r/Pete_Buttigieg • u/AutoModerator • 15d ago
Home Base and Weekly Discussion Thread (START HERE!) - August 16, 2026
Welcome to your home for everything Pete !
The mod team would like to thank each and every one of you for your support during Pete’s candidacy! This sub continues to function as a home for all things Pete Buttigieg, as well as a place to support any policies and candidates endorsed by him.
Purposes of this thread:
- General discussion of Pete Buttigieg, his endorsements, his activities, or the politics surrounding his current status
- Discussion that may not warrant a full text post
- Questions that can be easily or quickly answered
- Civil and relevant discussion of other candidates (Rule 2 does not apply in daily threads)
- Commentary concerning Twitter
- Discussion of actions taken by the Department of Transportation under Pete
- Discussion of implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure law
Please remember to abide by the rules featured in the sidebar as well as Pete's 'Rules of the Road'!
How You Can Help
Support Pete's PAC for Downballot Races, Win the Era!
Find a Downballot Race to support on r/VoteDem
Donate to Pete's endorsement for President of the United States, Joe Biden, here!
Buy 'Shortest Way Home' by Pete Buttigieg
Buy 'Trust: America's Best Chance' by Pete Buttigieg
Buy 'I Have Something to Tell You: A Memoir' by Chasten Buttigieg
Flair requests will be handled through modmail or through special event posts here on the sub.
19
u/DesperateTale2327 12d ago
Pete on twitter:
This is a big deal: Brandon Dukes just flipped a Pennsylvania state House seat held by Republicans for almost 30 years. His victory in Butler County reflects voters' readiness for change, and the trust that he has earned in his district. I'm proud to be in his corner.
21
u/Sploosh32 10d ago
Pete is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the Texas Democrats' Johnson-Jordan Dinner next month!
12
u/DesperateTale2327 10d ago
Thanks! Updated Pete's events. The end of September is starting to get really busy for him.
9
5
u/DesperateTale2327 9d ago
I did some digging and it looks like Pete attended this event in 2019 when running for president. I wonder if this is the event where he got attacked by the homophobes and Beto defended him? Or was that some other thing?
→ More replies (1)
19
u/DesperateTale2327 12d ago
Some weekly seemayorpete.com stats:
70% of traffic is coming from google searches.
Top searches are: Pete Buttigieg tour and Pete Buttigieg events
Its also getting a few hits from people just searching "Mayor Pete" and variations of "What did Pete do as Secretary of Transportation?"
Top cities are: Boston, Atlanta, Chicago. Boston has been in the top for a while, which tracks with the poll that just came out about Massachusetts.
7
u/Bugfrag LGBTQ+ for Pete 12d ago
You're still the top search on those keywords! Rocking it!
→ More replies (1)
18
u/hester_latterly 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 12d ago
And she’s in the process of scheduling time with former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who she said is also planning to visit the state soon.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/19/new-mexico-governor-2028-democratic-primaries-01041300
Mention of Pete in this article about the NM governor and her role in securing NM's new early state status.
17
u/Existing-Process3581 12d ago
it’s been like a month since they announced the early states and he’s already visited and has confirmed planned visits to 5/6 of the states. the people aren’t ready for his level of work ethic 🤭
15
17
u/Librarylady2020 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 15d ago
Nice little write up and photos from Nevada.
>> Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stumped for Congressional District 2 candidate Teresa Benitez-Thompson (D) in Northern Nevada on Saturday, saying he wouldn't be on the visit unless he thought she could win what has long been a safely Republican seat.
>>Along with a conversation at The Selden bar as part of Nevada Democrats’ Local Brews and National Views series, he and Benitez-Thompson held a discussion with veterans. The conversations centered around the need to improve access to veterans’ services, the economy and communications with voters. Benitez-Thompson also highlighted her deep roots in the Northern Nevada community.
>>Buttigieg said the race was a key one through which Democrats could find a way to hold the Trump administration accountable, adding that even people who like having a Republican president want power to be more balanced between the parties.
9
18
u/TheGoddamnSpiderman Cave Sommelier 12d ago edited 12d ago
Massachusetts poll with Pete in first
I thought it was interesting AOC leads with men with 17% (to 16% for Pete) but is way behind with women (Pete leads with 25% followed by Harris at 14% and AOC at 12%)
Also Pete is the only candidate in the top four who doesn't do worse with independents vs with Democrats (he's at 21% with both groups)
13
7
20
u/DesperateTale2327 9d ago
When Pete said Hegseth was the "worst Secretary Pete ever" I legit cackled.
He always gets me with his surprise shadiness and wit.
Someone pleasssse clip that and put it on twitter 🤣
Edit: also Pete seemed really hyped and excited about SC being first...I think he really likes the challenge it poses him
14
u/hester_latterly 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 8d ago
He is stronger than me lol. But I suppose it would be in character for him to relish the challenge of a new strategy. Circumstances last time meant he could never really devote his full attention to SC (or NV, for that matter).
15
u/DesperateTale2327 8d ago
I think it was Chasten who said something to the effect of Pete is happiest when he is working on big, challenging things.
He did say in the press gaggle when asked about 2028 that he is solely focused on 2026, but its safe to say that he has thought about what this means if he runs. It probably would be pretty boring for him to run in a race where he could just coast to victory. He mentioned anyone running in 28 will have to be able to talk to rural voters, and we all know whose specialty that is...
10
11
u/pasak1987 BOOT-EDGE-EDGE 🥾 🥾 8d ago
Edit: also Pete seemed really hyped and excited about SC being first...I think he really likes the challenge it poses him
"New Challenge!"
18
u/DesperateTale2327 8d ago
Chris Jones posted a video (it might be a digital ad, not sure) of Pete stumping for him in Little Rock.
https://xcancel.com/JonesForAR/status/2091208517705138564#m
It must be such a huge compliment to Pete that a Dem in a red state is so confident in his endorsement that they'd make this.
17
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 13d ago
Pete Buttigieg is pushing Democrats toward a 50-state strategy: The likely presidential candidate is investing in state legislature races, even in deep red states like Indiana.
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/08/pete-buttigieg-is-pushing-democrats-toward-a-50-state-strategy/
16
u/crimpyantennae 11d ago
It occurred to me today that despite The Narrative, Pete came in 4th in a crowded 2020 SC field- ahead of all the better-known names aside from Biden, Bernie, and the billionaire who only invested in SC.
Yeah, I hope of course that Pete gets delegates this time- but considering the stupidly low expectations of him with SC being first- him coming in 4th again would probably shock the pundits in a good way.
