Career Timeline of Pete Buttigieg: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Pete Buttigieg built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Pete Buttigieg is an American politician and former naval officer. He served as the 19th U.S. Secretary of Transportation from 2021 to 2025. Prior to that, he was the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, from 2012 to 2020, earning him the moniker "Mayor Pete." He is a member of the Democratic Party.
6 hours ago : Pete Buttigieg to Host Town Hall in Tulsa on April 18th.
Pete Buttigieg announced a town hall in Tulsa on April 18th. He also discusses immigration, policing, and his pitch to Libertarians in the news.
2002: Internship with Jill Long Thompson
In 2002, before graduating college, Pete Buttigieg interned for Democrat Jill Long Thompson during her unsuccessful congressional bid.
2004: Worked on John Kerry's presidential campaign
In 2004, Pete Buttigieg worked on John Kerry's presidential campaign as a policy and research specialist in Arizona and New Mexico.
2005: Conference director at Cohen Group
From 2004 to 2005, Pete Buttigieg was conference director of the Cohen Group.
2005: Involved with the Truman National Security Project
Since 2005, Pete Buttigieg has been involved with the Truman National Security Project as a fellow with expertise in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
2006: Assisted Joe Donnelly's Congressional Campaign
In 2006, Pete Buttigieg assisted Joe Donnelly's successful congressional campaign.
2008: Research Director for Jill Long Thompson's campaign
In 2008, Pete Buttigieg took a leave of absence from McKinsey to become research director for Jill Long Thompson's unsuccessful campaign for Indiana governor.
September 2009: Sworn in as ensign in naval intelligence
In September 2009, Pete Buttigieg joined the U.S. Navy Reserve through the direct commission officer (DCO) program and was sworn in as an ensign in naval intelligence.
2010: Leaves McKinsey & Company
In 2010, Pete Buttigieg left McKinsey & Company to focus on his campaign for Indiana state treasurer.
2010: Democratic Nominee for State Treasurer
In 2010, Pete Buttigieg was the Democratic nominee for state treasurer of Indiana, losing to Republican incumbent Richard Mourdock.
May 3, 2011: Won primary election for mayor of South Bend
On May 3, 2011, Pete Buttigieg won his primary election against four opponents to be the nominee for mayor of South Bend.
November 2011: Elected Mayor of South Bend
In November 2011, Pete Buttigieg was elected mayor of South Bend, defeating Republican nominee Norris W. Curry Jr. and Libertarian nominee Patrick M. Farrell.
January 2012: Took office as mayor of South Bend
In January 2012, Pete Buttigieg took office as mayor of South Bend, becoming the second-youngest mayor in South Bend history.
2013: Launched a 3-1-1 System
In 2013, Buttigieg's administration oversaw the city's launching of a 3-1-1 system.
2013: Smart Streets Urban Development Program Proposed
In 2013, Pete Buttigieg proposed the Smart Streets urban development program to improve South Bend's downtown area.
February 2014: Deputy Mayor Mark Neal Served as Executive
From February 2014, Deputy Mayor Mark Neal served as executive while Buttigieg was in Afghanistan.
September 23, 2014: Return to the United States
On September 23, 2014, Buttigieg returned to the United States after serving seven months in Afghanistan.
October 2014: Returned to Role as Mayor
In October 2014, Buttigieg returned to his role as mayor in South Bend.
2014: Announced Second Term Run
In 2014, Pete Buttigieg announced his intention to seek a second term as mayor of South Bend in 2015.
2014: Deployment to Afghanistan
In 2014, Pete Buttigieg took a seven-month leave during his mayoral term to deploy to Afghanistan as part of the U.S. Navy Reserve.
2014: Named to the Board of Advisors
In 2014, Pete Buttigieg was named to the board of advisors of the Truman National Security Project.
May 2015: "River Lights" Installation Unveiled
In May 2015, the "River Lights" installation was unveiled as part of South Bend's 150th anniversary celebrations, a project Pete Buttigieg championed.
