Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is scheduled to headline a Democratic conference in South Carolina as he considers a potential presidential bid for 2028. This event will take place shortly before a Republican Senate primary runoff, providing Buttigieg an opportunity to connect with South Carolina Democrats.
Buttigieg, 44, has indicated he is leaning towards a presidential run, stating in a recent interview, "I think I’m more inclined than not, but there’s so much we don’t know." Early polling suggests he would be a leading contender in the Democratic primary, with a recent poll showing him at 21% support among likely voters in New Hampshire, just behind Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 22%.
Other candidates in the poll included Sen. Mark Kelly at 9%, Gov. Gavin Newsom at 8%, Sen. Bernie Sanders at 6%, and former Vice President Kamala Harris at 5%. This polling occurs more than 17 months before the first expected Democratic presidential primary in South Carolina, which the Democratic National Committee has designated as the first state to hold its primary on January 22, 2028.
Following South Carolina, the primary schedule includes Nevada on February 1, New Hampshire on February 8, New Mexico on February 15, Michigan on February 22, and Virginia on February 29, with Super Tuesday set for March 7. The full DNC membership is expected to finalize this calendar at its next meeting in Austin, Texas, in August. Buttigieg previously finished fifth in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary and has remained a prominent figure in the party since serving as transportation secretary under President Joe Biden.