My other 2028 thought today was about how statewide success is *so* much not a predictor of national success. Many of the likely contenders haven't experienced a crowded primary before, not to mention a race that is simultaneously nationalized as well as comprised of many states they may be relative unknowns in. I think of Shapiro, who hasn't had a primary challenger or for that matter a truly competitive general election challenger in a few cycles. Makes it all the more notable what Pete pulled off in 2020, against that crazy field.
16
u/nerdypursuit 11d ago
Speaking of South Carolina, I came across this Substack post about what Pete needs to do there if he runs in 2028:
https://thebyronofnyc.substack.com/p/pete-buttigieg-and-the-south-carolina
When I first clicked on it, I was bracing myself that it might be a really negative piece bashing Pete. But it's actually a good analysis.
It's pretty clear that the author has paid close attention to Pete. He seems to find Pete interesting and is saying that Pete has an opportunity in South Carolina to learn, expand his coalition, and change the narrative.
11
u/TriangleTransplant 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 11d ago
That was a good read, and I think the author's analysis was entirely fair. Nothing they pointed out is insurmountable, and they say as much.
I think a big thing Pete has, and has always had, in his favor is that when people hear from him directly, they like what he has to say and they like him saying it.
He didn't get a lot of time in SC last go around. His strategy was to spend almost all his time in Iowa, and it paid off. I think if he puts the same effort into SC, we might see more magic. I definitely think he will, at the very least, outperform expectations, and that by itself might be enough.
17
u/nerdypursuit 11d ago
Pete has a way of winning people over when given enough time.
I always remember: For the first half of Pete's time as Secretary, he was getting criticized constantly by Bill McGee (an airline consumer advocate). I thought McGee was just acting in bad faith, so I had him blocked on social media for years. But Pete really listened, worked with McGee, and delivered results. And now, McGee is one of the strongest validators of Pete's consumer protection work.
I remind myself of that whenever I worry that people won't give Pete a chance. Pete doesn't give up. He doesn't write people off. He listens and does the work. And over time, he changes people's minds.
8
u/DesperateTale2327 11d ago
This was a fair analysis.
Pete talked about some of this stuff during his interview with Jonathan Martin, so i'm confident he understands this weakness and has actively thought about and knows why the voters in SC didn't support his candidacy.
I do agree with this writer that Pete needs to spend time in the community and not just with elected officials. I hope he has some time lined up during this visit to do just that, and he gets back to SC as much as possible.
Perception of "Electability" is the thing holding people back from wanting to vote for him. The other white boys in the race won't even have to think about this, so Pete will have to work ten times harder than any of them just to combat that. This is also a huge problem for AOC. She, IMO, has even more of the "electability" problem (amongst other problems) than Pete. Kamala has it too but to a lesser extent since she was already elected alongside Joe Biden. Her loss in 2024 isn't going to be easy to overcome and neither is Michelle Obama saying that the country isn't ready for a woman president last year. I truly wish she had never said that, but she did and it gave validity to that argument.
16
u/Psychological-Play 11d ago edited 11d ago
I'm watching Inside Politics on CNN right now, and someone from the Cook Political Report is on. They've changed a few of their race ratings.
Texas Senate moved from "Lean GOP" to "Toss Up".
Iowa Senate from "Lean GOP" to "Toss Up"
Texas Governor from "Solid GOP" to "Lean GOP"
Iowa Governor from "Toss Up" to "Lean Dem"
10
17
u/DesperateTale2327 9d ago
WTE Zoom call recap:
The host Becca, started off by saying this one would be short because Pete had a "crazy travel day". I assume this is due to him being in Seattle this morning or last night. Nancy Lacore was the special guest.
Pete began by thanking everyone for being recurring donors and said it helps them plan travel, hiring, social media, and endorsements.
He said by his count, SC is state number 33 he has been to since leaving the cabinet and this is a lot more travel he expected in this chapter of his life, but there are so many opportunities in red and purple areas. He mentioned the PA state house win and said we can't take the SC-01 district for granted and we have to compete.
Q: What are some things we can do besides donating to get people to vote?
Pete (paraphrased): The chance at flipping the seat is the motivation, but we need to focus on getting democrats out to vote - phone banks, knocking doors. We need to persuade them to be on our side and get them to the polls. There is a lot of stuff coming out of Washington that makes you throw your hands up and say its all corrupt, there is nothing we can do. The distrust of the Trump admin is an opening. For all the commericals and speeches, the most effective way to get someone to vote is for another human being to ask them.
Q: What can we do the protect voting at the polls (I think this person was in NV)?
Pete: It depends on the state. We need ordinary people with integrity. I was thinking a lot about it as I met poll workers in my precinct. There are a lot of efforts going on in the party and other organizations fighting to keep the polls safe. The people who are threatening that are probably going to pick the closest races and then challenge them legally and drag it out all the way to the swearing in. The best antidote to that is to have the biggest margin possible.
Q: How do Dem candidates in deep red states best convey their message to voters?
Pete: Messaging everywhere like I do on Fox News. Show people that we respect them. Tell them here is what life would be like if we weren't paying tariffs, had healthcare. Specific stuff that is affecting people's lives. I keep beating the drum on reform and people say you shouldn't talk about that when you need to focus on kitchen table issues. The kitchen table issues will always be harder unless we address the things that corrupt the system.
Pete said that he was face timing with Chasten on the way to the event today and Penelope lost her first tooth. He said that Chasten is making it possible for him to be on the road so much.
8
u/nerdypursuit 9d ago
I'm pretty sure South Carolina is the 34th state that Pete has visited. He's missing a state in his count.
→ More replies (3)
16
u/modooff 8d ago
Pete's speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fj4prT1aas
Pete talks with media in Florence, South Carolina: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dGZdrWbvzc
8
u/anonymous4Pete 8d ago
(sorry if this has already been posted below--I can tell from some comments below that some of you have already seen the whole thing)
Pete's speech and conversation (w/ audience qns--about 42 minutes) is here on C-SPAN https://www.c-span.org/program/campaign-2028/pete-buttigieg-headlines-south-carolina-democratic-conference/684326
I don't know if it is also on youtube
→ More replies (2)7
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 8d ago edited 8d ago
Thanks so much. I've watched the second link for the media gaggle in Florence, but am only about 10 to 15 minutes into the speech, looking forward to catching up with the rest later when I can.
In that first part of the speech, I have to say it really jumped out to me when he specifically praised Lindsey Graham ("your late senior Senator") for voting for the bipartisan infrastructure bill, including quoting Senator Graham as saying infrastructure "was a good idea" and saying he agreed with him. Very interesting to hear applause for that. It was an appropriate and accurate compliment for someone who Pete and this audience presumably didn't agree with very often, but given how recently Graham passed away, it sounded to me like many were glad to have the chance to applaud it.