June 2015: Came out as gay
In June 2015, Buttigieg publicly came out as gay in a piece in the South Bend Tribune, becoming Indiana's first openly gay elected executive.
November 2015: Elected to Second Term as Mayor
In November 2015, Pete Buttigieg was elected to his second term as mayor of South Bend, defeating Republican Kelly Jones by a significant margin.
November 2015: Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative Reaches Goal
In November 2015, Pete Buttigieg's "Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative", known as 1,000 Properties in 1,000 Days, reached its goal two months before its scheduled end date.
2015: Recipient of the Fenn Award
In 2015, Buttigieg received the Fenn Award from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library for his work as mayor.
2015: Secured Bond Issue for Smart Streets
In early 2015, after traffic studies and public hearings, Pete Buttigieg secured a bond issue for the Smart Streets program, which was backed by tax increment financing.
2016: Executive Order for City Identification Card
In 2016, after winning reelection, Pete Buttigieg signed an executive order to help establish a recognized city identification card in South Bend.
2016: Smart Streets Project Elements Finished
In 2016, elements of the Smart Streets project in South Bend were completed, marking progress in the initiative to improve economic development, urban vibrancy, and road safety.
2016: Ground Broken on Studebaker Complex Renovation
In 2016, the City of South Bend partnered with the State of Indiana and private developers to break ground on a $165-million renovation of the former Studebaker complex.
2016: Campaigning and Endorsements
In the 2016 U.S. Senate election in Indiana, Pete Buttigieg campaigned on behalf of Democratic Senate nominee Evan Bayh and criticized Todd Young. He also endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries and Lynn Coleman in the election for Indiana's 2nd congressional district.
January 2017: Announced Candidacy for DNC Chair
In January 2017, Pete Buttigieg announced his candidacy for chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in its 2017 chairmanship election.
March 2017: Defended DACA and Criticized Deportation Policies
In March 2017, Buttigieg defended Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and criticized the Trump administration's deportation policies. He wrote an article defending an Indiana resident who was deported after living in the U.S. for 17 years.
2017: Democratic National Committee Chairmanship Run
Following his run in the 2017 Democratic National Committee chairmanship election, Pete Buttigieg's national profile grew, leading to increased out-of-city travel.
2017: Leaves the U.S. Navy Reserve
In 2017, Pete Buttigieg left the U.S. Navy Reserve.
2017: Ivy Tower Renovation Announced
In 2017, it was announced that Studebaker Building 84, also known as Ivy Tower, would have its exterior renovated with $3.5 million in Regional Cities funds from the State of Indiana and another $3.5 million from South Bend tax increment financing.
2017: Smart Streets Project Officially Completed
In 2017, the Smart Streets project in South Bend was officially completed, and it was credited with spurring private development in the city.
2017: Smart Sewer Program Phase One Finished
In 2017, the first phase of the smart sewer program in South Bend was completed at a cost of $150 million.
June 16, 2018: Married Chasten Glezman
On June 16, 2018, Buttigieg married Chasten Glezman in a private ceremony at the Cathedral of St. James, becoming the first mayor of South Bend to marry while in office.
August 2018: Proposed South Shore Line Station Move
In August 2018, Pete Buttigieg promoted the idea of moving the city's South Shore Line station from South Bend International Airport to the city's downtown.
December 2018: Announced End of Mayoral Term and Endorsement
In December 2018, Pete Buttigieg announced that he would not seek a third term as mayor of South Bend. He also endorsed James Mueller in the 2019 South Bend mayoral election.
2018: Speculation of Buttigieg Running for Higher Office
By early 2018, there was speculation that Pete Buttigieg would run for either governor or president in 2020, indicating a growing national profile.
2018: Founded Hitting Home PAC and Endorsements
For the 2018 midterms, Pete Buttigieg founded the political action committee (PAC) Hitting Home PAC and personally endorsed numerous congressional candidates and campaigned for Joe Donnelly's reelection campaign in the United States Senate election in Indiana.
2018: Favored Medicare for All
In 2018, Buttigieg expressed his support for Medicare for All.
