History of Pete Buttigieg in Timeline
Pete Buttigieg is an American politician and former naval officer. He served as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation (2021-2025) and was the mayor of South Bend, Indiana (2012-2020). As a member of the Democratic Party, Buttigieg gained national attention during his mayoral tenure and subsequent presidential campaign.
January 19, 1982: Peter Buttigieg's Birth
On January 19, 1982, Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg was born. He later became a politician, naval officer, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
2000: Buttigieg Participates in U.S. Senate Youth Program
In 2000, Buttigieg was selected as a delegate from Indiana to the United States Senate Youth Program.
2000: Buttigieg Wins Essay Contest
In 2000, Buttigieg won first prize in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum's Profiles in Courage essay contest, writing about Bernie Sanders.
2001: Buttigieg believes the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan was justified
Buttigieg has said that he believes the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks was justified but supported the planned withdrawal of American troops from the region with a maintained intelligence presence.
2002: Buttigieg Interns for Jill Long Thompson
In 2002, Buttigieg interned for Democrat Jill Long Thompson during her unsuccessful congressional bid.
2004: Buttigieg Graduates from Harvard
In 2004, Buttigieg graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College, majoring in history and literature and was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
2004: Buttigieg Works on Kerry's Campaign
In 2004, Buttigieg worked on John Kerry's presidential campaign as a policy and research specialist.
2005: Buttigieg Becomes Conference Director at the Cohen Group
From 2004 to 2005, Buttigieg was conference director of the Cohen Group.
2005: Buttigieg Involved with Truman National Security Project
Since 2005, Buttigieg has been involved with the Truman National Security Project, serving as a fellow with expertise in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
2006: Buttigieg Assists Joe Donnelly's Campaign
In 2006, Buttigieg assisted Joe Donnelly's successful congressional campaign.
2007: Buttigieg Joins McKinsey & Company
In 2007, Buttigieg began working at the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company for three years.
2007: Buttigieg Receives Degree from Oxford
In 2007, Buttigieg received a Bachelor of Arts degree with first-class honors in philosophy, politics, and economics from the University of Oxford.
2008: Buttigieg Takes Leave for Thompson Campaign
In 2008, Buttigieg took a leave of absence from McKinsey to become research director for Jill Long Thompson's unsuccessful campaign for Indiana governor.
September 2009: Buttigieg Joins U.S. Navy Reserve
In September 2009, Buttigieg joined the U.S. Navy Reserve as an ensign in naval intelligence through the direct commission officer program.
2009: Buttigieg Becomes Naval Intelligence Officer
In 2009, Buttigieg became an intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve.
2010: Buttigieg Leaves McKinsey to Focus on Treasurer Campaign
In 2010, Buttigieg left McKinsey & Company to focus full-time on his campaign for Indiana state treasurer.
2010: Buttigieg Runs for Indiana State Treasurer
In 2010, Buttigieg ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic nominee for Indiana State Treasurer.
2010: Todd Young's Support for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
In 2016, Pete Buttigieg criticized Todd Young for having voiced support in 2010 for retaining the military's don't ask, don't tell policy.
May 3, 2011: Buttigieg Wins Primary Election for Mayor
On May 3, 2011, Buttigieg won his primary election against four opponents for the Democratic nomination for mayor of South Bend.
November 2011: Buttigieg Elected Mayor of South Bend
In November 2011, Buttigieg was elected mayor of South Bend, defeating Republican nominee Norris W. Curry Jr. and Libertarian nominee Patrick M. Farrell.
2011: Buttigieg Elected Mayor of South Bend
In 2011, Buttigieg was elected as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana.
2011: EPA Fine for Clean Water Act Violations
In 2011, the EPA levied a fine against the city of South Bend for Clean Water Act violations, which led to the smart sewer program.
January 2012: Buttigieg Takes Office as Mayor
In January 2012, Buttigieg took office as mayor of South Bend at the age of 29, becoming the second-youngest mayor in South Bend history.
2012: Buttigieg Demotes Police Chief Boykins
In 2012, after a federal investigation, Buttigieg demoted South Bend police chief Darryl Boykins for illegally recording telephone calls of several officers.
