Take A Look Now)Cremation Packages | Search Ads|
What’s Really Stopping Your Liver from Healing?liverhelpmd|
Solo Sleeper Train Vacations For Seniors At Unbeatable Prices (Take A Look)10 Unbeatable Solo Escapes For Seniors Await-Choose Your Perfect Getaway (See List).Solo Trips | Search Ads|
Why 90-Year-Olds In Bhutan Never Forget A Face (Shocking Discovery)Brain Health|
4 Signs Of Overworked Liver (Write These Down)liverhelpmd|
President Donald Trump Rocks D.C. with Announcement After Dan Bongino Threatens to RESIGN – Trump Calls on FBI To Investigate ‘This Jeffrey Epstein Hoax’ That Was ‘Put Out by Democrats’Conservative Brief
‘Criminal Charges’ – Former First Lady Jill Biden Could Be Locked Up After Sick Development as DOJ Official Suggests Criminal Charges Against Jill Biden For ‘Elder Abuse’Conservative Brief
Don’t Play This Game If You Are Under 30RAID|
Two Bedroom Apartment For Seniors in New York Going For Very Cheap! (Take A Look)Accessible Homes For Seniors And Disabled-Independent Living Starts Now (See Options).Housing For Seniors And Disabled | Search ads|
Here Is What Cremation And Burial Packages Should Cost You In 2025! (Take A Look Now)Cremation Packages | Search Ads|
New York: Three Banks Roll Out 7.5% CD Rates For SeniorsCD Rates | Search Ads|
Federal Judge Drops a Major Jan. 6 Ruling Following Raft Of Pardons Issued By President Donald TrumpConservative Brief
Here’s What a Dental Implant Might Cost You in 2025 (See Price List).Housing For Seniors And Disabled | Search ads|
President Donald Trump Gets Sweet Revenge On Sen. Adam Schiff After He Has Whiny Breakdown On Live TV – It’s About TimeConservative Brief
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Shares Unexpected News About Dan Bongino, Says ‘A Lot of People’ Should Be ‘Very, Very Nervous’ About Bongino’s FBI AppointmentConservative Brief
