Pete Buttigieg returns to S. Carolina, weighs another White House run

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg returned to South Carolina this weekend to test the political waters for a potential 2028 presidential run, six years after a fourth-place primary finish in the state ended his 2020 campaign. Buttigieg, who struggled to win Black voters in 2020, received standing ovations at an NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner in Orangeburg after being credited for bringing federal transportation dollars to the area. South Carolina will hold the first Democratic primary in 2028, making the state crucial for any candidate seeking the party's nomination.

Buttigieg told reporters Saturday he has made no final decision about running again, saying he is "totally focused on 2026." His visit included fundraising in Charleston and speeches at a policy conference and historically Black Claflin University. Democratic Party officials say winning the support of Black voters, who make up a majority of South Carolina's Democratic primary electorate, is essential to securing the party's presidential nomination.