January 2019: Criticized Trump's troop deployment
In January 2019, Buttigieg criticized Trump's decision to send American troops to the Southern border, calling it "reckless".
January 23, 2019: Announced Run for President
On January 23, 2019, Pete Buttigieg officially announced his run for President of the United States.
February 12, 2019: Publication of "Shortest Way Home"
On February 12, 2019, amid the start of his presidential effort, Pete Buttigieg published his debut book, autobiography Shortest Way Home.
April 14, 2019: Presidential Campaign Launch
On April 14, 2019, Pete Buttigieg launched his campaign for the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, becoming the first openly gay man to launch a Democratic presidential campaign.
April 2019: Request Approved for City Climate Plan
In April 2019, the Common Council approved Pete Buttigieg's request to enable his administration to develop a city climate plan.
August 2019: Released mental health care plan
In August 2019, Buttigieg introduced a $300 billion plan aimed at expanding mental health care services and combating addiction.
October 2019: Golden Heart Award for Outstanding Leadership and Public Service
In October 2019, Buttigieg was awarded the "Golden Heart Award for Outstanding Leadership and Public Service" at the Golden Heart Awards, run by God's Love We Deliver.
November 2019: Commissioned Review of Police Department Policies
In November 2019, Pete Buttigieg secured $180,000 to commission a review of South Bend's police department policies and practices, to be conducted by Chicago-based consulting firm 21CP Solutions, following the shooting of Eric Logan.
November 2019: Carbon Neutral 2050 Plan Approved
In late November 2019, the city's Common Council voted to approve the Carbon Neutral 2050 plan, setting emission reduction goals for South Bend.
December 2019: Rose to Top-Tier Candidate
By December 2019, Pete Buttigieg rose into the top-tier of candidates in the Democratic primary, despite initially being regarded as a long-shot.
2019: Private Investment in South Bend
By 2019, South Bend had seen substantial private investment in mixed-use developments since Pete Buttigieg took office as mayor.
2019: Request to be Released from EPA Agreement
In 2019, Pete Buttigieg requested that South Bend be released from an agreement with the EPA, brokered under his mayoral predecessor, to make further improvements to the city's sewer system by 2031.
2019: Launch of Commuters Trust Program
In 2019, South Bend launched Commuters Trust, a new transportation benefit program created in collaboration with local employers and transportation providers, including South Bend Transpo and Lyft, with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge.
February 2020: Led Iowa Democratic Caucuses
In early February 2020, Pete Buttigieg led the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses results with 26.2 percent, winning 14 delegates.
March 1, 2020: Drops out of Presidential Race
On March 1, 2020, Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the 2020 Democratic Party presidential race.
April 2020: Launched Win The Era PAC
In April 2020, Pete Buttigieg launched Win The Era PAC, a new super PAC to raise money and distribute it to down-ballot Democrats.
June 8, 2020: Hired by University of Notre Dame
On June 8, 2020, the University of Notre Dame announced that it had hired Pete Buttigieg as a teacher and researcher for the 2020–21 academic year.
September 5, 2020: Appointed to Biden-Harris Transition Team Advisory Council
On September 5, 2020, Pete Buttigieg was announced to be a member of the advisory council of the Biden-Harris Transition Team that was planning the presidential transition of Joe Biden.
October 2020: Released "Trust: America's Best Chance"
In October 2020, Pete Buttigieg released his second book, Trust: America's Best Chance.
November 7, 2020: Biden Declared Winner of the Election
Following the end of his presidential campaign, after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the election on November 7, 2020, Pete Buttigieg was mentioned as a possible nominee for various Cabinet positions.
December 15, 2020: Nominated as Secretary of Transportation
On December 15, 2020, Joe Biden announced that he would nominate Pete Buttigieg as his Secretary of Transportation.
December 2020: Nomination for Secretary of Transportation
In December 2020, President-elect Biden nominated Pete Buttigieg as his Secretary of Transportation.
2020: Mueller Took Office
On New Year's Day 2020, James Mueller took office as the mayor of South Bend, succeeding Pete Buttigieg.
