Pete Buttigieg

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Pete Buttigieg
BornPeter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg
19 1, 1982
BirthplaceSouth Bend, Indiana, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician, former naval intelligence officer
Known for19th United States Secretary of Transportation; 32nd Mayor of South Bend, Indiana; first openly gay person confirmed to a U.S. Cabinet position
EducationHarvard University (BA), Pembroke College, Oxford (BA)
Spouse(s)Chasten Buttigieg (m. 2018)
Children2
AwardsJoint Service Commendation Medal

Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; born January 19, 1982) is an American politician and former United States Navy Reserve intelligence officer who served as the 19th United States Secretary of Transportation from 2021 to 2025 under President Joe Biden.[1] A member of the Democratic Party, Buttigieg previously served as the 32nd mayor of South Bend, Indiana, from 2012 to 2020, a tenure that earned him the informal moniker "Mayor Pete."[2] A graduate of Harvard University and the University of Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar, Buttigieg entered the national spotlight as a candidate in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, becoming the first openly gay man to win a presidential primary or caucus when he captured the Iowa caucuses.[3] His confirmation as Secretary of Transportation made him the first openly gay person confirmed to a presidential Cabinet position in United States history. Since leaving the Cabinet in January 2025, Buttigieg has remained active in Democratic politics and has been mentioned as a potential candidate in the 2028 presidential election.[4]

Early Life

Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg was born on January 19, 1982, in South Bend, Indiana. His father, Joseph Buttigieg, was a Maltese-born immigrant who became a professor of English at the University of Notre Dame, and his mother, Jennifer Anne Montgomery, was also a faculty member at Notre Dame. The surname Buttigieg, of Maltese origin, became the subject of considerable public discussion during his presidential campaign, with multiple news outlets publishing guides on its pronunciation.[5][6]

Buttigieg grew up in South Bend, a city whose economic identity had been shaped by the presence and subsequent departure of the Studebaker automobile company. His upbringing in the post-industrial Midwest would later inform much of his political outlook, particularly his emphasis on economic revitalization and infrastructure investment. He attended St. Joseph High School in South Bend, where he excelled academically.

Education

Buttigieg enrolled at Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. His academic achievements at Harvard were followed by a Rhodes Scholarship to attend the University of Oxford, where he studied at Pembroke College and earned a second Bachelor of Arts degree. The Rhodes Scholarship, one of the most competitive international academic awards, placed Buttigieg among a select cohort of scholars recognized for their intellectual and leadership potential.

Career

Early Political Work and McKinsey

Before launching his own political campaigns, Buttigieg worked on the campaigns of several Democratic candidates, including Jill Long Thompson, Joe Donnelly, and John Kerry. These early experiences provided him with exposure to the operational mechanics of American electoral politics at both the state and national levels.

In 2007, Buttigieg began working at McKinsey & Company, the global management consulting firm, where he spent approximately three years. During the 2020 presidential campaign, his tenure at McKinsey became a subject of public scrutiny, with rivals and media outlets pressing him to disclose the clients he had served during his time at the firm. In December 2019, Buttigieg released a summary of his work at McKinsey, which included projects for a health insurance company, a retail company, the U.S. Defense Department, and other organizations.[7]

In 2010, Buttigieg ran as the Democratic nominee for Indiana State Treasurer but was unsuccessful in the general election. The race, though a loss, raised his profile within Indiana Democratic circles.

Military Service

From 2009 to 2017, Buttigieg served as an intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve. He attained the rank of lieutenant and was assigned to Naval Intelligence. In 2014, while serving as mayor of South Bend, Buttigieg was mobilized and deployed to the war in Afghanistan for a seven-month tour. His deployment was notable given that he was simultaneously serving as a sitting mayor. For his service, he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal.

Mayor of South Bend

Buttigieg was elected mayor of South Bend, Indiana, in 2011, taking office on January 1, 2012, at the age of 29, making him one of the youngest mayors of a U.S. city with a population above 100,000 at the time. He succeeded Steve Luecke in the office.[8]

As mayor, Buttigieg oversaw various urban revitalization initiatives in South Bend, a city that had experienced decades of economic decline following the closure of the Studebaker factories. His administration focused on redevelopment of the city's downtown area, including the transformation of infrastructure and efforts to attract new business and investment to the region.

