U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s days in Washington are numbered, but the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., remains evasive on a rumored run for Michigan governor.
Buttigieg, who moved to Michigan with his husband in 2020, is among several Democrats floated as potential contenders to replace term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2026, though the secretary recently told CBS Chicago he remains focused on his current job.
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“I’m going to be spending a lot more time with Chasten and the kids,” Buttigieg said. “There’s lots of possibilities. People have lots of ideas that they’re approaching me with, but we got a few more weeks where I’ve got to deliver in this job for President Biden and the American people.”
Those remarks echo similar comments to the Associated Press last month, following polling that showed Buttigieg leading among potential Democratic contenders for 2026.
“Pete Buttigieg refuses to rule out running for Michigan governor in 2026 – AP,” NewsWire posted to X.
It was the same deal when Buttigieg was confronted about his political future by WJBK last November, Axios’ Mike Allen in March, and Politico in August.
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“I don’t mean to dodge, it’s just that this job takes about 110% of my intellect and attention and I don’t know if I’ll run for office again or not,” Buttigieg told Allen. “But I do really care about the future of the state that I’ve married into, and adopted, and I think Gov. Whitmer is doing a fantastic job.”
A Mitchell Research & Communications poll in October found Buttigieg with the support of 38% of likely Democratic voters should he choose to mount a campaign for governor, followed by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson at 18%, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan at 3%, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson at 2%, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist III with 2%, and Royal Oak state Sen. Mallory McMorrow at 1%.
Duggan on Wednesday announced his intent to ditch the Democratic Party and run for governor as in Independent, a move that will allow him to avoid a potentially crowded party primary.
The announcement also appeared to trigger Benson, who took to X to extol the virtues of her party.
“I’m proud to be a Democrat,” Benson wrote. “We’re the party of fairness, freedom, of opportunity for all. We’re the party that does the courageous thing because it’s the right thing. We are the party that recognizes we’re all in this together and we will only truly thrive and prosper when all thrive and prosper. We are the party that stands with the voters, and stands with democracy.”
Voters, of course, elected Republican Donald Trump to a second term in November by a margin of more than 2 million votes, while also flipping control of the Michigan House from Democrat to Republican.
The results mean Buttigieg is coming home in six weeks, after Trump is sworn in as president on Jan. 20 with a mandate from voters to unravel Democrat President Joe Biden’s policies on the border, economy, energy and other issues.
They could also pave the way for Republicans in the Michigan House to investigate Democratic malfeasance involving Benson and others when they take control next year.
The Secretary of State faces multiple complaints to the State Bar of Michigan’s Attorney Grievance Commission over her “deceitful” efforts to manipulate the 2024 ballot, as well as a $82,500 campaign contribution to Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kyra Bolden’s reelection coffers. Bolden, as it happens, ruled in Benson’s favor on multiple cases.
Questions also surround Benson’s fierce legal fights to avoid vetting the state’s bloated voter rolls, her partisan voter registration efforts, and at least one instance of illegal voting in the 2024 election.