History of Pete Buttigieg in Timeline
Pete Buttigieg is an American politician and former naval officer. He served as the 19th United States Secretary of Transportation from 2021 to 2025. Previously, he was the 32nd mayor of South Bend, Indiana, from 2012 to 2020, earning him the nickname "Mayor Pete". A member of the Democratic Party, Buttigieg is a prominent figure in American politics.
2 days ago : Buttigieg Faces Criticism Over $80B DEI Spending, Delaying Air Traffic Control Upgrades.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is under fire for allegedly allocating $80 billion to DEI initiatives while neglecting critical air traffic control upgrades, according to reports and industry insiders.
January 19, 1982: Birth of Pete Buttigieg
On January 19, 1982, Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg was born.
2000: Delegate to United States Senate Youth Program
In 2000, Pete Buttigieg was chosen as a delegate from Indiana to the United States Senate Youth Program.
2000: Valedictorian and Essay Contest Winner
In 2000, Pete Buttigieg was valedictorian of his high school class and won first prize in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum's Profiles in Courage essay contest.
2002: Internship with Jill Long Thompson
In 2002, Pete Buttigieg interned for Democrat Jill Long Thompson during her unsuccessful congressional bid.
2004: Graduation from Harvard
In 2004, Pete Buttigieg graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College and was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
2004: Work on John Kerry's Presidential Campaign
In 2004, Pete Buttigieg worked on John Kerry's presidential campaign as a policy and research specialist.
2005: Conference Director at the Cohen Group
From 2004 to 2005, Pete Buttigieg was conference director of the Cohen Group
2005: Involvement with Truman National Security Project
Since 2005, Pete Buttigieg has been involved with the Truman National Security Project.
2006: Assistance to Joe Donnelly's Congressional Campaign
In 2006, Pete Buttigieg assisted Joe Donnelly's successful congressional campaign.
2007: Consultant at McKinsey & Company
In 2007, Pete Buttigieg became a consultant at the Chicago office of McKinsey & Company.
2007: Receives Degree from Oxford
In 2007, Pete Buttigieg received a Bachelor of Arts degree with first-class honors in philosophy, politics, and economics from Pembroke College, Oxford.
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: Ensign in Naval Intelligence
In September 2009, Pete Buttigieg joined the U.S. Navy Reserve and was sworn in as an ensign in naval intelligence.
2010: Leaves McKinsey to Campaign for State Treasurer
In 2010, Pete Buttigieg left McKinsey & Company to focus on his campaign for Indiana state treasurer.
2010: Democratic Nominee for State Treasurer of Indiana
In 2010, Pete Buttigieg was the Democratic nominee for state treasurer of Indiana, but lost to the Republican incumbent Richard Mourdock.
2010: Todd Young's position on military policy
In 2016, Pete Buttigieg campaigned on behalf of Democratic Senate nominee Evan Bayh and criticized Bayh's opponent, Todd Young, for having voiced support in 2010 for retaining the military's don't ask, don't tell policy, which Bayh had voted to repeal.
May 3, 2011: Primary Election Win
On May 3, 2011, Pete Buttigieg won the primary election for mayor of South Bend.
November 2011: Elected Mayor of South Bend
In November 2011, Pete Buttigieg was elected mayor of South Bend.
2011: EPA levied fine against the city
In 2011, the EPA had levied a fine against the city for Clean Water Act violations, which led to the smart sewer program.
January 2012: Takes Office as Mayor
In January 2012, Pete Buttigieg took office as mayor of South Bend.
2012: Demotion of Police Chief
In 2012, Pete Buttigieg demoted police chief Darryl Boykins after a federal investigation revealed illegal recordings.
2012: First Serious Mistake as Mayor
Shortly after taking office in 2012, Pete Buttigieg considered his decision to ask for Boykins' resignation his "first serious mistake as mayor".
2013: Performed with South Bend Symphony Orchestra
In 2013, Buttigieg performed with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra as a guest piano soloist with Ben Folds.
2013: Launching of 3-1-1 System
In 2013, Pete Buttigieg oversaw the city's launching of a 3-1-1 system.
February 2014: Deputy Mayor Serves as Executive
Starting in February 2014, Deputy Mayor Mark Neal served as executive in Pete Buttigieg's absence.
September 23, 2014: Returns to the United States
Pete Buttigieg returned to the United States on September 23, 2014 after serving for seven months in Afghanistan as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve
October 2014: Returns to Role as Mayor
In October 2014, Pete Buttigieg returned to his role as mayor of South Bend after deployment in Afghanistan.
2014: Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow
In 2014, Buttigieg was an Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow.
2014: Deployment to Afghanistan
In 2014, Pete Buttigieg took a seven-month leave during his mayoral term to deploy to Afghanistan.
