To even the most cursory and conservative of observers, it’s been evident for nearly a year now that Pete Buttigieg is a unique political talent. The former South Bend, Indiana, mayor managed to catapult his quixotic bid for the presidency into a career-creating feat built by rhetorical expertise, intelligence, and, most importantly, empathy.

Alas, the 38-year-old former mayor of the 308th largest city in the country faced an uphill battle from the start. After remarkably closing out the Democratic primary as a top-tier candidate, his campaign has conceded that it’s at his end. Between his support for packing the Supreme Court and legalizing abortion up until the point of birth, there’s no question that Buttigieg was far further to the Left of former President Barack Obama. But Buttigieg was both a capitalist in his policies and, far more importantly, a liberal in his appreciation for both our democratic rules, norms of free speech, and tolerance for dissent that our system requires to function.