CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Pete Buttigieg, a prominent figure in the Democratic Party and former transportation secretary, is set to return to Iowa for a veterans-focused event six years after making a significant impact in the state's presidential caucuses. This town hall, scheduled for Tuesday in Cedar Rapids, is sponsored by the Democratic political organization VoteVets and aims to address the implications of President Donald Trump's cuts to federal agencies on veterans and military families.
Buttigieg, a former intelligence officer in the Navy Reserves who served in Afghanistan, has not officially announced a bid for the presidency in the upcoming 2028 elections. Nonetheless, he has actively engaged with Trump on social media and has articulated his vision for reforms within the Democratic Party. In a recent interview with Jen Psaki, former press secretary for President Biden, Buttigieg emphasized the need for the Democratic opposition to present a clear and compelling platform. He remarked, “Opposition to the Republican president has to travel with a clearer picture of what we are actually for.”
In the interview, he highlighted that a decisive stance against authoritarian tendencies within the current administration is crucial. Buttigieg stated, “We would not be in this situation if the government, the economy, and the politics of our country were healthy. They’ve been unhealthy for a long time.”
During the 2020 Iowa Democratic Party caucuses, Buttigieg finished in a tie at the top, alongside Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, although The Associated Press did not declare a winner due to concerns surrounding the accuracy of the reported results amidst technical difficulties.
Since his rise in Iowa, Buttigieg has shifted his life to Michigan with his husband and twins, opting not to pursue the open U.S. Senate or gubernatorial races in his adoptive state. Despite the speculation surrounding his trip to Iowa, Buttigieg's aides insist that his main objective is to connect with constituents and understand their concerns rather than positioning himself for a future presidential campaign.
However, Buttigieg is not alone in courting Democratic interest in the early days of the second Trump administration. Other potential 2028 contenders, such as Bernie Sanders and New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have been seen drawing large crowds at recent rallies nationwide, including in Republican-led areas. Additionally, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has urged Democrats to rally at a speech in New Hampshire, while Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz plan to make appearances in South Carolina later this month.