2014: Appointment to Truman National Security Project Board
In 2014, Pete Buttigieg was named to the board of advisors of the Truman National Security Project.
May 2015: Unveiling of River Lights Installation
In May 2015, the "River Lights" installation was unveiled as part of South Bend's 150th anniversary celebrations.
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.
August 2015: Began dating Chasten Glezman
In August 2015, Buttigieg began dating Chasten Glezman after meeting 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, receiving over 80 percent of the vote and defeating Republican Kelly Jones.
November 2015: 1,000 Properties Initiative Reaches Goal
The "Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative" reached its goal two months before its scheduled end date in November 2015.
2015: Federal Judge Ruled Boykins' Recordings Violated the Federal Wiretap Act
A federal judge ruled in 2015 that Boykins' recordings violated the Federal Wiretap Act.
2015: Recipient of the Fenn Award
In 2015, Buttigieg was a recipient of the Fenn Award, given by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in recognition of his work as mayor.
2015: Opposition to Indiana Senate Bill 101 and Comes Out as Gay
In 2015, Pete Buttigieg emerged as a leading opponent of Indiana Senate Bill 101 and came out as gay.
2015: Secured Bond Issue for Smart Streets Program
In early 2015, Pete Buttigieg secured a bond issue for the Smart Streets urban development program, which was backed by tax increment financing, after traffic studies and public hearings.
November 2016: Obama Cites Buttigieg as One of the Democratic Party's Talents
In a November 2016 profile on the outgoing president conducted by The New Yorker, Barack Obama cited Pete Buttigieg as one of the Democratic Party's talents.
2016: Campained for Evan Bayh and endorsed Hillary Clinton
In 2016, Pete Buttigieg campaigned on behalf of Democratic Senate nominee Evan Bayh and criticized Todd Young. In the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries, Buttigieg endorsed Hillary Clinton.
2016: Smart Streets Elements Finished
In 2016, elements of the Smart Streets urban development program were finished.
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, hoping that the redevelopment would facilitate industrial and housing units.
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: Criticized deportation policies
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.
December 14, 2017: Announced engagement to Chasten Glezman
On December 14, 2017, Buttigieg announced his engagement to Chasten Glezman via a Facebook post.
2017: Increased Out-of-City Travel
In 2017, as Pete Buttigieg's national profile grew following his run in the Democratic National Committee chairmanship election, he increased his out-of-city travel.
2017: Ivy Tower Renovation Announced
In 2017, it was announced that the long-abandoned 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, with plans for the building and other structures in its complex to serve as a technology hub.
2017: Smart Streets Project Completed
In 2017, the Smart Streets urban development program was officially completed. The project was credited with spurring private development in the city.
2017: Smart Sewer Program First Phase Finished
In 2017, the first phase of South Bend's smart sewer program was completed at a cost of $150 million. The effort used federal funds.
2017: Leaves the U.S. Navy Reserve
Pete Buttigieg left the U.S. Navy Reserve in 2017.
June 2018: Marriage to Chasten Glezman
In June 2018, Pete Buttigieg married Chasten Glezman, a schoolteacher and writer.
June 16, 2018: Married Chasten Glezman
On June 16, 2018, Buttigieg married Chasten Glezman in a private ceremony at the Cathedral of St. James.
August 2018: Proposed South Shore Line Station Relocation
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
In December 2018, Pete Buttigieg announced that he would not seek a third term as mayor of South Bend.
2018: Speculation of Buttigieg Running for Governor or President
By early 2018, there was speculation that Pete Buttigieg would run for either governor or president in 2020.
2018: Buttigieg Founded Hitting Home PAC and Endorsed Candidates
For the 2018 midterms, Pete Buttigieg founded the political action committee (PAC) Hitting Home PAC. That October, Buttigieg personally endorsed 21 congressional candidates. He also later endorsed Mel Hall, Democratic nominee in the 2018 election for Indiana's 2nd congressional district.
2018: Favored Medicare for All
In 2018, Buttigieg stated 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: Buttigieg Officially Announced Presidential Run
On January 23, 2019, Pete Buttigieg officially announced his run for president.
February 12, 2019: Published 'Shortest Way Home'
On February 12, 2019, Pete Buttigieg published his debut book, the autobiography "Shortest Way Home".
April 2019: Climate Plan Development Approved
In April 2019, the Common Council approved Pete Buttigieg's request to enable his administration to develop a city climate plan.
May 2019: Mueller Won Democratic Primary
In May 2019, James Mueller, endorsed by Pete Buttigieg, won the Democratic primary with 37 percent of the vote in a crowded field.
June 2019: Named one of Queerty's "Pride50"
In June 2019, Queerty named Buttigieg one of its "Pride50" people to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.