2012: Buttigieg Faces Controversy Over Police Chief's Dismissal
In 2012, shortly after taking office, Buttigieg asked for Police Chief Boykins' resignation, leading to a lawsuit for racial discrimination and settling out of court for over $800,000.
2013: Buttigieg Performs with South Bend Symphony Orchestra
In 2013, Buttigieg performed as a guest piano soloist alongside Ben Folds with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra.
2013: South Bend Launches 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 Serves as Executive
In February 2014, Deputy Mayor Mark Neal began serving as executive during Buttigieg's deployment to Afghanistan.
September 23, 2014: Buttigieg Returns from Afghanistan
Buttigieg returned to the United States from his deployment to Afghanistan on September 23, 2014. During his absence, Deputy Mayor Mark Neal served as executive.
October 2014: Buttigieg Returns to Role as Mayor
In October 2014, Buttigieg returned to his role as mayor of South Bend following his deployment to Afghanistan.
2014: Buttigieg Deploys to Afghanistan
In 2014, Buttigieg took a seven-month leave during his mayoral term to deploy to Afghanistan as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve, where he was part of a unit assigned to identify and disrupt terrorist finance networks.
2014: Buttigieg Named to Truman National Security Project Board
In 2014, Buttigieg was named to the board of advisors of the Truman National Security Project.
2014: Buttigieg named Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow
In 2014, Buttigieg was selected as an Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow.
2014: Announcement to Seek Second Term
In 2014, Pete Buttigieg announced his intention to seek a second term as mayor of South Bend in 2015.
May 2015: "River Lights" Installation Unveiled
In May 2015, the "River Lights" installation, a nightly laser-light display along downtown South Bend's St. Joseph River trail, was unveiled as public art.
June 2015: Buttigieg Comes Out as Gay
In June 2015, Pete Buttigieg publicly came out as gay in an article in the South Bend Tribune. He became Indiana's first openly gay elected executive, the first elected official in Indiana to come out while in office and the highest elected official in Indiana to come out.
August 2015: Buttigieg and Glezman Start Dating
In August 2015, Pete Buttigieg began dating Chasten Glezman after they met on the dating app Hinge.
November 2015: Elected to Second Term as Mayor
In November 2015, Pete Buttigieg was elected to his second term as mayor of South Bend with over 80 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Kelly Jones.
November 2015: Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative Reaches Goal
In November 2015, the "Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative," also known as 1,000 Properties in 1,000 Days, reached its goal two months before its scheduled end date.
2015: Buttigieg Opposes Indiana Senate Bill 101 and Comes Out as Gay
In 2015, Buttigieg emerged as a leading opponent of Indiana Senate Bill 101 and came out as gay amid his reelection campaign, expressing his solidarity with the LGBTQ community.
2015: Buttigieg Receives Fenn Award
In 2015, Buttigieg received the Fenn Award from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, recognizing his work as mayor.
2015: Federal Judge Rules Boykins's Recordings Illegal
In 2015, a federal judge ruled that Boykins's recordings violated the Federal Wiretap Act.
2015: Buttigieg Comes Out as Gay
In 2015, while serving as South Bend's mayor, Buttigieg came out as gay.
2015: Smart Streets Bond Issue Secured
In early 2015, Pete Buttigieg secured a bond issue for the Smart Streets program, backed by tax increment financing, after traffic studies and public hearings.
November 2016: Obama Cites Buttigieg as Democratic Talent
In November 2016, Barack Obama cited Pete Buttigieg as one of the Democratic Party's talents in a profile on the outgoing president conducted by The New Yorker.
2016: Campaigning in U.S. Senate Election and Presidential Primaries
In 2016, Pete Buttigieg campaigned on behalf of Democratic Senate nominee Evan Bayh and endorsed Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primaries.
2016: Executive Order for City Identification Card
In 2016, after winning reelection, Pete Buttigieg signed an executive order helping to 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.
2016: Studebaker Complex Renovation Groundbreaking
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.
