President-elect Joe Biden tapped former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg to be the secretary of transportation in his administration, multiple outlets reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Many see a Cabinet post for Buttigieg as essential for the former mayor’s political aspirations — giving him what many Democrats say is “needed experience” before he could mount another presidential campaign, according to CNN. Buttigieg is the first openly gay candidate nominated to Biden’s administration and, if confirmed, would be the first openly gay Cabinet secretary to be approved by the Senate.