Buttigieg’s midterm blitz is helping him think about his future

Pete Buttigieg is making the rounds in the final days before the midterms, supporting candidates in key battleground states and beyond. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is planning to campaign in at least six states, including North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Georgia, Nevada, and his home state of Michigan. As he crisscrosses the country, Buttigieg is refining his message, linking economic concerns to calls for political reform.

He believes that a strong economic message needs a reform message to be credible. Buttigieg is also building relationships with voters and party leaders that could be useful if he pursues a presidential run in 2028. His status as a sought-after surrogate was evident during his 48-hour visit to New Hampshire, where he finished a close second behind Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the 2020 primary.

Buttigieg has endorsed numerous candidates this cycle and campaigned in person for roughly half of them, including in conservative areas where he was the only candidate to back certain rivals. His message focuses on economic change and political reforms, including tariffs, the minimum wage, tax fairness, health care, the Child Tax Credit, and gerrymandering.

As he prepares for the midterms, Buttigieg is processing the data and insights he's gained from his travels, and considering how his experiences can shape his party's future.