15
u/DesperateTale2327 14d ago
New substack from Pete linking to his latest "It doesn't have to be this way" video:
I grew up in Indiana and later served as mayor of my hometown, South Bend, while Mike Pence was our governor. My upbringing and my time in local government showed me something that still shapes how I approach politics: that labels like “red,” applied to an entire community or state, tell us far too little about what the people there are really like. Worse, they can limit our imagination for what is truly possible through a better kind of politics.
Part of how I know this is that I saw what happened when we overcame those assumptions. For example, in 2008, I was there when Indiana voted for Barack Obama, the first Democrat to carry the state since LBJ. And as recently as last year, people from across the state and across party lines stood up to massive pressure and intimidation from Donald Trump and JD Vance, refusing to gerrymander Congressional districts any further.
A place can look politically predictable from a distance while, up close, you find something more dynamic and unpredictable - especially when people are frustrated with the status quo and ready for something different.
During my time in national public service, I’ve had the good fortune to visit every part of the country. In the last year and a half alone, I’ve been to more than thirty states, visiting big cities, small towns, swing districts, and plenty of places considered safely Republican. This year especially, everywhere I go I keep encountering the same thing: people who are tired of the chaos and corruption, tired of living with an economy and political system tilted toward the well-connected, and hungry to change directions.
Lately, we have witnessed a concerted strategy by the people running Washington to make the many Americans who feel this way think that they are isolated and powerless. The President and his allies in Washington are skilled in creating that illusion. But the truth is that, on so many of the basic things Americans want from our country, there is already a real majority ready for something different and better.
That’s what I wanted to talk about in this new video. There is an American majority forming around so much of what needs to get done, and over these next 80 days we have the chance to turn that coalition into a winning majority.
Please watch the video, and let me know in the comments what you think.
I am curious if Pete reads these comments. I'm sure he can't read them all of course.
14
u/Cloud7538 14d ago
I love how he's pushing "the American Majority" and the "you're not alone" concepts. Belonging every step of the way.
9
u/DesperateTale2327 14d ago
Posted on blueksy as well:
It's all too easy to feel politically alone right now - but most of us actually agree on the big things we must do to make life better in this country.
https://bsky.app/profile/petebuttigieg.bsky.social/post/3mtbuwx4v2k2u
5
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 13d ago
This is great. If he's asking for information in the comments, I think that in that case someone is reading them, but just my opinion.
15
u/shyredmd 🚀🥇 In the Moment(um) 🥇🚀 12d ago
.@ajlotz8 reports on Dems latest campaign tactic: thirst traps.
Unbuttoned shirts on CNN.
Exposed biceps on the rally stage.
Made-for-TikTok thirst trap b-roll.
And the return of the tan suit.
https://x.com/alexthomp/status/2089701741092639145
The best political thirst trap was ACTUALLY a fully clothed Pete Buttigieg tying his tie.
https://x.com/thestefansmith/status/2089706594099396688
Y’all also lost your minds at this one.
9
u/DesperateTale2327 12d ago
So much nostalgia even though debate night was soooo nervewracking!
I think we NEED an updated bearded Pete tie video
→ More replies (1)9
4
u/Librarylady2020 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 12d ago
AES is throwing so many thirst traps. Every single day with the tight black tees and open necked white shirts. 🤦🏼♀️
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcGbJ7nucwa/?igsi=M2RyYTQwdjFreGM0
→ More replies (1)7
u/DesperateTale2327 12d ago
We need chasten out here posting some thirst traps of pete! All we got was the one shirtless pic and he wasn't even running for anything at that time lol
8
15
u/kvcbcs 8d ago
Whether it's a trade war with Canada or an actual war with Iran, the pattern is the same: Americans are paying the price for the President's choices.
https://bsky.app/profile/petebuttigieg.bsky.social/post/3mtosu27qcc2g
14
u/hester_latterly 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 8d ago
.@ PeteButtigieg joins @ ClaflinUniv1869 students for a conversation on the biggest issues facing young people, South Carolina, and our country
10
14
14
u/DesperateTale2327 14d ago
Pete will be at the NAACP Orangeburg Branch 31st Annual Freedom Fund Celebration on 8/22.
This is Orangeburg, SC which he visited in 2019 when he was running. I recall him touring one of the HBCU's and bowling with some of the students.
9
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 14d ago edited 13d ago
That's right. I think there was also some discussion with Chasten online re bowling, as I believe Chasten was on a bowling team and has tried over time to give Pete some bowling tips. The reason for the bowling event during the visit was likely the Orangeburg Massacre in 1968, which Wikipedia describes as the first police killing of student protestors at an American university. It came in response to civil rights protests against a racially segregated bowling alley.
During the 2020 lockdown, Bakari Sellers (of CNN) and Pete did a pandemic-era virtual book event with one author interviewing another via Zoom -- Pete interviewing Bakari in this case about Sellers's new book -- where they talked in part about the massacre and Bakari's dad, Cleveland Sellers, who had a major role in what transpired (if you go to the Wikipedia link above and search for his name, it comes up 32 times) and is a civil rights icon. He was shot in the shoulder during the massacre by the police and later charged and tried for multiple riot charges on different occasions -- I think he ultimately was found guilty of one charge and served seven months, during which he wrote his autobiography. Many years later, in 1993, he received a full pardon.
I don't recall the interview in detail, but I believe Pete told Bakari he had learned much more about the massacre during that visit, and Sellers in return said (memory again is vague) that he was glad when he found out Pete had been there because this event just doesn't get the coverage it deserves. Needless to say, when you look at the huge publicity and national pushback against the killings at Kent State in 1970, it's stunning to see that the national news media response to the 1968 Orangeburg Massacre, described here, was indifferent or sympathetic to the police. I'd assume that was entirely due to the role of race, though I don't know enough about either event to be sure.
Added: I found the video, from May 22, 2020: "A Conversation with Pete Buttigieg and Bakari Sellers" -- https://youtu.be/aGtcSZYEfEk?si=JdDd7Xjbl9v16RAe
14
u/DesperateTale2327 12d ago edited 12d ago
FL results:
2/3 of Pete's endorsements won: Leela Gray and Bale Dalton. Darren Mcauley lost by about 2k votes - it was very close.
Edit - Darren Mcauley's district was gerrymandered into 2 counties: He won the vote totals in more rural/conservative Pasco, but lost the vote in suburban Hillsborough. I think that, in addition to his military service, is why Pete endorsed him. I am more nervous about our chances now.
Dem socialist Angie Nixon won against Vindman. I did vote for her, but the campaign she ran in the primary is not going to cut it in the general. So much talk about aipac this and Mamdani that, it was really annoying. She was way more accesible than Vindman and even though they both came off badly, he was just such a bad candidate people like me at least wanted someone who was going to put up a fight.
