Politics
Pete Buttigieg visits South Carolina as he considers 2028 presidential bid
The former transportation secretary engaged with Black voters and local leaders across the early-primary state while maintaining he remains focused on 2026.
The short version
- Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg completed a multi-city tour in South Carolina, an early primary state where he previously struggled to gain traction in 2020.
- During the trip, Buttigieg met with local leaders, visited a historically Black university, and addressed an NAACP Freedom Fund dinner.
- While other prominent Democrats are also visiting the state ahead of the 2028 primary, Buttigieg stated he has not yet made a formal decision regarding another presidential campaign.
Key facts
- Pete Buttigieg visited South Carolina for political events, including stops in Charleston and Orangeburg, following a recent visit to Nevada.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- In his 2020 presidential run, Buttigieg finished fourth in South Carolina's primary after failing to attract strong support among Black voters.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- South Carolina is scheduled to hold the first contest in the 2028 Democratic presidential primary calendar.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- Orangeburg Mayor Michael Butler praised Buttigieg for his role in securing a $22.7 million federal grant for a local downtown redevelopment project during his tenure as transportation secretary.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- Other potential 2028 Democratic candidates, including Gavin Newsom, Andy Beshear, and Ro Khanna, have also made recent appearances in South Carolina.[ABC News · Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- Whether Buttigieg will officially enter the 2028 presidential race remains undetermined, as he stated he has made no final decision and is focused on 2026.[ABC News · Associated Press]