January 2017: Candidacy for DNC Chairman Announced
In January 2017, Pete Buttigieg announced his candidacy for chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
March 2017: Buttigieg defends Indiana resident facing deportation
In March 2017, Buttigieg wrote an article for the HuffPost defending a resident of Granger, Indiana, who was deported after living in the U.S. for 17 years despite regularly checking in with ICE and applying for a green card.
December 14, 2017: Buttigieg Announces Engagement to Chasten Glezman
On December 14, 2017, Buttigieg announced his engagement to Chasten Glezman, a junior high school teacher, in a Facebook post.
2017: Increased Out-of-City Travel
Following his run in the 2017 Democratic National Committee chairmanship election, Pete Buttigieg increased his out-of-city travel.
2017: Buttigieg Leaves U.S. Navy Reserve
In 2017, Buttigieg left the U.S. Navy Reserve after being awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal.
2017: Studebaker Building 84 Renovation Announced
In 2017, it was announced that the exterior of the long-abandoned Studebaker Building 84, also known as Ivy Tower, would be 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 Completed
In 2017, the Smart Streets project in South Bend was officially completed, credited with spurring private development in the city.
2017: Smart Sewer Program Phase One Completion
In 2017, the first phase of South Bend's smart sewer program was completed at a cost of $150 million.
June 2018: Buttigieg Marries Chasten Glezman
In June 2018, Buttigieg married Chasten Glezman, a schoolteacher and writer.
June 16, 2018: Buttigieg Marries 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 get married while in office.
August 2018: South Shore Line Station Relocation Proposal
In August 2018, Pete Buttigieg promoted the idea of moving South Bend's South Shore Line station from South Bend International Airport to the city's downtown.
December 2018: Announcement Not to Seek Third Term
In December 2018, Pete Buttigieg announced that he would not seek a third term as mayor of South Bend.
2018: Speculation About Future Campaigns
By early 2018, there was speculation that Pete Buttigieg would run for either governor or president in 2020.
2018: Founded Hitting Home PAC and Endorsed Candidates
For the 2018 midterms, Pete Buttigieg founded the political action committee (PAC) Hitting Home PAC and endorsed 21 congressional candidates.
January 2019: Buttigieg Criticizes Trump's Border Policy
In January 2019, Pete Buttigieg criticized President Trump's decision to send American troops to the Southern border, calling it "reckless" during an interview with CBS News.
January 23, 2019: Officially Announced Presidential Run
Pete Buttigieg officially announced his run for president on January 23, 2019.
February 12, 2019: Published "Shortest Way Home"
On February 12, 2019, Pete Buttigieg published his debut book, autobiography "Shortest Way Home".
April 14, 2019: Buttigieg Launches Presidential Campaign
On April 14, 2019, Buttigieg launched his campaign for the 2020 presidential election, becoming the first openly gay man to launch a Democratic presidential campaign.
April 2019: Approval to Develop City Climate Plan
In April 2019, the Common Council approved Pete Buttigieg's request to enable his administration to develop a city climate plan.
May 2019: Mueller Wins Democratic Primary
James Mueller, endorsed by Pete Buttigieg, won the May 2019 Democratic primary for South Bend mayor with 37 percent of the vote.
June 2019: Buttigieg Named Queerty Pride50 Honoree
In June 2019, Queerty named Buttigieg one of its "Pride50" people to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, recognizing him as a trailblazer ensuring society moves towards equality for queer people.
June 2019: Eric Logan Shooting and Public Reaction
In June 2019, after a white South Bend police officer shot and killed Eric Logan, an African American man, Pete Buttigieg focused on the emerging public reaction, attending a town hall meeting.
October 2019: Buttigieg Receives Golden Heart Award
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: Review of Police Department Policies Commissioned
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 21CP Solutions.
November 2019: Carbon Neutral 2050 Plan Approved
In late November 2019, South Bend's Common Council voted 7–0 to approve the Carbon Neutral 2050 plan, setting emission reduction goals.
November 2019: Mueller Wins General Election
In the November 2019 general election, James Mueller defeated Republican nominee Sean M. Haas with 63 percent of the vote to become the mayor of South Bend.
