Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg confirmed on Tuesday that he’s considering a potential run for president in 2028 and offered candid thoughts on former President Biden’s influence on the 2024 election. While in Iowa a state where he made a strong showing during his 2020 Democratic primary campaign as mayor of South Bend, Indiana Buttigieg addressed reporters following a town hall event with the veterans’ group VoteVets Action Fund in Cedar Rapids.
When asked whether Democrats might have performed better in 2024 had Biden not sought re-election against President Trump, Buttigieg responded, “Maybe,” noting that “right now, with the benefit of hindsight, I think most people would agree that that’s the case,” according to multiple reports.
Earlier in the day, Buttigieg spoke during a Substack Live interview with independent journalist Anand Giridharadas. He said he plans to evaluate what he personally brings to the table and how it differs from other potential candidates. Reflecting on his past decisions, he explained that he’s followed the same internal decision-making process both when he decided to run and when he opted not to.
He emphasized that the process “can lead you to surprising places” and suggested that any firm decision about launching a campaign is still a long way off.