One of the more contentious aspects of Buttigieg's mayoral tenure involved the South Bend Police Department. Early in his first term, Buttigieg asked Darryl Boykins, the city's first Black police chief, to resign amid a federal investigation into the secret recording of police officers' phone conversations. The episode generated lasting criticism from some members of South Bend's Black community, who saw Boykins's removal as a loss of representation in the city's leadership.[9]

In June 2019, the fatal shooting of Eric Logan, a Black man, by a white South Bend police officer further complicated Buttigieg's relationship with the city's Black residents and became a significant issue during his presidential campaign. The officer's body camera was not activated at the time of the shooting, a detail that drew additional scrutiny. Buttigieg faced intense criticism during a town hall meeting following the incident.[10] Relations between Buttigieg and South Bend's Black community remained a source of scrutiny throughout his time in public life, with coverage in The New York Times detailing the broader challenges his administration faced on issues of race and policing.[11]

In 2015, during his second term as mayor, Buttigieg publicly came out as gay in an essay published in the South Bend Tribune, becoming one of the highest-profile elected officials in Indiana to do so at the time. The announcement, made against the backdrop of national debates over same-sex marriage and Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act, drew national attention.[12]

Buttigieg was reelected as mayor in 2015 and declined to seek a third term, leaving office on January 1, 2020. He was succeeded by James Mueller.

In early 2017, Buttigieg entered the race for chairman of the Democratic National Committee, seeking to position himself as a fresh voice for the party following its losses in the 2016 elections. He ultimately withdrew from the contest before a vote was held.[13]

2020 Presidential Campaign

Buttigieg formally launched his campaign for the 2020 presidential election on April 14, 2019, joining a large field of Democratic candidates.[14] He became the first openly gay man to launch a major-party presidential campaign, though he was not the first openly gay person to seek a major-party presidential nomination—Fred Karger, a Republican, had run in 2012.[15]

Despite initially low name recognition and poll numbers, Buttigieg's campaign gained substantial momentum in mid-2019. His participation in televised town hall meetings and Democratic primary debates, where he drew attention for his articulate delivery and policy positions, helped increase his national profile. During an April 2019 CNN town hall, Buttigieg discussed his views on capitalism and socialism, framing himself as a pragmatic candidate who rejected ideological labels.[16]

By the end of 2019, Buttigieg had risen to the top tier of Democratic candidates in Iowa and New Hampshire polling. The Iowa caucuses, held on February 3, 2020, produced a narrow result in which Buttigieg won the most state delegate equivalents, effectively claiming victory in the contest, while Senator Bernie Sanders won the popular vote.[17][18] With his Iowa performance, Buttigieg became the first openly gay candidate to win a presidential primary or caucus in U.S. history.

In the New Hampshire primary held on February 11, 2020, Buttigieg placed a close second behind Sanders.[19] However, his campaign struggled to build a broad coalition, particularly among Black and Latino voters, a challenge that had been foreshadowed by the difficulties in his relationship with South Bend's Black community. After disappointing results in the Nevada caucuses and the South Carolina primary, Buttigieg withdrew from the race on March 1, 2020, and endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden the following day. His endorsement, along with those of other departing candidates, was seen as an important consolidation of moderate Democratic support ahead of Super Tuesday.

Secretary of Transportation

On December 16, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden named Buttigieg as his nominee for United States Secretary of Transportation. The nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 2, 2021, by a bipartisan vote of 86–13. Buttigieg was sworn in the following day, becoming the 19th Secretary of Transportation and the first openly gay person confirmed to a presidential Cabinet position in U.S. history.[20] At 38 years of age at the time of his nomination, he was the youngest member of the Biden Cabinet and the youngest person to serve as Secretary of Transportation.

As Secretary of Transportation, Buttigieg became one of the Biden administration's most prominent public communicators. He was a leading voice for the administration's infrastructure agenda and played a central role in promoting the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the bipartisan infrastructure law signed by President Biden in November 2021. In interviews and public appearances, Buttigieg advocated for modernizing the nation's roads, bridges, rail systems, and broadband infrastructure, and spoke against proposals such as a gas tax increase, exploring instead alternatives like a vehicle-miles-traveled fee.[21]

Buttigieg's tenure also coincided with significant disruptions to the nation's supply chain, particularly in late 2021, when congestion at major ports and delays in goods delivery became a national issue. As Secretary of Transportation, he faced criticism from some quarters for the administration's response, though he defended the government's efforts to address the crisis through coordination with port authorities and freight companies.[22]

During the 2024 presidential election cycle, press reports mentioned Buttigieg as a possible running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris when she launched her presidential campaign, though he was ultimately not selected for the ticket.

Buttigieg served as Secretary of Transportation until January 20, 2025, when the Biden administration concluded. He was succeeded by Sean Duffy.