December 2019: Rose to Top-Tier Candidate
By December 2019, Pete Buttigieg had risen into the top-tier of candidates in the Democratic primary.
2019: Private Investment in South Bend
By 2019, South Bend had seen $374 million in private investment for mixed-use developments since Pete Buttigieg had taken office, according to one estimate.
2019: Request to be Released from EPA Agreement
In 2019, Pete Buttigieg asked for the city of South Bend to be released from an agreement with the EPA brokered under his mayoral predecessor, Steve Luecke.
2019: Commuters Trust Program Launched
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.
February 2020: Led Iowa Democratic Caucuses
In early February 2020, Pete Buttigieg led the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses results with 26.2 percent.
March 1, 2020: Buttigieg Drops Out of Presidential Race
On March 1, 2020, Buttigieg dropped out of the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.
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.
August 2020: Buttigieg and Husband Receive Equality Trailblazer Award
In August 2020, Equality California, an LGBT-rights organization, gave Buttigieg and his husband Chasten their Equality Trailblazer Award.
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.
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 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 Cabinet appointee.
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: Buttigieg Nominated for Secretary of Transportation
In December 2020, President-elect Biden named Buttigieg as his nominee for Secretary of Transportation.
2020: Speculation About Future Campaigns
By early 2018, there was speculation that Pete Buttigieg would run for either governor or president in 2020.
2020: Buttigieg proposes $1 trillion infrastructure plan
During his 2020 campaign, Buttigieg proposed investing $1 trillion in U.S. infrastructure projects over ten years, aiming to create at least six million jobs and focusing on areas like green energy, water safety, transportation, and broadband access.
2020: South Bend Ranked in Best Cities List
In 2020, Best Cities ranked South Bend number 39 on its list of the 100 best small cities in the United States, citing Pete Buttigieg's efforts to revitalize the Studebaker factory and Downtown South Bend.
2020: Presidential Campaign
In 2020, Pete Buttigieg sought the Democratic Party nomination for president.
2020: Mueller Takes Office
James Mueller took office as mayor of South Bend on New Year's Day 2020.
February 2, 2021: Buttigieg Confirmed as Secretary of Transportation
On February 2, 2021, Buttigieg's nomination as Secretary of Transportation was confirmed, making him the first openly gay Cabinet secretary in U.S. history.
March 2021: Buttigieg open to tolls on Interstate 80
In March 2021, Buttigieg expressed openness to tolls on Interstate 80 as a potential funding solution, while also suggesting exploring broader "big picture solutions" like a mileage tax for infrastructure funding.
March 2021: Biden administration to prioritize 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, emphasizing its economic importance and noting its stalled progress under President Trump was expected to accelerate.
May 2021: Cassette tapes released
In May 2021, St. Joseph County Superior Court Judge Steve Hostetler ruled that five cassette tapes must be released to the South Bend City Council.
May 19, 2021: Reinstatement of Obama-era pilot program for local hiring
On May 19, 2021, as Secretary of Transportation, Buttigieg reinstated an Obama-era pilot program ensuring local hiring for public works projects, aiming to aid minorities and disadvantaged individuals. This program had been revoked in 2017 during the Trump administration.
June 2021: Buttigieg appointed to White House task force on supply chain disruptions
In June 2021, Buttigieg was appointed as one of the leaders of a White House task force created to address ongoing supply chain disruptions.
August 2021: Buttigieg takes parental leave
In mid-August 2021, after the birth of his twins, Buttigieg took a paid parental leave, during which he was mostly offline except for major agency decisions. This decision drew criticism from conservative and Republican figures.
August 17, 2021: Buttigieg Announces He and Husband are Parents
On August 17, 2021, Buttigieg announced that he and his husband had become parents.
September 4, 2021: Buttigieg Announces Adoption of Twins
On September 4, 2021, Buttigieg elaborated that he and his husband had adopted two newborn fraternal twins.
