Pete Buttigieg is skipping the race for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat as he eyes a possible Democratic presidential run in 2028. The trailblazing former transportation secretary announced his decision not to run for the Senate seat being vacated by the retirement of Sen. Gary Peters in a blog post on Thursday.

SAUGATUCK, Mich. (AP) — Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that he will not seek an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, a move that leaves the door wide open for him to seek a much bigger role as his party’s next presidential nominee.

Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg will not run for Senate in 2026 -- mostly because he's got his eye on a bigger prize.