Post-Cabinet Activities

Following his departure from the Cabinet, Buttigieg has remained active in Democratic politics. In January 2026, he participated in events alongside Senator Cory Booker in Wisconsin, where they focused on healthcare policy and criticisms of Republican positions on the issue.[23]

In February 2026, Buttigieg made a multi-day visit to New Hampshire, a state of considerable importance in presidential primary politics. He spoke at the Concord City Auditorium, addressed issues including child care access and affordability during a tour of the Granite YMCA in Concord, and urged audiences to envision a "post-Trump future."[24][25][26] He also endorsed Shawn Harris, a Democrat running in a special election for a Georgia congressional seat to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene.[27] He also spoke in favor of increased government support for child care during his New Hampshire visit.[28]

A February 2026 poll of New Hampshire voters placed Buttigieg at 20% support among potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates, ahead of California Governor Gavin Newsom and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.[29] As of February 2026, Buttigieg has not publicly stated whether he intends to run for president again.[30]

Personal Life

In June 2015, while serving his second term as mayor of South Bend, Buttigieg publicly came out as gay in an essay in the South Bend Tribune. The announcement made him one of the highest-profile openly gay elected officials in the United States at the time.

Buttigieg married Chasten Glezman, a schoolteacher and writer, on June 16, 2018, in a ceremony held at the Cathedral of St. James in South Bend.[31] Chasten Buttigieg subsequently became a public figure in his own right, particularly during the 2020 presidential campaign. The couple have two children.

Buttigieg is a polyglot who has demonstrated proficiency in several languages. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.

His father, Joseph Buttigieg, who died in January 2019, was a literary scholar known for his English translation of Antonio Gramsci's Prison Notebooks.

Recognition

Buttigieg's career has included several notable distinctions. His victory in the 2020 Iowa caucuses made him the first openly gay candidate to win a presidential primary or caucus in U.S. history.[32] His confirmation as Secretary of Transportation in February 2021 made him the first openly gay person to serve in a presidential Cabinet.[33]

For his military service in the Navy Reserve, including his deployment to Afghanistan, Buttigieg received the Joint Service Commendation Medal. He was also a Rhodes Scholar, one of a small number of U.S. politicians to have received the distinction.

During his presidential campaign and later as Secretary of Transportation, Buttigieg became known for his media fluency and his appearances on cable news and in town hall formats. A 2016 New York Times opinion piece had identified him as a rising figure in American politics, speculating about his future potential.[34]