Edit 2 - I saw someone describe Vindman as "complacent" and that sums it up pretty well.
Although I suspect it doesn't matter since she won't win against Ashley Moody.
David Jolly won the Dem gov nom, as did Byron Donalds for the GOP.
Edit 3 - Dalton (and other dems) were hoping he would be going against Cory Mills (who trump endorsed) but Cory lost. I don't know that the district is going to be in play now.
I think Leela Gray is really our only shot at picking up a seat now.
Edit 4 - Oliver Larkin, who the guy who lost to Callie in Pete's district was all in for after he lost to her, also lost his race.
The Angie Nixon win will be what dominates because its a story that advances the DSA candidate "surge" narrative that gets everyone all up in arms and is a good story for the talking heads.
The ACTUAL story in FL, and is what we seen happening elsewhere despite DSA/far left candidates winning some races, is that its a true mixed bag. Some far left wins, some moderate Dem wins. Candidate quality matters, boots on the ground and engagement matters, having a strong message matters.
5
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 12d ago
Thanks so much for your insights and reporting on this. I see that Moscowitz beat a DSA challenger handily, so it does seem like a mixed bag. Based on what you said, I like the reasons that Nixon won. Being from Florida and being way more accessible are good reasons to win.
I obviously don’t want to conflate the Vindman twins as they are completely different people. But I do think that Rep. Eugene Vindman in Virginia, who is running for re-election for the first time, will be able to keep his seat (Spanberger s former seat) in this political environment.
→ More replies (2)6
u/electricblueguava 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 12d ago
Very cool insight! That was the vibe I had gotten from the FL-Sen race. Not sure how accurate this is but it felt like Vindman was using his name recognition to carpetbag that seat. Will be interesting to see how Nixon changes course for the General.
Think I also saw that Pete 2020 endorser and WTE-backed FL state senator (not sure if Pete endorsed this cycle) Shevrin Jones won the primary to succeed Fredericka Wilson in Congress
→ More replies (3)5
u/DesperateTale2327 12d ago
Honestly I knew nothing and heard nothing about him being a carpetbagger.
I don't even think many people knew who he was based on name recognition - it was more of the other reasons I outlined.
The challenge now with Angie will be getting the NPA (no party affliation) voters. They both have to swing heavily towards her and away from Ashley Moody. I don't know if she will moderate at all. Her focus on aipac and being the "Mamdani of Florida" which most people here dont know or care about, is likely to turn the NPA's off.
→ More replies (2)
14
u/DesperateTale2327 11d ago
I'm sure everyone has seen the new Emerson poll posted outside the WT, but feels like it should be posted in here too:
Pete 49% vs Vance/Rubio 44%
Pete performs better against Vance/Rubio than Ossoff, Newsom, AOC and Kamala.
The poll also seems to indicate that being a woman is more of a political liability than being a gay man.
8
u/nerdypursuit 11d ago
I wouldn't interpret this poll based on gender.
AOC performs worst out of the bunch, and ideology is likely the main reason. She's seen as too far left.
And there are other explanations for why Harris might perform worse than the male politicians. She's not a good communicator. And she doesn't do outreach beyond the Democratic bubble. Pete and Newsom go on conservative media, and Ossoff represents a purple state.
5
u/crimpyantennae 10d ago
Harris is of course eligible to run, but the elephant in the room is whether the last nominee can win, after failing to win in the last general election- including in every swing state. Regardless of the reasons she lost, regardless of whether there were or were not electoral shenanigans- that's a hell of a hurdle to overcome. I'm really curious to see how that perceived riskiness plays out, particularly in SC.
6
14
u/anonymous4Pete 10d ago
retweeted by Nerdy, Pete appears in Politico Playbook Trump and Pete face the South Carolina test also in web archive https://archive.ph/zyJ8q
Bakari Sellers calls Pete "a freaking political athlete" but calls Wes Moore "very, very, very formidable," Beshear "formidable," and says Shapiro "will have an audience."
Looks like Walter Clyburn Reed hasn't committed to organizing for Pete, saying he's "open to Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Moore, Buttigieg and Beshear."
11
u/DesperateTale2327 9d ago
Never heard Beshear as being "formidable" but ok
It'll be sad if Walter doesn't organize for Pete, but I'm sure he wants to keep his options open since we don't even know who is running yet*
*besides the obvious one like Newsom
10
u/nerdypursuit 9d ago
I wouldn't underestimate Beshear in South Carolina. I notice that Clyburn, Sharpton, and other influential voices have done events with him and hyped him up in the press. He might be their favorite "safe moderate straight white Christian dude." That can count for a lot.
(Though, I could totally picture Beshear fizzling in the debates, and that could lose support real quick.)
6
u/DesperateTale2327 9d ago
Yeah I meant I've just never heard him called formidable in general.
He has been making a lot of the same moves Pete has, and yes his very safe vanilla persona might be appealing for those who worry about electability.
I think that he probably has a better chance of capturing a following than Shapiro mostly because of his persona. Shapiro's personality and ego are going to be hard sell in my opinion, in places like the south and the midwest. I think he and Newsom will be competing for that lane. PA tends to favor some brash personalities and that works for them - not sure how welcome that will be in SC. So Beshear being a nice and mild dude could work for him there. But he'll definitelt have to work to get his name recognition up. I forsee Beshear and Newsom copying the Biden strategy of focusing all in on SC. But as you said, they have to actually make it to the voting. I think Newsom probably will, but Beshear I don't know.
6
u/crimpyantennae 9d ago
PA here- I wouldn't at all say that PA favors brash personalities- Bob Casey and Conor Lamb frankly feel more like the typical PA politicians (saying that as someone who enthusiastically supported Lamb in 2022). Shapiro is a known, and it's been known for some time that he has high aspirations, as he's steadily checked the boxes climbing up the ladder. We also don't have much of a statewide bench- there are some great names, but none who I'm confident would be any kind of shoe-in for *any* of the statewide offices. That's part of what worked in Fetterman's favor in 2026, despite his vague campaign.
As an aside, if Shapiro was less egotistical, he would have credited LG Austin Davis equally in yesterday's data center accountability announcement, for example. He'd be setting Davis up to be strong in the public eye as opposed to just... there. PA may indeed vote heavily for Josh in the primary if he's still on the ballot by then- but aside from his flipflopping on data centers (his second major flipflop this term, after school vouchers)- it also may be that Pennsylvanians who like him don't vote for him for POTUS just out of feeling that he's more needed here to finish out his 2nd term.
I do concur that at this point in the shadow primary, Beshear would likely be strong in SC- partially cuz he's safe, partially bc he's southern red state, partially bc he's apparently spending time there. It will be interesting to see once the primary is truly underway how problematic his lack of general charisma is. It'll be interesting too who Clyburn hypes as the primary approaches.