February 2, 2021: Confirmation as Secretary of Transportation
On February 2, 2021, Pete Buttigieg was confirmed as the United States Secretary of Transportation, making him the first openly gay Cabinet secretary in U.S. history.
March 2021: Consideration of Tolls on Interstate 80
In March 2021, Buttigieg indicated he was open to tolls on Interstate 80, while suggesting "big picture solutions" instead, like a mileage tax, but not tollage of bridges.
March 2021: Prioritization of Gateway Rail Tunnel Project
In late March 2021, Buttigieg informed Congress that the Biden administration planned to prioritize the construction of the Gateway Rail Tunnel Project due to its economic significance.
May 19, 2021: Reinstatement of Obama-era pilot program
On May 19, 2021, Buttigieg reinstated an Obama-era pilot program to ensure local hiring for public works projects, with the goal of assisting minorities and disadvantaged individuals.
June 2021: Appointment to Supply Chain Task Force
In June 2021, Buttigieg was appointed as one of the leaders of a White House task force created to address supply chain disruptions.
August 2021: Parental Leave
In mid-August 2021, Buttigieg commenced a period of paid parental leave, largely remaining offline except for critical agency decisions, following the birth of his twins.
October 2021: Comments on Global Supply Bottlenecks
In October 2021, Buttigieg cited high demand and the pandemic as causes for global supply bottlenecks, predicting the disruptions would "continue into next year".
October 2021: Return from Parental Leave
In early October 2021, Buttigieg ramped up his activities after his parental leave, making many media appearances.
June 2022: Launch of Reconnecting Communities pilot program
In late June 2022, Buttigieg launched a $1 billion Reconnecting Communities pilot program to establish racial equity in roads, using money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which aims to reconnect cities and neighborhoods divided by roads through projects such as rapid bus lines, pedestrian walkways, and planning studies.
March 2023: Opposition to Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines Merger
In March 2023, Buttigieg opposed the proposed merger of Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, citing anticompetitive concerns.
December 2023: Record Fine on Southwest Airlines
In December 2023, the Department of Transportation imposed a record fine of $140 million on Southwest Airlines for mass violations of consumer protection laws in 2022 when the company cancelled flights and left more than 2 million passengers stranded.
October 30, 2024: New Rule for Automatic Airline Refunds
On October 30, 2024, Buttigieg announced a new rule requiring airlines to automatically provide refunds to passengers whose flights are canceled and do not accept another flight, as well as if paid services are not provided.
January 2025: Consideration of U.S. Senate Run in Michigan
In January 2025, news reports surfaced that Buttigieg was considering a run for U.S. Senate in Michigan, due to the announced retirement of U.S. senator Gary Peters.
March 2025: Decision Not to Run for Senate
In March 2025, Buttigieg opted not to run for the U.S. Senate in Michigan in 2026, with sources indicating that he was instead considering a presidential run in 2028.
April 2025: Fellow at the University of Chicago
From February to April 2025, Buttigieg served as a fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, delivering a seminar on campus every week, with April 2025 being the last month of his fellowship.
September 2025: Harris's Account of Buttigieg as Potential Running Mate
In September 2025, Kamala Harris reported in her new book that she had considered choosing Buttigieg as her running mate for the 2024 election but decided against it due to Buttigieg's sexuality.
2025: Paris Agreement Emission Reduction Goal
By 2025, the Carbon Neutral 2050 plan set a goal to meet the Paris Agreement's 26-percent emission reduction target for South Bend.
2025: Goal to Complete South Shore Line Project
Pete Buttigieg set a goal to have the city complete the South Shore Line station relocation project by 2025.
2035: Emission Reduction Goal
By 2035, the Carbon Neutral 2050 plan set a target to achieve a further 45 percent reduction in emissions for South Bend.
2050: Carbon Neutral 2050 Plan Goal
The Carbon Neutral 2050 plan set a goal to achieve carbon neutrality in South Bend by 2050, as part of the city's efforts to address climate change.
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