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 from 2021 to 2025. Before that, he was the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, from 2012 to 2020, gaining the moniker "Mayor Pete." A member of the Democratic Party, Buttigieg is a prominent figure in American politics, known for his relatively young age and his focus on infrastructure and policy.
January 19, 1982: Pete Buttigieg's birth
On January 19, 1982, Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg was born. He later became a politician, naval officer, and the United States Secretary of Transportation.
2000: Delegate to United States Senate Youth Program
In 2000, Pete Buttigieg was selected as a delegate from Indiana to the United States Senate Youth Program.
2000: First Prize in Essay Contest
In 2000, Pete Buttigieg won first prize in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum's Profiles in Courage essay contest. The subject was Bernie Sanders.
2004: Graduation from Harvard
In 2004, Pete Buttigieg graduated magna cum laude from Harvard, where he majored in history and literature.
2004: Policy and Research Specialist
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 the 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, serving as a fellow.
2006: Assisted Joe Donnelly's 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, working on energy, retail, economic development, and logistics.
2007: Received Bachelor of Arts degree from Oxford
In 2007, Pete Buttigieg received a Bachelor of Arts degree with first-class honours 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: Joined U.S. Navy Reserve
In September 2009, Pete Buttigieg joined the U.S. Navy Reserve as an ensign in naval intelligence.
2010: Left 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, but lost to Republican Richard Mourdock.
2010: Todd Young's position on Don't Ask Don't Tell
In the 2016 U.S. Senate election in Indiana, Buttigieg 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: Won Democratic Primary for South Bend Mayor
On May 3, 2011, Pete Buttigieg won his primary election against four opponents, receiving 7,663 votes, running for the Democratic nomination for mayor of South Bend.
November 2011: Elected Mayor of South Bend
In November 2011, Pete Buttigieg was elected mayor of South Bend, receiving 10,991 votes.
2011: EPA Fine for Clean Water Act Violations
In 2011, before the start of the Smart Sewer Program, the EPA had levied a fine against the city for Clean Water Act violations, which served as the impetus for the smart sewer program.
January 2012: Took Office as Mayor of South Bend
In January 2012, Pete Buttigieg took office as mayor of South Bend.
2012: Demoted Police Chief
In 2012, after a federal investigation, Pete Buttigieg demoted South Bend police chief Darryl Boykins.
2012: Boykins's Resignation
Shortly after taking office in 2012, Mayor Pete Buttigieg asked for police chief Boykins's resignation.
2013: Performance with South Bend Symphony Orchestra
In 2013, Buttigieg performed as a guest piano soloist with Ben Folds and the South Bend Symphony Orchestra.
2013: City Launches 3-1-1 System
In 2013, Mayor 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: Mark Neal Served as Executive
From February 2014, Deputy Mayor Mark Neal served as executive in Pete Buttigieg's absence when Buttigieg was deployed to Afghanistan.
September 23, 2014: Buttigieg Returned to the United States
Pete Buttigieg returned to the United States on September 23, 2014, while serving as mayor.
October 2014: Buttigieg Returned to Role as Mayor
In October 2014, Pete Buttigieg returned to his role as mayor in South Bend.
2014: Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow
Buttigieg was selected as a 2014 Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow.
2014: Deployed 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 Board of Advisors
In 2014, Pete Buttigieg was named to the Truman National Security Project's board of advisors.
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: Coming 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. He was the first elected official in Indiana to come out while in office and the highest elected official in Indiana to come out.
August 2015: Started 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, securing over 80 percent of the vote against Republican Kelly Jones.
November 2015: Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative Reached Goal
In November 2015, the "Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative" reached its goal two months before its scheduled end date.
2015: Recipient of the Fenn Award
In 2015, Buttigieg received the Fenn Award, given by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, in recognition of his work as mayor.
2015: Federal Judge Ruled Against Boykins's Recordings
In 2015, a federal judge ruled that Boykins's recordings violated the Federal Wiretap Act.
2015: Came Out as Gay
In 2015, amid his reelection campaign, Pete Buttigieg came out as gay during the controversy over Indiana Senate Bill 101.
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 backed by tax increment financing.
November 2016: Obama cites Buttigieg as one of the Democratic Party's talents
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: Signs Executive Order for City ID
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 Implementation
In 2016, elements of the Smart Streets implementation project 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, hoping that the redevelopment would facilitate industrial and housing units.