October 2021: Buttigieg addresses global supply bottlenecks
In October 2021, Buttigieg addressed the issue of global supply bottlenecks, citing high demand and the pandemic as factors contributing to record shortages of household goods for American consumers, and predicting the disruptions would continue into the following year.
October 2021: Buttigieg resumes activities after parental leave
In early October 2021, Buttigieg ramped up his activities after his parental leave, making numerous media appearances. He defended his decision to take leave to care for his newborn twins amidst criticism.
June 2022: Launch of Reconnecting Communities pilot program
In June 2022, Buttigieg launched a $1 billion Reconnecting Communities pilot program, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, to promote racial equity in roads by reconnecting cities and neighborhoods divided by infrastructure.
July 2022: Buttigieg Establishes Residence in Michigan
In July 2022, Buttigieg established his permanent residence in Traverse City, Michigan, Chasten's hometown, and registered to vote in Michigan.
February 3, 2023: Freight train carrying hazardous materials derails in East Palestine, Ohio
On February 3, 2023, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, leading to evacuations and a controlled burn that released harmful chemicals into the air.
February 23, 2023: NTSB releases preliminary report on Ohio train derailment
On February 23, 2023, the NTSB released a preliminary report on the East Palestine train derailment, indicating that overheated wheel bearings were a likely cause.
March 2023: Buttigieg addresses criticism over train derailment response
In March 2023, Buttigieg addressed the criticism he received for his response to the East Palestine train derailment, admitting he failed to anticipate the fallout and should have visited the site sooner.
March 2023: Buttigieg opposes Spirit-Frontier merger
In March 2023, Secretary Buttigieg opposed the proposed merger of Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, citing concerns about anti-competitive practices within the airline industry.
December 2023: DOT imposes record fine on Southwest Airlines
In December 2023, Buttigieg's Department of Transportation imposed a record fine of $140 million on Southwest Airlines for violations of consumer protection laws during the 2022 holiday season when the company cancelled flights and left more than 2 million passengers stranded.
2023: Study on Buttigieg's Electability
In 2023, a study by political scientists reported how different aspects of Pete Buttigieg's biography affected voters' views on his electability as a US president.
August 2024: Buttigieg Inducted into LGBTQ+ Political Hall of Fame
In August 2024, Buttigieg was inducted by the LGBTQ Victory Fund into the LGBTQ+ Political Hall of Fame.
October 30, 2024: New rule requiring automatic airline refunds takes effect
On October 30, 2024, Buttigieg announced that a new rule had taken effect requiring airlines to automatically provide refunds to passengers whose flights are canceled and who do not accept another flight, as well as if paid services are not provided.
2024: Possible Running Mate for Kamala Harris
In 2024, press reports mentioned Buttigieg as a possible running mate for Kamala Harris upon the start of her presidential campaign, though he was ultimately not selected.
January 2025: Buttigieg considers run for U.S. Senate in Michigan
In January 2025, news reports indicated that Buttigieg was considering a run for U.S. Senate in Michigan following the announced retirement of Senator Gary Peters.
March 2025: Buttigieg opts out of U.S. Senate run in Michigan
In March 2025, Buttigieg decided not to run for the U.S. Senate in Michigan in 2026, with sources suggesting he was considering a presidential run in 2028 instead.
April 2025: Buttigieg serves as a fellow at the University of Chicago
From February to April 2025, Buttigieg served as a fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, holding weekly seminars.
2025: South Shore Line Station Relocation Goal
Pete Buttigieg made it a goal to have South Bend complete the South Shore Line station relocation project by 2025.
2025: Paris Agreement Emission Reduction Goal
The Carbon Neutral 2050 plan aimed to meet the Paris Agreement's 26-percent emission reduction goal by 2025.
2031: Sewer System Improvement Deadline
By 2031, South Bend had agreed to make hundreds of millions of dollars in further improvements to its sewer system as part of an agreement with the EPA.
2035: Further Emission Reduction Goal
The Carbon Neutral 2050 plan aimed for further emission reductions of 45 percent by 2035.
2050: Carbon Neutral 2050 Plan Goal
The Carbon Neutral 2050 plan, approved in November 2019, set the goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.
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