Pete Buttigieg Returns to the State That Derailed His 2020 Bid

Pete Buttigieg returned to South Carolina on Saturday, the state that derailed his 2020 presidential bid, to debate a potential 2028 run. Six years ago, Buttigieg failed to secure the support of Black Democrats in South Carolina, leading him to withdraw from the race after finishing fifth. He is now seen as a strong candidate among those vying for the Democratic nomination, alongside figures like Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

South Carolina will be the first state to vote in the 2028 presidential primaries, which is believed to be a strategic move to appeal to Black and Latino voters. Buttigieg was warmly received in South Carolina, receiving a standing ovation at an NAACP Freedom Fund dinner and another at a Black church.