SENATOR PETE?

Not going to happen. Pete Buttigieg, Mayor Pete of South Bend, IN, and President Biden’s Transportation Secretary, was thought to be laying down the tracks for a senatorial run – as well as a possible presidential run in 2028. But on March 13 he announced that he would not be seeking to fill the Senate seat held by Gary Peters. According to Politico, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) met with Buttigieg in late February to discuss a possible Michigan Senate bid, and followed it up a week later with a visit to The Late Show with Steven Colbert. He also reportedly met recently with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who is noted to likely be running for the seat. Politico, which broke the Buttigieg story about his Senate decision, said that Mayor Pete has ruled out a gubernatorial run in 2026, having eyed the strong field of ambitious Michigan Dems (and former Democrat and now Independent Mike Duggan) that are running. Watch for Buttigieg to remain active in the media to keep his presidential options for 2028 alive.

Pete Buttigieg