2016: Campaigns for Evan Bayh
In the 2016 U.S. Senate election in Indiana, Pete Buttigieg campaigned on behalf of Democratic Senate nominee Evan Bayh. He also endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries.
January 2017: Announces 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: HuffPost article on deportation policies
In March 2017, Buttigieg defended a Granger, Indiana resident in an article for the HuffPost. The resident 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: Engagement to Chasten Glezman
On December 14, 2017, Buttigieg announced his engagement to Chasten Glezman 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 as his national profile grew.
2017: Left U.S. Navy Reserve
In 2017, Pete Buttigieg left the U.S. Navy Reserve.
2017: Studebaker Building 84 Renovation Announcement
In 2017, it was announced that the long-abandoned Studebaker Building 84, also known as Ivy Tower, would have its exterior renovated with funds from the State of Indiana and South Bend tax increment financing, with plans to serve as a technology hub.
2017: Smart Streets Project Completion
In 2017, the Smart Streets urban development program was officially completed.
2017: Smart Sewer Program Phase One Completion
In 2017, under Pete Buttigieg, the first phase of the city's smart sewer program was completed at a cost of $150 million.
June 2018: Marriage to Chasten Glezman
In June 2018, Pete Buttigieg married Chasten Glezman, a schoolteacher and writer.
June 16, 2018: Marriage to Chasten Glezman
On June 16, 2018, Buttigieg married Chasten Glezman in a private ceremony at the Cathedral of St. James, making Buttigieg the first mayor of South Bend to get married while in office.
August 2018: Proposed Relocation of South Shore Line Station
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: Announcement of not seeking third term
In December 2018, Pete Buttigieg announced that he would not seek a third term as mayor of South Bend.
2018: Speculation of running for Governor or President
By early 2018, there was speculation that Pete Buttigieg would run for either governor or president in 2020.
2018: Founded Hitting Home PAC
For the 2018 midterms, Pete Buttigieg founded the political action committee (PAC) Hitting Home PAC and personally endorsed 21 congressional candidates. He also later endorsed Mel Hall, Democratic nominee in the 2018 election for Indiana's 2nd congressional district.
January 2019: CBS News interview on Trump's border policy
In January 2019, Buttigieg criticized Trump's decision to send American troops to the Southern border, describing it as "reckless" during an interview with CBS News.
January 23, 2019: Announces run for President
On January 23, 2019, Pete Buttigieg officially announced his run for president.
February 12, 2019: Publishes Debut Book
On February 12, 2019, Pete Buttigieg published his debut book, autobiography Shortest Way Home.
April 14, 2019: Launch of Presidential Campaign
On April 14, 2019, Pete Buttigieg launched his campaign for the 2020 presidential election, becoming the first openly gay man to launch a Democratic presidential campaign.
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 Wins Democratic Primary
In May 2019, James Mueller, endorsed by Buttigieg, won the Democratic primary for the South Bend mayoral election with 37 percent of the vote.
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: Shooting of Eric Logan
In June 2019, after a white South Bend police officer shot and killed Eric Logan, an African American man, Buttigieg focused on the emerging public reaction.
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: Review of South Bend Police Department Policies
In November 2019, Pete Buttigieg secured funding 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, the city's Common Council voted 7–0 to approve the Carbon Neutral 2050 plan, setting emission reduction goals for 2025 and 2035.
November 2019: James Mueller Wins General Election
In the November 2019 general election, James Mueller, endorsed by Buttigieg, defeated Republican nominee Sean M. Haas with 63 percent of the vote.
December 2019: Rises into Top-Tier of Candidates
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 Buttigieg had taken office.
2019: Request to be Released from EPA Agreement
In 2019, Pete Buttigieg requested that the city be released from an agreement with the EPA to make further improvements to its sewer system by 2031.
2019: Commuters Trust Transportation 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 Iowa Democratic caucuses results.
March 1, 2020: Dropping out of Presidential Race
On March 1, 2020, Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the presidential race.
April 2020: Win The Era PAC Launched
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 as Teacher and Researcher at 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: Equality Trailblazer Award
In August 2020, Equality California gave Buttigieg and his husband Chasten their Equality Trailblazer Award.
September 5, 2020: Member of 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 Second Book
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 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 Buttigieg as his nominee for Secretary of Transportation.
2020: Speculation of 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 as Best Small City
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: Presidential Election Year
In January 2019, Buttigieg announced that he was forming an exploratory committee to run for President of the United States in the upcoming 2020 election.
