Pete Buttigieg, the former Transportation Secretary, declared on Thursday that he will not be contesting for the vacant U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, according to insiders
The 43-year-old ex-mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is instead setting his sights on a presidential run, a move that has drawn comparisons to Barack Obama's swift rise to the presidency just four years after becoming a U.S. senator.
As reported by Politico, Buttigieg's decision is seen by his close allies as a strategic move that puts him in the best possible position for a presidential bid. They believe that running successive campaigns in 2026 and 2028 would be an uphill battle. "He wanted to decide quickly enough to give other folks a chance to mobilize if they wanted to run," said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii. "He handled it responsibly. He's a rising star in the Democratic Party."
The Democratic Party in Michigan, a critical battleground state, is striving to retain the seat being vacated by the retiring Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. Buttigieg, who is openly gay and made a bid for the presidency in 2020, relocated to Traverse City, Michigan, with his young family after serving four years in former President Joe Biden's Cabinet.
The decision of Buttigieg, a rising star in the Democratic Party, to not run for the Senate seat has been seen by some as a responsible move. It allows other potential candidates to mobilize their campaigns, demonstrating his commitment to the party's success beyond his personal ambitions. His decision also underscores the challenges faced by Democrats in holding onto key seats in battleground states, a concern that is likely to shape the party's strategies in the upcoming elections.
Buttigieg's move to Michigan and his potential presidential ambitions signal a shift in the political landscape. His previous presidential run in 2020, while unsuccessful, marked him as a significant figure within the Democratic Party. His decision to focus on a potential presidential run rather than a Senate seat could indicate a strategic calculation about where he can best advance his political career and the causes he champions.
While Buttigieg's decision may disappoint those who hoped to see him in the Senate, it opens up opportunities for other Democrats to step forward. As the party seeks to maintain its hold on key seats, new faces may emerge, bringing fresh perspectives and energy to the political arena.
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