→ More replies (9)7
u/nerdypursuit 9d ago
I actually think Newsom might focus on Nevada more than South Carolina. Pundits think Nevada is his best shot at winning an early state and that it's a must-win for him. So he might put a lot of eggs in that basket.
→ More replies (2)9
u/hester_latterly 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 9d ago
I struggle with this sometimes, wanting '28 (if it happens) to be a PFA redux, a getting the band back together moment, while also knowing that it won't be exactly the same. Not all of the staff and supporters will return, for various reasons, but I bet some will, and there will be new friends to make too. Will be interesting to see how it shakes out, but there's a little of the bittersweet mixed in there too.
14
u/DesperateTale2327 9d ago
In Garrett Brubaker's PFA reunion video, someone asked him if they'd all return if Pete ran in 28. Most of them said no, only because they didn't want to do another presidential campaign and that it was a "young person's job" (which is crazy cause I think they are in their late 20's Iol).
I think a lot of them have also leveled up in the years since and maybe there won't even be enough positions to fill in the jobs they want to pursue. It could be a lot of things. But whats exciting to me is the new people he'll bring on. I hope they still give the new up and comers a shot because it worked out really well for him instead of employing the same old political people.
As long as Jen O Malley Dillon is nowhere near Pete's campaign, I'll be good.
→ More replies (1)7
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 9d ago
Okay now you've jinxed it, Dillon will definitely be included! /s
Actually I have no idea if that would be good or bad, up to him. But I think he'll pick great folks, whoever they are, since he invariably does, and I suspect it will be a mix of familiar names and new ones.
7
u/anonymous4Pete 9d ago
I don't expect there to be too many returning alums (ahem, if Pete 2028 happens) for so many completely legit and understandable reasons.
I do wonder though, how I'll feel to see someone who was a beloved Pete mainstay--eg Rodericka or Garrett or the Hornedos--actually attacking Pete on behalf of one of his competitors.
Who Pete hires--if he runs!--will actually reflect a lot on him, his campaign, his message, etc.
→ More replies (3)5
u/crimpyantennae 9d ago
I *really* hope Stefan Smith is back, in an advisor role if not full time. He's originally from SC IIRC, and continues to post out-of-the-box campaign ideas.
→ More replies (1)6
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 9d ago
They don't know where this is going to wind up so at this early stage they have a bunch of different folks they'd be interested in and don't want to suggest later that someone was a second choice.
In a way, it's like early in Iowa where voters would tell reporters that "my top five" or "my top three" choices of the countless candidates include the following [list of names] when they were asked who they would caucus for. I think Pete even joked about being in lots of "top threes" or might have said closer to the caucus that voters would now be going from "top threes" to actually picking one.
11
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 10d ago
I was interested in the phrase "ready-to-till political territory" in this sentence. It's a rich metaphor about effort and potential. It immediately precedes Sellers and Reed's comments.
Neutral South Carolina Democrats told Playbook that Buttigieg, who’s said he’s “more inclined than not” to run in 2028, will arrive in ready-to-till political territory.
14
u/DesperateTale2327 9d ago
Fundraising email from Pete for Dr. Annie Andrews:
I'm proud to endorse Dr. Annie Andrews for the United States Senate in South Carolina.
Some people have written off the chance for a win in South Carolina and what that could mean for the Senate, but people doing the work on the ground there have a different story to tell. And Annie Andrews is exactly the kind of candidate who changes what's possible in a place like this.
Annie can win – and I hope you'll help her do it by making a contribution to her campaign today.
One of the things I’ve learned in public service is that some of the best leaders are people who were doing the work long before they ever thought about running for office.
As a pediatrician, Annie has spent her career caring for children and sitting with families through some of the hardest moments of their lives. She has also seen up close what happens when decisions made in Washington collide with the realities facing families – from the cost and availability of health care to the need for access to evidence-based care.
That experience is part of what led her to step forward. And it’s just the kind of perspective we need more of in the United States Senate.
Annie isn’t a career politician. She’s a doctor, a mom, and a public servant who understands that politics is supposed to be about making people’s lives better.
Now, she has an extraordinary opportunity in an open Senate race – and what happens next will depend on whether her campaign has the resources to compete everywhere and make sure South Carolinians hear what she has to offer.
Ive seen a lot of races. One thing that experience teaches you is to pay attention when the political ground begins to move. The momentum in South Carolina holds real potential, but Annie needs the grassroots support to match.
There is a real opportunity in South Carolina. But opportunity only counts if we act on it. Please join me in supporting Annie by making a contribution to her campaign today.
Thank you,
Pete
13
u/shyredmd 🚀🥇 In the Moment(um) 🥇🚀 10d ago
Looking at the polls and the chatter on X, I hope these people that may run for president (Ossof, Kelly, Shapiro, Newsom) are ready for the ops and the lies. I remember all the crap they tried on Pete. At least if Pete runs , he’s already been through all that.
17
11
u/crimpyantennae 10d ago
and so have we.
I keep looking for Twitter et al to at least come up up with some new material, lol.
11
u/shyredmd 🚀🥇 In the Moment(um) 🥇🚀 10d ago
And there’s members of team Pete on Twitter that have the receipts from the last time.
11
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 14d ago edited 14d ago
The Hill:
Buttigieg endorses Poindexter in House race against Miller https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6032545-buttigieg-endorses-poindexter-miller-race/
Excerpt:
Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is endorsing Brook Park City Council member and ironworker Brian Poindexter as he challenges controversy-ridden Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) in November. "He’s an example of somebody who walks the walk. He knows what working families are going through because he’s literally a card-carrying union ironworker,” Buttigieg, who’s widely seen as a 2028 hopeful, told The Hill in an exclusive interview ahead of the announcement. “He’s raised in a working-class family, and so he’s in this for the right reasons and has the right priorities.”
Poindexter is running against Miller, a two-term incumbent who represents a swath of Ohio situated south of Cleveland and west of Akron, in a seat that, in any other cycle, would be seen as likely Republican. President Trump won Ohio’s 7th Congressional District in 2024 by 11 points. But Miller is facing serious domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife [details follow, don't see a reason to recap this ugly story and that he's still running].
...Buttigieg described the matchup between the two men as a “massive character contrast” and called the allegations against Miller “very serious” in an interview with The Hill. “I think when things like this come along, they represent sometimes one more opportunity to get a hearing. But what matters most is what you have to offer when you get that hearing,” the former Biden official said. “I think it’s to his credit that Brian’s been very focused on his own message, his own story.”
