In a move that shakes up the 2028 Democratic field, Pete Buttigieg signaled his presidential ambitions by opting out of Michigan’s open U.S. Senate race. The seat, vacated by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), was considered a strong opportunity. But Buttigieg’s team agrees that running for Senate in 2026 and launching a presidential campaign two years later would be nearly impossible. Skipping the Senate race puts him in a better position to challenge top contenders, including Kamala Harris.

Buttigieg first gained national attention in 2020 after serving as South Bend’s mayor and as a Navy intelligence officer in Afghanistan. As one of the few openly gay elected officials, he energized Democratic voters. Despite early success in Iowa and New Hampshire, he dropped out after South Carolina, later endorsing Joe Biden. Biden appointed him U.S. transportation secretary.

David Axelrod told Politico, “The hardest decision in politics is to pass on a race you have a very good chance to win,” adding that this move keeps Buttigieg’s 2028 options open. Axelrod also noted, “He wanted to spend more time with his family…where the conversations and concerns are so different than the ones you hear in the echo chamber of Washington.”Harris remains the biggest name in the 2028 field, but other contenders, like Tim Walz and Gavin Newsom, are eyeing their chances.