2020: Mueller Takes Office
James Mueller, endorsed by Pete Buttigieg in the 2019 South Bend mayoral election, took office on New Year's Day 2020.
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 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" like a mileage tax. However, the Biden administration did not include a gas tax or mileage tax in the infrastructure plan.
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. He also promoted the American Jobs Plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
May 2021: Tapes Released to City Council
In May 2021, a judge ruled that cassette tapes must be released to the South Bend City Council.
May 19, 2021: Reinstatement of Obama-era pilot program
On May 19, 2021, Secretary of Transportation Buttigieg reinstated an Obama-era pilot program that ensures 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: Appointment 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 supply chain disruptions.
August 2021: Parental Leave
Starting in mid-August 2021, Buttigieg took a paid parental leave after the birth of his twins. He was mostly offline for a month, except for major agency decisions, before ramping up activities.
August 17, 2021: Announcement of becoming a parent
On August 17, 2021, Buttigieg announced that he and his husband had become parents.
September 4, 2021: Adoption of twins
On September 4, 2021, Buttigieg elaborated that he and his husband had adopted two newborn fraternal twins.
October 2021: Addressing Global Supply Bottlenecks
In October 2021, Buttigieg addressed the issue of global supply bottlenecks, which had led to record shortages of household goods for American consumers. He cited high demand and the pandemic as contributing factors and predicted disruptions would continue.
October 2021: Return from Parental Leave
In early October 2021, Buttigieg increased his activities after taking parental leave since mid-August 2021. He made many media appearances, following a month where he was mostly offline except for major agency decisions.
June 2022: Launch of Reconnecting Communities pilot program
In June 2022, Buttigieg launched a $1 billion Reconnecting Communities pilot program aimed at establishing racial equity in roads, utilizing funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The program seeks to reconnect cities and neighborhoods divided by roads through various projects.
July 2022: Established permanent residence in 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 Train Derailment
On February 3, 2023, a freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, carrying hazardous materials, leading to a controlled burn and evacuations. Buttigieg's Department of Transportation faced criticism for its response.
February 23, 2023: NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on East Palestine Derailment
On February 23, 2023, the NTSB released a preliminary report stating that the wheel bearings overheated, with temperatures as high as 253 °F (141 °C) above the ambient temperature, leading to the derailment.
March 2023: Buttigieg Addresses East Palestine Derailment Response
In March 2023, Buttigieg appeared on CNN and admitted he erred in not visiting East Palestine sooner and failing to anticipate the fallout from the derailment.
March 2023: Opposition to Spirit-Frontier merger
In March 2023, Buttigieg opposed the proposed merger of Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, citing anti-competitive concerns.
December 2023: Record fine on Southwest Airlines
In December 2023, Buttigieg's Department of Transportation imposed a record fine of $140 million on Southwest Airlines for mass violations of consumer protection laws in 2022 due to flight cancellations.
2023: Study on Buttigieg's electability as President
In 2023 a 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: Rule for Automatic Airline Refunds
On October 30, 2024, Buttigieg announced the effective date of a rule requiring airlines to automatically provide refunds to passengers for canceled flights or unprovided paid services.
January 2025: Consideration of U.S. Senate Run
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: Decision Against Senate Run, Mulling Presidential Run
In March 2025, Buttigieg opted not to run for the U.S. Senate in Michigan in 2026 and was instead reportedly considering a run for president in 2028.
April 2025: Fellow at University of Chicago Institute of Politics
From February to April 2025, Buttigieg served as a fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, delivering a weekly seminar on campus.
2025: South Shore Line Station Relocation Goal
In August 2018, Pete Buttigieg made it a goal to have the city complete the South Shore Line station relocation project by 2025.
2025: Paris Agreement Emission Reduction Goal
In late November 2019, the city's Common Council approved the Carbon Neutral 2050 plan, setting the goal of meeting the Paris Agreement's 26-percent emission reduction by 2025.
2031: Sewer system improvements deadline
In 2019, Pete Buttigieg asked for the city 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.
2035: Further Emission Reduction Goal
In late November 2019, the city's Common Council approved the Carbon Neutral 2050 plan and aiming for a further reductions of 45 percent by 2035.
2050: Carbon Neutral 2050 Plan Goal
In November 2019, the city's Common Council voted 7–0 to approve the Carbon Neutral 2050 plan, setting 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.
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