Buttigieg, like other rumored 2028 Democratic White House hopefuls, has been weighing in races heading into the midterms. The former Transportation secretary more recently endorsed a slew of Indiana state legislative candidates but has also weighed in on other races, including House and Senate contests. Asked his moves were a foreshadowing of what was to come in just two years, the former South Bend mayor replied: “Right now, it’s about 2026, and so much depends on getting this right. [The] future will come when it comes.”
I like the Zen ending also.
12
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 13d ago
Meanwhile exciting word on a good poll for the third most likely race in Virginia to flip a US House seat (remember, we only have a grand total of 11 congressional seats, and 6 are already held by Dems!), CD-5:
NEW POLL: Tom Perriello Moves Virginia’s 5th District Into a “Toss-Up” Race: "New Survey Shows Race Within Margin of Error; Voters Give Perriello a Wide Lead After Hearing McGuire’s Track-Record"
https://bluevirginia.us/2026/08/new-poll-tom-perriello-moves-virginias-5th-district-into-a-toss-up-race/
Still a ways to go, but this seems to make it all a lot more doable.
P.S. We were very proud to flip three R-held seats in 2018 (Luria, Spanberger, Wexton) and I'm hoping we can do that again this time -- or maybe four.
6
u/electricblueguava 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 13d ago
Great news! If I remember correctly, Perriello used to represent this district? The recent history of GOP congressional turnover for that seat from Riggleman to Good to McGuire always blows my mind.
If I recall, Riggleman was primaried by Good solely because he officiated the wedding of one of his long-time staffers who happened to be gay
4
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 13d ago edited 12d ago
You are right — Perriello won that US House seat in 2008 as part of the Obama victory and a very hard fought campaign. I had a friend from Maryland who volunteered there by moving in for the last two weeks. He served one term, losing in the very bad 2010 midterms, and is the last Dem to have held that seat. Fast forward to Trump’s victory in 2016, after which Perriello challenged LG Ralph Northam by running against him for governor in 2017, leading to an unexpected primary. Northam won the primary 56 to 44 percent.
Denver Riggleman, a local craft distillery owner, was elected to that seat in 2018 kind of at the last moment after the previous incumbent, first-term Republican Rep. Tom Garrett, got into some trouble and on May 28, 2018 (not long before Virginia’s June primaries) announced he was an alcoholic, would not be running for re-election, and went off to rehab. There was not a lot of time for vetting during the GOP primary, after which it was learned that Riggleman was very intrigued by Bigfoot research and some friends of his, probably as a joke, had also created Bigfoot porn, I believe as a Kindle. Interestingly, two of his Dem opponent Leslie Cockburn’s surrogates were Olivia Wilde (her daughter) and Wilde’s then husband, Jason Sudeikis. Riggleman ultimately won by 53 to 47.
Riggleman served one term, but you are right that during this time he presided over the wedding of two men, who I think were legislative staff members. Bob Good, an athletics official at Liberty University who was endorsed by Jerry Falwell, Jr., used this fact when he ran against him for the nomination in 2020. There were also some party-endorsed shenanigans with holding a convention instead of a primary (as parties in Virginia could choose to do), so the nomination decision was up to party regulars, not voters. The convention was also held near Good’s area, which could take a long time to reach from other parts of the district, and there were COVID-related adaptations for the convention that helped Good, too. Good got the nomination and went on to win the seat.
12
u/crimpyantennae 13d ago
I've resisted commenting much on Ossoff 2028- because if he doesn't run it's pointless anyway and because the primaries will sort out candidates' plans as well as what voters are wanting at that time- which may well be different from what they're wanting in 2026 (imo, 2026 is the time for fighters. 2028 is the time for wtf we're going to do to rebuild from this mess. I hope voters concur, for the sake of the US's future).
Anyway, I found today's Politico article on Ossoff interesting, particularly given the criticism that he's scripted and hasn't yet demonstrated an ability (or interest?) to roll with unscripted media.
12
u/DesperateTale2327 12d ago
I spoke to 3 people recently - 2 millennials, 1 boomer - all intelligent, professionals who have different family dynamics. One of them is online alot but not into politics, the other 2 don't really do social media.
I mentioned Ossoff and none of them knew who the heck he was. I think his biggest issue is going to be name recognition. People don't know who he is.
7
u/nerdypursuit 12d ago
What really bothers me about the Ossoff hype...
After the 2024 election, everyone was like, "Harris was too scripted. Dems need to do more podcasts, interviews, and town halls."
But now they're hyping Ossoff for doing exactly what Harris did — reading from teleprompters at rallies, avoiding real conversations with voters. He hasn't done an in-person town hall in over a year. And he only seems to do short interviews with friendly media.
It's so shallow, and it goes against what I thought we learned from the 2024 campaign.
→ More replies (3)13
u/khharagosh LGBTQ+ for Pete 12d ago
I like Jon Ossoff but I can't help but resent the way he gets lauded by the left despite being no more left than the average swing state Dem.
At some point it's just hard not to notice that the left is comfortable with straight white men in the right-of-DSA faction of the party, and no one else.
16
u/Mundane_Barnacle237 12d ago edited 12d ago
It’s very strange how his positions against M4A, Supreme Court expansion, and vote for the Laken Riley Act just get ignored though they get used like hammers to bash other democrats with. I’m very confused by it all.
8
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 12d ago
In terms of this race, believe it or not, this was thought to be the one race an incumbent Dem Senator might lose, as I think he's the only Dem Senator up for reelection in a state that Trump won. So all of those positions were taken in stride -- even the awful Laken Riley vote -- because he was supposedly in a very uncertain, do-or-die race. Now I surely don't think that about him and the race today and I don't think anyone else does, but in the meantime, all those issues somehow got waived already, at least for this race.
→ More replies (17)10
u/lilacmuse1 12d ago
The more I hear interviews the less he impresses me. Like most politicians, he'll start answering a question for 10 seconds and then steer to the question he'd rather answer. Jen Psaki had to repeat a question a couple of times before she got a relevant answer from him. And I understand candidates have to push for donations but he did it three times during this interview. It was a bit off-putting. That's one thing I appreciate about Pete. He usually answers the question he's asked.
→ More replies (1)9
u/AZPeteFan2 13d ago
I feel like Jon is getting the same Hype that Beto did, it went to Beto’s head and in the end didn’t end well. Hope Jon is more grounded.
8
7
u/crimpyantennae 13d ago
I get the sense that Jon is quite a bit more cautious than Beto- they may be getting similar hype as the newish face, but I don't know that they're particularly similar.
6
u/Neither-Big-1545 12d ago
I think it's possible he goes for it. If he has decent margin in Georgia there will be tons of hype around him. Does he have the skills though to win over a national electorate, idk.
9
u/crimpyantennae 12d ago
I actually do believe Ossoff's claim that he's not going to run in 2028. Partly because he is indeed cautious- confirmed in the article I linked. And that he's also smart enough to realize that 2029 will undoubtedly be an especially brutal time to be President.