June 2019: Officer-Involved Shooting of Eric Logan
In June 2019, after a white South Bend police officer shot and killed Eric Logan, an African American man, Buttigieg was drawn from his presidential campaign to focus on the emerging public reaction. Police body cameras were not turned on during Logan's death. Buttigieg presided over a town hall meeting attended by disaffected activists from the African American community as well as relatives of the deceased man.
August 2019: Released mental health care plan
In August 2019, Buttigieg released a $300 billion plan aimed at expanding mental health care services and combating addiction.
October 2019: Received Golden Heart Award
In October 2019, Buttigieg was awarded the "Golden Heart Award for Outstanding Leadership and Public Service" at the Golden Heart Awards.
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 Chicago-based consulting firm 21CP Solutions, following the shooting of Eric Logan in June 2019.
November 2019: Carbon Neutral 2050 Plan Approved
In late November 2019, the city's Common Council voted 7–0 to approve the Carbon Neutral 2050 plan, setting goals for emission reduction by 2025 and 2035.
November 2019: Mueller Defeated Haas in General Election
In the November 2019 general election, James Mueller, endorsed by Pete Buttigieg, defeated Republican nominee Sean M. Haas with 63 percent of the vote.
December 2019: Buttigieg Rose into the Top-Tier of Candidates
In December 2019, Pete Buttigieg rose into the top-tier of candidates in the primary.
2019: Significant Private Investment in South Bend
By 2019, South Bend had seen an estimated $374 million in private investment for mixed-use developments since Pete Buttigieg had taken office.
2019: Buttigieg Requests Release from EPA Agreement
In 2019, Pete Buttigieg asked for South Bend to be released from an agreement with the EPA brokered under his mayoral predecessor, Steve Luecke, in which South Bend had agreed to make hundreds of millions of dollars in further improvements to its sewer system by 2031.
2019: Commuters Trust 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. The program was made possible by a $1 million three-year grant 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 to Bernie Sanders' 26.1 percent, winning 14 delegates to Sanders's 12. The LGBTQ Victory Fund, Buttigieg's first national endorsement, noted the historical first of an openly gay candidate winning a state presidential primary.
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: Received Equality Trailblazer Award
In August 2020, Equality California 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 that was planning the presidential transition of Joe Biden.
October 2020: Released 'Trust: America's Best Chance'
Also, in October 2020, Pete Buttigieg released his second book, "Trust: America's Best Chance".
November 7, 2020: Mentioned as a Possible Cabinet Appointee
Following the end of his presidential campaign, Pete Buttigieg was considered a possible Cabinet appointee in Joe Biden's administration. After Biden was declared the winner of the election on November 7, 2020, Buttigieg was again mentioned as a possible nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Ambassador to the United Nations, Ambassador to China or Secretary of Transportation.
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 nominee for Secretary of Transportation.
2020: Speculation of Buttigieg Running for Governor or President
By early 2018, there was speculation that Pete Buttigieg would run for either governor or president in 2020.
2020: South Bend Ranked Among Best Small Cities
In 2020, the website Best Cities ranked South Bend number 39 on its list of the 100 best small cities in the United States, citing Buttigieg's efforts to revitalize the Studebaker factory and Downtown South Bend.
2020: Mueller Took Office
James Mueller, endorsed by Pete Buttigieg, took office on New Year's Day 2020.
2020: Presidential Run
On January 23, 2019, Buttigieg announced that he was forming an exploratory committee to run for President of the United States in the upcoming 2020 election. Buttigieg sought the Democratic Party nomination for president.
February 2, 2021: Confirmation as Secretary of Transportation
On February 2, 2021, Pete Buttigieg's nomination as Secretary of Transportation was confirmed, making him the first Senate-confirmed openly LGBTQ+ Cabinet secretary in U.S. history.
March 2021: Consideration of tolls on Interstate 80
In March 2021, Secretary Buttigieg indicated his openness to tolls on Interstate 80, but not bridges, suggesting "big picture solutions" like a mileage tax instead. However, the Biden administration did not include a gas tax or mileage tax in the infrastructure plan released that month.
March 2021: Prioritization of Gateway Rail Tunnel Project
In late March 2021, Secretary Buttigieg informed Congress that the Biden administration planned to prioritize the construction of the Gateway Rail Tunnel Project, citing its economic significance. He also announced the environmental impact assessment of the project.
May 2021: Order to Release Cassette Tapes
In May 2021, St. Joseph County Superior Court Judge Steve Hostetler ordered the release of five cassette tapes to the South Bend City Council related to the Boykins case.
May 19, 2021: Reinstatement of Obama-era pilot program
On May 19, 2021, as Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg reinstated an Obama-era pilot program aimed at ensuring local hiring for public works projects. The program's goal was to help minorities and disadvantaged individuals, and it had been revoked in 2017 during the Trump administration.
June 2021: Appointment to White House Supply Chain Task Force
In June 2021, Secretary Buttigieg was appointed as one of the leaders of a White House task force created to address supply chain disruptions.
