NBC News
Buttigieg calls early results an “unbelievable rejection” of Trump
Pete reacts to the midterm returns on election night.
Watch →Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation
Ready for the Road Ahead
Mayor. Navy veteran. Cabinet secretary. In 2026, Pete Buttigieg crisscrossed the country campaigning for Democrats, and on election night he was in Detroit as Michigan delivered historic wins. Wherever the road goes next, we're with him.
🏙 Mayor of South Bend, 2012–2020
🚆 19th Secretary of Transportation
🗳 Campaigned in dozens of 2026 races
2026 Midterms
A Big Night for Michigan Democrats
Pete spent the campaign season on the trail for Democrats from Michigan to Georgia to Arizona. On election night he joined the Michigan Democratic watch party in Detroit as results rolled in.
Election Night · Detroit
Michigan results ↗
“I'd rather be us right now.”
Pete to Michigan Democrats as the votes were counted, while reminding them there is still work to do over the next two years.
- ✓Jocelyn Benson — GovernorDefeated John James to win the governor's race.
- ✓Abdul El-Sayed — U.S. SenateWon Michigan's open Senate seat over Mike Rogers.
- ✓Sean McCann — MI-4Unseated Rep. Bill Huizenga in West Michigan.
- ✓Christina Hines — MI-10Won the open seat in Macomb County.
Congress
Democrats won control, flipping seats in the House and Senate
15+ states
Where Pete stumped for Democrats, from Georgia to Arizona to New Hampshire
Home
Campaigned across northern Michigan, where he lives with his family
About
Meet Pete Buttigieg
A son of the industrial Midwest who believes government's job is to make people's lives better, and to prove it.
Pete Buttigieg was born in South Bend, Indiana, in 1982, the only child of two Notre Dame professors. He graduated from Harvard and studied at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, then worked as a consultant at McKinsey before going home to serve.
Elected mayor of South Bend at 29, he led the city's comeback over two terms. While mayor he served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve and deployed to Afghanistan in 2014. In 2020 he ran for president and won the Iowa caucuses, the first openly gay candidate to win a presidential primary or caucus.
From 2021 to 2025 he served as the 19th U.S. Secretary of Transportation, the first openly gay Cabinet secretary confirmed by the Senate. He and his husband, Chasten, are raising their twins, Penelope and Gus, in Traverse City, Michigan.
Trust is the key to rebuilding our democracy.— The central idea of Pete's book Trust: America's Best Chance
🏙️
Mayor
Two terms leading South Bend's turnaround.
⚓
Navy Veteran
Intelligence officer deployed to Afghanistan.
🚆
Cabinet Secretary
Rebuilt America's roads, bridges, rail and airports.
🎤
Communicator
Takes the case for Democrats to every audience, Fox News included.
The Vision
What Pete Is Fighting For
The ideas he's carried from City Hall to the Cabinet to the campaign trail.
🏗️
Build Things Again
Modern roads, bridges, transit, broadband and clean energy that create good jobs in every community.
💼
Freedom Through Opportunity
Lower costs and a fair shot so working families can actually get ahead.
✈️
Stand Up for Consumers
Hold big companies accountable, like requiring airlines to pay automatic cash refunds.
🏛️
Restore Trust
Repair faith in democracy by delivering results people can see and feel.
🌎
Win the Era
Show up everywhere, talk to everyone and build a lasting Democratic majority.
🏳️🌈
Belonging for Everyone
A country where every family is safe, respected and free to live openly.
The Record
A Career of Getting Big Things Done
Highlights from South Bend to Washington.
$1.2T
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law he helped put to work nationwide
$140M
Record fine against Southwest over the 2022 holiday meltdown
86–13
Bipartisan Senate vote confirming him as Secretary
Iowa
Won the 2020 caucuses, making history
2012–2020
Mayor of South Bend
Elected at 29 and re-elected in 2015, he helped revitalize the city's downtown and riverfront.
2014
Deployed to Afghanistan
Took leave as mayor to serve a seven-month deployment as a Navy Reserve intelligence officer.
2020
A Historic Campaign
Won the Iowa caucuses and finished second in New Hampshire, then endorsed Joe Biden.
February 2021
Secretary of Transportation
Confirmed 86–13, the youngest person ever to lead the department.
2021–2025
Rebuilding America
Put the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to work on projects across the country, launched the Reconnecting Communities program, and created FlightRights.gov.
2024
Automatic Airline Refunds
Finalized a rule requiring airlines to give passengers automatic cash refunds for canceled or significantly delayed flights.
2025–2026
On the Trail for Democrats
Passed on running for Michigan's Senate seat and governorship, and instead campaigned for Democrats nationwide through his Win the Era PAC.
In the News
Election Week Coverage
Michigan Public
Benson, El-Sayed score big wins
Live updates from a historic night for Michigan Democrats.
Read more →The Washington Times
Buttigieg to El-Sayed supporters: “I'd rather be us”
Pete rallies Michigan Democrats as returns come in.
Read more →Help Win the Era
The midterms showed what's possible when Democrats show up everywhere. Support Pete's work electing leaders who deliver for working families.