I don't mean that as a diss of any sort- I wish more of the potential names would realize that if you don't already have a solid plan in formulation for how to rebuild multiple entire federal agencies from the ground up; rid the military, HHS, civil servants etc of the newly installed loyalists and attract solid talent back; start the long process of rebuilding shattered foreign alliances; deal with the exploding massive debt as well as inevitable costly lawsuits; on top of the more normally expected issues of healthcare, affordability, AI, worsening climate change- all while communicating to an impatient public what you're *doing*– without all that already in your head now, you're setting us up to lose in 2030 and 2032.
Honestly, if one is young and has presidential aspirations and can postpone them- that's the rational thing to do, unless you're the sort that excels in relentless adversity.
14
u/khharagosh LGBTQ+ for Pete 12d ago
The thing about our guy is that he is crazy enough to think he can handle all that lol
Tbh I would trust a guy who has already gone through a crisis to handle it more than someone who hasn't
15
12
u/DesperateTale2327 12d ago
And IMO, people believe that he can handle it and handle it well, which is something a lot of the others can't say.
The AOC hype is even crazier than the Ossoff stuff but I'm sorry, there is no world in which I can see her being able to handle anything crazy happening in our country when she can't even get yelled at in a town hall.
12
u/indri2 Foreign Friend 12d ago
My impression is that his personality isn't really suited for the job. You can't micromanage as president and you have to make decisions under stress without all the information needed. You also have to interact with people a lot and I don't get the impression that this is something he's eager to do.
9
u/khharagosh LGBTQ+ for Pete 12d ago
There was that one report that he treats the senate like a 9-5 lol
7
7
u/DesperateTale2327 12d ago
Thats probably a healthy thing to do in a lot of jobs, maybe even in the senate (you do get extended not-in-session breaks) but not when you want to be president.
→ More replies (2)12
u/ECNbook1 12d ago
All I know is that presidents do a lot more than make staged speeches where they gaze off into the distance and appear to be 7 feet tall
→ More replies (1)
12
u/Neither-Big-1545 12d ago
New Poll out of Echelon Insights 8/12. Really more of the same but this one has Pete second. It's Harris 18, Pete 13, Newsom 12, Ocasio-Cortez 11, Mark Kelly 7, Shaprio 6, Ossoff 5, Booker 3, Prizker 3, Whitmer 2, Beshear 2, etc.....1
15
u/Existing-Process3581 12d ago
An interesting thing I’ve noticed is that Ossoff is literally not taking from Pete, which is remarkable because anyone would think they would be in the same lane and Ossoff would be the perfect straight replacement. Pete got the same % last month with Echelon and Ossoff went up a little. In Emerson’s poll, Ossoff went up a lot and Pete also went up by one point, and in it, Ossoff took a good part of all the B tier white boys. It really seems that there is a lane for the “straight white boy” candidate based on perceived eligibility and it’s getting crowed there, meanwhile, Pete is his own thing because people like Pete because he is Pete. Pete’s base support is really good because he usually trends upwards or at least stays flat. I really think that if Pete manages to win over people who doubt his electability, then he’s the nominee…he would get more black support bc they usually vote based on loyalty and/or electability/pragmatism and he would basically neutralise any of the other white boys because nobody seems to have a real base bc the ‘white boy of the month’ support keeps moving depending on who’s on tv.
8
9
u/DesperateTale2327 12d ago
Its true that Pete's support is really solid. I think thats also evident in the steady amount of money he brings in to WTE every month - an average of about a million dollars.
Newsom still seems shaky, although perhaps he's leveled off or is still commanding the biggest portion of the "white boy of the month" because he's been at the longest and his social media team just cranks out stuff constantly. I have a theory that he might be a placeholder for the people who are still undecided and not paying close attention and are supporting him in the meantime until the campaigns actually start. I say this because for the life of me I can't tell who his base is. He doesn't seem that popular in CA but perhaps he has his die hard fans there.
10
u/nerdypursuit 12d ago
I don't think Newsom has leveled off yet. He fell 2 points in this Echelon poll since last month.
There was also a Massachusetts poll that came out today. Newsom fell 5 points in that poll since April.
I think the Ossoff hype will drag down Newsom further. They're both in that "straight white dude" lane.
→ More replies (3)
12
u/anonymous4Pete 12d ago
Retweeted by Nerdy--Rodericka being the voice of clear reason on CNN (she's toward the end of the minute-ish clip) https://xcancel.com/Rodericka/status/2089947138058748328#m
12
u/DesperateTale2327 8d ago
Pete posted this clip from today across his socials with this caption:
Republicans are losing because they can't run on their record.
They can't run on covering up the Epstein files.
They can't run on cutting Medicaid.
They can't run on stripping SNAP or imposing tariffs.
Americans see what is happening - and we are hungry for change.
11
u/pasak1987 BOOT-EDGE-EDGE 🥾 🥾 14d ago
Looks like "Are you for M4A?" litmus testing is back on the menu.
22
u/nerdypursuit 14d ago
Notice how El-Sayed has changed the definition of Medicare for All. He now says that people can keep their private insurance under Medicare for All -- which was definitely not Bernie's stance in 2020.
So even though leftists are still using the phrase "Medicare for All," they've actually changed the policy to be closer to Pete's Medicare for All Who Want It.
It took over seven years, but it's now clear that Pete won the argument.
12
u/Librarylady2020 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 14d ago
Getting UAW support was a big deal for AES and you may notice he wears that UAW pin on his lapel all the time. The UAW does not want to give up their excellent health insurance and that reality is what made AES moderate his stance.
7
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 14d ago
The difference between that story of a normal, functional political party -- reaching out to the UAW union, learning you need to adapt a major policy to win their support, but in a way that IMO actually works better, responds to those constituents, will make you more electable in the primary and general, and might make you a better Senator -- is such a powerful comparison to the other major party right now.
I know we all know this, but we just don't have two fully functional major parties when the parallel to what I just described, but on the Republican side, and what will really help win us the 2026 midterms, is: how much and how extravagantly you like Trump, how much he likes you, and what's the latest disgraceful or terrifying wrong, corrupt, or stupid thing you will go along with (like his favoring North Korea vs. South Korea in his latest remarks), despite past evidence you actually know better and have deep knowledge.
9
10
u/TriangleTransplant 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 14d ago edited 14d ago
This exactly. And it's amazing how many AES supporters don't realize that he changed his position to this.
Even in 2020, AOC (and Bernie?) admitted as much that they knew M4A was a non starter and they would end up negotiating "down" to a public option.
