In a post on Substack, Buttigieg wrote more about his decision-making process, saying he had "seriously" considered running for Michigan's open Senate seat and governorship, but adding: "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." He also wrote, "I am simultaneously thankful to be away from Washington and yet also more motivated than ever to contribute to the future of this country." Passing on a Senate and gubernatorial run sets Buttigieg up to be in the strongest possible position to run for president in 2028, a source familiar with his thinking told NBC News.
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that he will not seek an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, a move that leaves the door wide open for him to seek a much bigger role as his party’s next presidential nominee. Since his role in the Biden administration ended in late January, Buttigieg has spent months considering his next move, including a serious look at the unexpectedly open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, where he relocated in recent years. But many prominent allies he consulted believed he could not realistically pursue the Senate seat while keeping the door open for a 2028 presidential run. “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,” Buttigieg said on social media Thursday, adding that he doesn’t plan to run for any office in 2026.
A source familiar with Buttigieg's thinking told Fox News that the former transportation secretary is in a strong possible position to run for president in 2028 and that running for either senator or governor "in 2026 would have taken that off the table." The source noted that Democrats, in the wake of their election setbacks this past November - when the party lost the White House and the Senate majority and failed to win back control of the House - are seeking out new places to reach voters. The source emphasized that "Pete has been doing that from day 1" and that "he will continue to do so."
