Buttigieg says he will not run for Michigan governor, US Senate

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a potential candidate for president in 2028, said on Thursday he will not run for governor in Michigan or U.S. Senate next year.

"I remain enthusiastic about helping candidates who share our values - and who understand that in this moment, leadership means not only opposing today’s cruel chaos, but also presenting a vision of a better alternative," he said in a post on X.

Buttigieg was seen as a likely front-runner to win the Democratic nomination to replace retiring Senator Gary Peters or Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who is barred by term limits from running again.

The decision to skip races in Michigan, where he moved in 2022, positions him for a potential presidential run in 2028.

"It is time to show how better future-facing choices about our government and society can make us all freer, safer, more empowered - and more prosperous," Buttigieg said on Thursday.

Buttigieg in 2020 ran for president but dropped out after narrowly winning the Iowa caucuses and finishing a close second in New Hampshire, but followed with finishing a distant third in Nevada and fourth in South Carolina.

In recent weeks, Buttigieg has been defending his record as transportation secretary, especially his oversight of aviation, in the face of harsh attacks from President Donald Trump and the current transportation secretary.

The issue has taken on new urgency after a fatal collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet in January killed 67 people.

Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, in 2021 was the first openly gay U.S. Cabinet secretary confirmed by the U.S. Senate. He oversaw aggressive efforts to boost consumer protections for air travelers and to dramatically hike fuel efficiency standards.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Chris Reese)