2028 Presidential Election › Candidates › Pete Buttigieg
Democrat
Pete Buttigieg
Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Veteran · Navy Reserve5%±0±0±0
Chance of winning the 2028 Democratic nomination, 4th among the contenders we track. Kalshi 5% · Polymarket 5%
ChangeMarkets: Kalshi · Polymarket
Background
A Navy Reserve veteran and two-term mayor of South Bend, Buttigieg ran for president in 2020 and then served four years as transportation secretary. He now lives in Michigan.
- Born
- January 19, 1982 in South Bend, Indiana (age 44)
- Home state
- Michigan
- Education
- Harvard University; University of Oxford (Rhodes Scholar)
Military service
U.S. Navy Reserve
Navy Reserve intelligence officer (2009–2017), deployed to Afghanistan in 2014.
Served our country in uniform. VoteTide honors every candidate who has worn it: thank you for your service.
Career
- Secretary of Transportation (2021–2025)
- Mayor of South Bend, Indiana (2012–2020)
- U.S. Navy Reserve, served in Afghanistan
Notable record
- Won the most delegates in the 2020 Iowa caucuses
- Oversaw transportation spending from the 2021 infrastructure law
- First openly gay Cabinet secretary confirmed by the Senate
Other Democratic contenders
- Alexandria Ocasio-CortezU.S. Representative from New York14%
- Gavin NewsomGovernor of California13%
- Josh ShapiroGovernor of Pennsylvania5%
- Kamala HarrisFormer Vice President of the United States5%
Facts as of November 5, 2026. Photo via Wikimedia Commons. Spot an error? Tell us. See all candidates or the 2028 forecast.