Pete Buttigieg says he won’t run for Senate, sparking 2028 rumors

(NewsNation) — Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced he will not run for Michigan’s vacant Senate seat in 2026.

Buttigieg, who grew up near the Michigan border in South Bend, Indiana, said in a social media post that he has “decided against competing in another race.”

Buttigieg was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, despite his highest elected office being the mayor of his hometown. He parlayed that into a role in President Joe Biden’s administration.

Buttigieg did not rule out a run for president in 2028.

Lynda Tran, the former senior adviser to Buttigieg when he was Biden’s transportation secretary, said since he lives in Michigan, he’s talking to “ordinary, everyday folks on a regular basis.”

“I can tell you one thing about my old boss is he will find a way to serve, he will find a way to be relevant, and he will remain part of the conversation,” Tran said on NewsNation’s “The Hill” Thursday. “These things are going to take time to percolate.”