Pete Buttigieg expresses confidence in America's readiness to elect a gay president

Pete Buttigieg has expressed confidence in the ability of the United States to elect a gay president, stating, “Of course.” In an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, the former Transportation Secretary argued that voters are primarily focused on their own lives and circumstances rather than a candidate's identity.

Buttigieg cited his political history as evidence, noting his 2015 reelection as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, where he won approximately 80% of the vote after coming out publicly. His 2020 presidential campaign was also historic, as he became the first openly gay candidate to win a major party contest by winning the Iowa caucuses.

The discussion also touched upon Kamala Harris’s memoir, in which she noted that while Buttigieg was a top choice for her 2024 running mate, she ultimately viewed a ticket pairing a Black woman with a gay man as carrying too much political risk. Buttigieg previously served in the Biden administration as the first openly gay person confirmed by the Senate to a Cabinet position.