Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has over 40 days remaining as a member of the Biden administration. Despite his time as transportation secretary ending, many are convinced Buttigieg has a bright political future. With his residential move from Indiana to Michigan after his failed 2020 presidential campaign, there are those who believe the former naval officer and mayor of South Bend, Indiana, once known as “Mayor Pete,” could be the Great Lakes State’s next Democratic governor.
However, there is plenty of time before Michigan’s next gubernatorial election. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) has two years left of her second term. Whitmer won both of her elections by significant margins and remains popular in the state. Due to state laws, however, she cannot run for another term, and there will be a new Democratic candidate for governor in the 2026 election.
Furthermore, recent political setbacks experienced by Michigan Democrats have left many seeking change, according to the Associated Press. Republicans won control of Michigan’s House, and President-elect Donald Trump won the state in the 2024 presidential election. With Buttigieg now a Michigan resident, some feel he could take the mantle from Whitmer and be the new face of the state’s Democratic Party.
Incidentally, Buttigieg was in Monroe, Michigan, on Monday to announce government funding to replace the River Raisin Bridge on I-75 between Detroit, Michigan, and Toledo, Ohio. The government will provide $196 million in grants for the project, according to WILX-10. The bridge is considered one of the country’s 18 “most economically significant bridges in the nation.” It is the kind of action that Buttigieg has shown during his time in office that has won him support from Democrats nationwide.
“For commuters, for truck drivers, for anyone who uses America’s interstate highways, our bridges are essential to keep people and goods moving — and the Biden-Harris administration has taken unprecedented steps to repair and rebuild these critical structures,” Buttigieg said about the project. “We’ve made good on our promise to address our country’s most economically significant bridges, and are now going beyond our initial goal of 10 bridge megaprojects, while also delivering much-needed repairs to thousands of other bridges nationwide to make driving safer and supply chains stronger.”
Later, during an event at a union hall near Detroit, Buttigieg was greeted by workers who tried to get a feel for a possible run as the state’s governor. They asked him questions about the state and Michigan’s culture, with one person asking Buttigieg if he knew this week’s opponent of the Detroit Lions, the Associated Press reported. Buttigieg was unable to provide an answer. Yet despite the lack of knowledge about the schedule for the Detroit Lions, many people supported him at the event. One person in attendance expressed gratitude for his appearances on Fox News to challenge opposing viewpoints.
“I personally want to thank you for going up, facing the Fox News crowd, listening to people’s questions and answering. And I think you’re one of the few politicians that does that,” the guest told the transportation secretary.
He is well-liked by Democrats, has experience working in a presidential administration, and was heralded for his Fox News appearances. The enthusiasm and support Buttigieg received from the crowd is indicative of how Democrats could view the former mayor of a city in Indiana as Michigan’s political savior, especially after the results of the recent election.
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Buttigieg is undecided about running for governor and did not want to commit to any plans. He said he is focused on finishing his term as part of the Biden administration.
“I haven’t made any decisions about, big decisions about my future. And I know that we’ve got six more weeks, and we’re going to sprint through the tape,” Buttigieg said.