References

  1. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg makes history as 1st openly gay Cabinet member to be confirmed by Senate".ABC News.2021-02-02.https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pete-buttigieg-makes-history-1st-openly-gay-cabinet/story?id=75633503&cid=social_twitter_abcn.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  2. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg's Tenure as Mayor: Highlights and Challenges".The New York Times.2020-01-01.https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/01/us/politics/pete-buttigieg-mayor-south-bend.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  3. ↑ "Iowa Caucus Results".The New York Times.2020-02-01.https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/01/us/politics/iowa-caucus-delegates-winner.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  4. ↑ "Buttigieg, Newsom, AOC top three in new 2028 poll in key presidential primary state".Fox News.2026-02-19.https://www.foxnews.com/politics/buttigieg-newsom-aoc-top-three-new-2028-poll-key-presidential-primary-state.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  5. ↑ "How to Pronounce Pete Buttigieg's Name".The Cut.2019-03.https://www.thecut.com/2019/03/how-to-pronounce-pete-buttigieg-name.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  6. ↑ "How to pronounce Pete Buttigieg".CNN.2019-01-23.https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/23/politics/how-to-pronounce-pete-buttigieg/index.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  7. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg's McKinsey Clients Revealed".The New York Times.2019-12-10.https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/us/politics/pete-buttigieg-mckinsey-clients.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  8. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg's Tenure as Mayor: Highlights and Challenges".The New York Times.2020-01-01.https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/01/us/politics/pete-buttigieg-mayor-south-bend.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  9. ↑ "Buttigieg and the Black Police Chief".The New York Times.2019-04-19.https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/19/us/politics/buttigieg-black-police-chief-fired.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  10. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg's Response to a Fatal Police Shooting Roils Presidential Campaign".The New York Times.2019-06-24.https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/24/us/politics/pete-buttigieg-south-bend-shooting.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  11. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg and the South Bend Police".The New York Times.2019-08-30.https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/30/us/politics/pete-buttigieg-south-bend-police.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  12. ↑ "The First Gay President?".The New York Times.2016-06-12.https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/12/opinion/sunday/the-first-gay-president.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  13. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend, Enters D.N.C. Chairman's Race".The New York Times.2017-01-05.https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/05/us/pete-buttigieg-democratic-national-committee-chairman-race.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  14. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend, Explores Presidential Bid".The New York Times.2019-01-23.https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/politics/pete-buttigieg-mayor-south-bend-president.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  15. ↑ "Fred Karger and Pete Buttigieg".ABC7.2019.https://abc7.com/fred-karger-pete-buttigieg-gay-openly-presidential-candidate/5352757/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  16. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg on socialism and capitalism".CNN.2019-04-16.https://edition.cnn.com/2019/04/16/politics/pete-buttigieg-2020-socialism-capitalism-cnntv/index.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  17. ↑ "Iowa Caucus Delegates and Winner".The New York Times.2020-02-01.https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/01/us/politics/iowa-caucus-delegates-winner.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  18. ↑ "Bernie won the Iowa popular vote, Buttigieg won delegates".Business Insider.2020-02.https://www.businessinsider.com/bernie-won-iowa-popular-vote-buttigieg-electoral-college-2020-2.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  19. ↑ "Bernie Sanders wins New Hampshire Democratic primary".Vox.2020-02-11.https://www.vox.com/2020/2/11/21133087/bernie-sanders-new-hampshire-democratic-primary-winner-2020.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  20. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg makes history as 1st openly gay Cabinet member to be confirmed by Senate".ABC News.2021-02-02.https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pete-buttigieg-makes-history-1st-openly-gay-cabinet/story?id=75633503&cid=social_twitter_abcn.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  21. ↑ "Buttigieg on gas tax and mileage tax".CNN.2021-03-29.https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/29/politics/buttigieg-no-gas-tax-mileage-tax-biden-infrastructure-plan-cnntv/index.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  22. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg on supply chain issues".CNN.2021-10-17.https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/17/politics/pete-buttigieg-supply-chain-issues-cnntv/index.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  23. ↑ "Buttigieg and Booker Lead Push to Hammer Republicans on Health Care".The New York Times.2026-01-18.https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/us/politics/democrats-health-care-booker-buttigieg.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  24. ↑ "Speaking to crowd in Concord, Pete Buttigieg rails against planned ICE facility in Merrimack".WMUR.2026-02-22.https://www.wmur.com/article/pete-buttigieg-concord-new-hampshire/70449061.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  25. ↑ "'Better than before': In Concord visit, Pete Buttigieg asks NH to picture a post-Trump future".Concord Monitor.2026-02-21.https://www.concordmonitor.com/2026/02/21/pete-buttigieg-nh-visit/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  26. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg tours Granite YMCA in Concord with focus on child care".Concord Monitor.2026-02-20.https://www.concordmonitor.com/2026/02/20/pete-buttigieg-tours-granite-ymca-in-concord-with-focus-on-child-care/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  27. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg endorses lone Democrat as Trump doubles down in Georgia".USA Today.2026-02-20.https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2026/02/20/pete-buttigieg-endorses-democrat-shawn-harris-to-replace-mtg-in-georgia/88774904007/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  28. ↑ "Buttigieg, Goodlander back increased government support for child care".Yahoo News.2026-02-23.https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/buttigieg-goodlander-back-increased-government-171141535.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  29. ↑ "Buttigieg, Newsom, AOC top three in new 2028 poll in key presidential primary state".Fox News.2026-02-19.https://www.foxnews.com/politics/buttigieg-newsom-aoc-top-three-new-2028-poll-key-presidential-primary-state.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  30. ↑ "'Better than before': In Concord visit, Pete Buttigieg asks NH to picture a post-Trump future".Concord Monitor.2026-02-21.https://www.concordmonitor.com/2026/02/21/pete-buttigieg-nh-visit/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  31. ↑ "Mayor Pete Buttigieg Wedding".The New York Times.2018-06-18.https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/18/fashion/weddings/mayor-peter-buttigieg-wedding-democratic-party.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  32. ↑ "Iowa Caucus Delegates and Winner".The New York Times.2020-02-01.https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/01/us/politics/iowa-caucus-delegates-winner.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  33. ↑ "Pete Buttigieg makes history as 1st openly gay Cabinet member to be confirmed by Senate".ABC News.2021-02-02.https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pete-buttigieg-makes-history-1st-openly-gay-cabinet/story?id=75633503&cid=social_twitter_abcn.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  34. ↑ "The First Gay President?".The New York Times.2016-06-12.https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/12/opinion/sunday/the-first-gay-president.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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