# Pete Buttigieg comments on gay presidential candidacy

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/pete-buttigieg-comments-on-gay-presidential-candidacy
> Updated: 2026-09-17T13:05:37.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

Pete Buttigieg, the former U.S. Transportation Secretary, stated in an interview on ‘Meet the Press’ that the United States is ready to elect a gay president. 

His comments were made in response to remarks in Kamala Harris’s memoir, ‘107 Days,’ where she described Buttigieg as her first choice for a running mate in 2024 but noted concerns that a ticket featuring a Black woman and a gay man might be ‘too big of a risk.’

Buttigieg defended his position by citing his political history, specifically his re-election as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, where he won approximately 80% of the vote after coming out publicly. He argued that voters are primarily focused on economic issues and their daily lives rather than a candidate’s identity.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-17: Pete Buttigieg says the U.S. is ready for a gay president

Pete Buttigieg asserts that the U.S. is ready for a gay president, citing his own political success and voter focus on economic issues rather than identity.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pete-buttigieg-says-the-us-is-ready-for-a-gay-president

### 2026-09-14: Pete Buttigieg says America is ready for a gay president

Pete Buttigieg told ‘Meet the Press’ that America is ready for a gay president, addressing Kamala Harris’s past concerns regarding the political risk of such a ticket.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pete-buttigieg-says-america-is-ready-for-a-gay-president

---
Cite as: Pete Buttigieg comments on gay presidential candidacy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/pete-buttigieg-comments-on-gay-presidential-candidacy