Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has indicated he is leaning toward seeking the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 2028. While Buttigieg has long polled as a formidable contender in the Democratic Party primary process, the statement marks the first time he has seemingly confirmed his intentions.
“I think I’m more inclined than not, but there’s so much we don’t know,” Buttigieg said on a recent appearance on “The Diary of a CEO” podcast. He added that he and his husband’s decision to adopt children “has changed all of my equations. It’s just something that you really sit with and take seriously, which you should.”
Buttigieg, who previously served as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and ran for the Democratic nomination in 2020, has not formally announced a candidacy. No major figures have declared for 2028 as of early August 2026. He has, however, focused recent efforts on supporting Democratic candidates in the 2026 midterms while remaining active in public appearances.
Pete Buttigieg says when pushed that he is “more inclined then not” to tun for president in 2028 pic.twitter.com/qYvPZCkP31
— Jolly old Floridian🌴 (@ThirdwayNeoslop) August 4, 2026
In national Democratic primary polling, Buttigieg has frequently ranked near or at the top of the field. An Emerson College survey conducted last month placed him first with 19 percent support among likely Democratic primary voters, ahead of California Governor Gavin Newsom at 17 percent, with U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) each at 13 percent.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris trailed further behind at eight percent, though other recent polls have provided more favorable results for her.
A May 2026 Emerson poll similarly showed Buttiegeg leading at 18 percent. Other surveys have produced mixed results, including a Manhattan Institute poll from July 1-6, which had him in third place at 13 percent, behind Harris at 19 percent and Newsom at 15 percent.
While polling has been largely favorable for Buttigieg, he has faced significant hurdles with a number of key demographic groups, including black voters. A fall 2025 Yale Youth Poll found Buttigieg at 4 percent among black respondents, compared with Harris at 47 percent. Multiple Emerson College polls, including one from June 2025, recorded 0 percent support for Buttigieg among black respondents.
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