Buttigieg passes on bid for Michigan Senate and governor, setting up possible 2028 run.

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Pete Buttigieg announced Thursday he will not run for Michigan’s governorship or the state’s open US Senate seat in 2026, setting up a potential presidential bid in 2028.

“I care deeply about who Michigan will elect as Governor and send to the U.S. Senate next year, but I have decided against competing in either race. 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,” Buttigieg said in an X post.

Buttigieg called fellow Michigan Democrats on Thursday morning to tell them of his decision, which was first reported by Politico.

A source familiar with Buttigieg’s thinking said his decision sets him up in the strongest possible position to run for president in 2028. The source said running for governor or Senate in 2026 would have taken that option off the table.

Following the retirement announcement by Democratic Sen. Gary Peters in late January, an adviser to Buttigieg told CNN he was taking a “serious look” at a Senate campaign.

Buttigieg said he “thought seriously” about running for the governorship – Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who is also seen as a potential 2028 contender, is term-limited – as well as the Senate seat after being encouraged by leaders in Michigan and having conversations with family, friends and officials.

“I considered what I could bring to the race compared to other likely candidates, and what running and serving would mean compared to other ways I could make a difference in the years ahead,” he wrote in a Substack post on his decision.

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