August 2021: Buttigieg Takes Parental Leave
In mid-August 2021, after the birth of his twins, Secretary Buttigieg began a period of paid parental leave, approved by the White House. During the leave, he was mostly offline, attending to major agency decisions. This leave became a point of criticism from conservative figures.
August 17, 2021: Announced becoming parents
On August 17, 2021, Buttigieg announced that he and his husband had become parents.
September 4, 2021: Adopted twins
On September 4, 2021, Buttigieg elaborated that he and his husband had adopted two newborn fraternal twins.
October 2021: Prediction of continued supply chain disruptions
By October 2021, global supply bottlenecks had resulted in shortages of household goods for American consumers. Buttigieg cited high demand and the pandemic as some of the causes for the disruptions, and predicted that the disruptions would continue into the next year.
October 2021: Resumption of activities after parental leave
In early October 2021, after taking parental leave since mid-August, Buttigieg resumed his activities as Secretary of Transportation, making several media appearances after "ramping up activities".
June 2022: Launch of Reconnecting Communities pilot program
In late June 2022, Secretary Buttigieg launched a $1 billion Reconnecting Communities pilot program designed to establish racial equity in roads. The program uses funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to reconnect cities and neighborhoods divided by roads through projects like rapid bus lines and pedestrian walkways.
July 2022: Established residency in Traverse City, Michigan
In July 2022, Buttigieg established his permanent residence in Traverse City, Michigan, which is Chasten's hometown, and registered to vote in Michigan.
February 3, 2023: East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment
On February 3, 2023, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Emergency crews conducted a controlled burn of the spill, releasing chemicals into the air, leading to resident evacuations.
February 23, 2023: NTSB Preliminary Report on Ohio Train Derailment
On February 23, 2023, the NTSB released a preliminary report on the East Palestine train derailment, stating that the wheel bearings overheated, with temperatures as high as 253 °F (141 °C) above the ambient temperature.
March 2023: Buttigieg's Response to Ohio Train Derailment
In March 2023, Secretary Buttigieg appeared on CNN and admitted to erring in not visiting East Palestine sooner and failing to anticipate the fallout from the train derailment.
March 2023: Opposition to Spirit-Frontier merger
In March 2023, Secretary Buttigieg voiced his opposition to the proposed merger of Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, citing concerns that it would be anticompetitive.
December 2023: Record fine imposed on Southwest Airlines
In December 2023, the Department of Transportation, under Secretary Buttigieg, imposed a record fine of $140 million on Southwest Airlines for violations of consumer protection laws in 2022, when the company canceled numerous flights.
2023: Study on Buttigieg's Electability
A 2023 study by political scientists from Loyola Marymount University reported how different aspects of Buttigieg's biography affected voters' views on his electability as a US President.
August 2024: 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: Airline refund rule takes effect
On October 30, 2024, Secretary Buttigieg announced that a rule had taken effect, requiring airlines to automatically provide refunds to passengers when flights are canceled and passengers do not accept an alternative flight, or if paid services are not provided.
January 2025: Consideration of U.S. Senate Run in Michigan
In January 2025, news reports indicated that Pete Buttigieg was considering a run for U.S. Senate in Michigan, following the announced retirement of Senator Gary Peters.
March 2025: Decision against Senate run, eyeing presidential run
In March 2025, Pete Buttigieg opted not to run for the U.S. Senate in Michigan in 2026, with sources indicating he was considering a run for president in 2028 instead.
April 2025: Fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics
From February to April 2025, Pete Buttigieg served as a fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, delivering a seminar on campus every week.
2025: Target Completion Date for South Shore Line Relocation
Pete Buttigieg set a goal to have the city complete the relocation of the South Shore Line station to downtown South Bend by 2025.
2025: Paris Agreement Emission Reduction Goal
The Carbon Neutral 2050 plan, approved in November 2019, set the goal of meeting the Paris Agreement's 26-percent emission reduction by 2025, and aiming for a further reductions of 45 percent by 2035.
2031: EPA Agreement Deadline
2031 was the deadline for South Bend to make hundreds of millions of dollars in further improvements to its sewer system, according to an agreement with the EPA, before Buttigieg asked for the city to be released from the agreement in 2019.
2035: Emission Reduction Target Set for 2035
The Carbon Neutral 2050 plan, approved in November 2019, set the goal of meeting the Paris Agreement's 26-percent emission reduction by 2025, and aiming for a further reductions of 45 percent by 2035.
2050: Carbon Neutral 2050 Goal
The Carbon Neutral 2050 plan, approved in November 2019, set the goal of meeting the Paris Agreement's 26-percent emission reduction by 2025, and aiming for a further reductions of 45 percent by 2035, with the ultimate goal of Carbon Neutral by 2050.
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