Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg entered the 2020 presidential race as a virtual unknown. Quickly, his eloquent style and calm demeanor caught on with Democratic primary voters, and a movement was born. In the first two primary contests of the election season, he has shown himself to be a formidable candidate, by placing first in Iowa and then second in New Hampshire — ahead of multiple senators and a former vice president. It’s clear that there is an actual foundation to Buttigieg’s popularity.
Along with being one of the youngest serious candidates to ever run for president, Buttigieg is also the first serious openly gay candidate. To some, this makes him either more, or less, electable. Realistically, it could matter to some voters — but it shouldn’t. It is a candidate’s policy platform, and not his or her sexual orientation, religion, race, or gender on which voting decisions should be based. Unfortunately, it would appear that some in both camps support or oppose Mayor Pete Buttigieg first and foremost because he is gay.
