Pete Buttigieg

Pete Buttigieg was born on January 19, 1982, in South Bend, Indiana. His father, Joseph Buttigieg, was a professor at the University of Notre Dame, and his mother, Jennifer Anne Montgomery, was a linguist and educator. Growing up in South Bend, Pete Buttigieg would later become the mayor of the city and a prominent political figure.

Pete Buttigieg graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and literature. During his time at Harvard, he was president of the university's Institute of Politics Students Advisory Committee, demonstrating early on his interest in political affairs.

In 2007, Pete Buttigieg graduated from Pembroke College, Oxford, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE) as a Rhodes Scholar. His studies at Oxford further cemented his academic foundation in governance and public policy.

In June 2009, Pete Buttigieg received his commission as a Naval Intelligence Officer. He was part of the U.S. Navy Reserve and later served in Afghanistan. This military service would become an integral part of his persona and political narrative.

Pete Buttigieg was elected as the Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, in the November 2011 elections. Sworn into office in January 2012, he became the youngest mayor of a U.S. city with at least 100,000 residents at the time. His tenure focused on urban revitalization and economic development.

On April 28, 2014, Pete Buttigieg publicly came out as gay in a personal essay published in the South Bend Tribune. This bold move made him one of the first openly gay executives in the United States and highlighted his commitment to authenticity and transparency in his public role.

Pete Buttigieg married Chasten Glezman on June 16, 2018, in a ceremony held at the Cathedral of Saint James' in South Bend. The couple's marriage was a historic moment, symbolizing a broader acceptance and recognition of LGBTQ+ relationships in public life.

On April 14, 2019, Pete Buttigieg officially announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 United States presidential election. His campaign emphasized generational change and a focus on unity, attracting significant media attention and establishing Buttigieg as a national political figure.

On March 1, 2020, Pete Buttigieg announced the suspension of his presidential campaign. Despite his withdrawal, Buttigieg had made history as the first openly gay person to win a caucus (the Iowa caucuses) in a major party's presidential primary.

On February 3, 2021, Pete Buttigieg was sworn in as the United States Secretary of Transportation, making history as the first openly gay Cabinet secretary confirmed by the Senate. His agenda focuses on infrastructure overhaul and combating climate change impacts through transportation policies.