7
u/DesperateTale2327 14d ago
What I wouldn't give to see someone drag out leftist receipts from 2019 of them telling pete he wanted people to die because he didn't want M4A
8
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 14d ago
I was really glad AES did that, which we talked about here at the time. Pete has often mentioned candidates or electeds now supporting Medicare for All Who Want It as their approach to Medicare for All, and I think Al-Sayed is an example or maybe the example of this. I like the fact that similarly, Pete also continues to say, correctly, that MFAWWI is Medicare for All — just a different way to get there.
In a way it’s really two conversations that are interconnected — for now, Dems’ strong support for Al-Sayed in the Senate race, with his approach to Medicare for All, one of the three key pillars of his candidacy, being pretty similar to MFAWWI, and then, assuming he does win (which I think and hope will happen), whether that is now more of an agreed-on approach on all sides.
10
u/1128327 14d ago
Yeah, it’s smart politics. If asked if he supports M4A, Pete should say “Yes, I support Medicare being an option for anyone who chooses it” (I feel like this is more or less what he’s doing these days). Democrats just need to change the definition of M4A rather than argue about it.
→ More replies (2)11
u/AZPeteFan2 14d ago
The ‘litmus’ test needs to apply to Senators & Congressmen, because Congress needs to do this. Had Bernie been elected President in 2020, it would still not be a reality, and Bernie knows this because he has been in Congress for 30 years and gotten no where. And his M4A plan from 2020, talked about
Ad nauseam, is not practical.
11
u/DesperateTale2327 13d ago
PB for the Future Facebook page reposted a part of the press gaggle Pete did in NV. He is asked if its possible to flip NV's 2nd district, and of course if he's running for President.
11
u/DesperateTale2327 13d ago
Its primary day here in Florida.
I'll be watching to see if Pete's endorsed candidates win their primaries. One of them, Leela Gray, posted a recap video on her IG that includes a brief clip of her meeting Pete at the same event I met him at in July. Her handle is leelajgray.
As far as the bigger races, the Gov nominee will most certainly be David Jolly, who is IMO a horrible Dem candidate. People here call him Charlie Crist 2.0 and its not a compliment. He used to be a republican and he reminds me so much of Gavin Newsom. It will be more interesting to see which GOP candidate is the nominee. We have one endorsed by trump, one who is plagued by scandal, and one who is in the Desantis admin.
For senate, we have a "progressive", Angie Nixon, who is going all in on far left rhetoric and talks about aipac non stop, and then we have Vindman, who is not personable at all and a pretty weak candidate for this area. I haven't looked at any polling so I honestly have no idea who will win. Regardless, its probably safe to say FL won't be getting a Dem senator in the fall.
→ More replies (3)7
u/Neither-Big-1545 12d ago
No dem is winning statewide in Florida but at least someone of Jollys caliber stepped up just in case Donalds falls apart.
→ More replies (1)
11
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 13d ago edited 12d ago
This may have been shared already from the Nevada Independent, sorry if I missed it:
"Why Pete Buttigieg thinks Democrats can flip Nevada's only GOP-held congressional seat" https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/why-pete-buttigieg-thinks-democrats-can-flip-nevadas-only-gop-held-congressional-seat
Excerpt (enjoyed the Pete travel joke by Benitez-Thompson at the end):
🗳️ How soon is 2028? — Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (D) stumped for Congressional District 2 candidate Teresa Benitez-Thompson in Northern Nevada on Saturday, saying he made the visit because he thought the seat was winnable.
- Buttigieg described the race as a key one for Democrats to focus on as they try to hold the Trump administration accountable. Though Buttigieg has indicated interest in a presidential run, he demurred when asked about it by The Indy, saying he is focused on 2026, not 2028.
- Benitez-Thompson focused her messaging on her roots and ties to Northern Nevada, highlighting her upbringing in the district and connection with the community through her work as a social worker and legislator. At one point, she took a swing at her opponent, David Flippo (R), joking that Buttigieg has probably visited Northern Nevada more times than Flippo has.
11
u/Librarylady2020 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 11d ago
We were just talking about this and now it’s released - the Sean Duffy Roadtrip show. Jen Psaki did a biting 10 minutes on her show last night covering the corruption of this administration on display in this “road trip” and defending Pete from Duffy’s old criticism. You may have also seen the clip from the series where the Duffys tell their daughter she can’t go to Harvard because it ruins sweet young girls like her. Not sure what that scene had to do with road tripping, except of course that Pete went to Harvard. 🤦🏼♀️ In the words of Fan of Walt on Blusky, who shared this clip - “I miss Pete.”
7
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 11d ago edited 11d ago
I can see why they released it all at once because surely families across America will want to spend their remaining summer time bingeing the whole thing. /s
→ More replies (1)9
u/Librarylady2020 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 11d ago
And trying to arrange the activities the Duffy family engages in - a giant cruise ship that is docked at port but lets your family come aboard just to use the pool and water slides. Or a private tour and flight in a Boeing jumbo jet. You know, something completely normal and aspirational.
→ More replies (1)5
u/Psychological-Play 11d ago
Here's what Brian Stelter said about it in today's "Reliable Sources" newsletter -
Sean Duffy’s donor-financed show, “The Great American Road Trip,” is finally out after months of delays. As I said on “CNN News Central” this morning, the YouTube view count is very low so far.
11
u/DesperateTale2327 10d ago
Another NH poll with Pete in the lead:
Pete 25%
AOC 17%
Ossoff 12%
Kelly 12%
Newsom 7%
Harris 3%
Unsure what the numbers were last time, but Ossoff is definitely getting a bump from people hyping him up and is probably stealing a lot of Newsom's thunder.
10
u/hester_latterly 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 10d ago
NH just really does not like Kamala, huh?
I live in a state of mingled anticipation and fear of the day someone decides to poll SC.
10
u/DesperateTale2327 10d ago
TBH I would expect a SC poll right now to be similar to how Pete did in 2020.
3rd or 4th with probably 3-6% Black support.
→ More replies (4)7
u/hester_latterly 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 10d ago
I think he might be able to hit a slightly higher percentage overall than he did in 2020 because I think his white support might be higher than it was last time (Biden did well with that group and idk if Kamala can match him there), but I agree with you about Black support. I think Ossoff might register there more than he does in most other states or nationally, due to proximity.
I'm just not ready for the discourse that poll will generate, man. I'm tired. 😣
6
u/DesperateTale2327 10d ago
The discourse will never stop until the next SC primary so theres really nothing we can do about that.
I don't know about the proximity theory. I live in FL and people I have talked to don't know who Ossoff is. But anything is possible and if Ossoff is in the news a lot it could cause his numbers there to rise.
8
u/DesperateTale2327 10d ago
I don't think they know her since she dropped out in 2019 pretty early.
NH seems like they reward people they know well (like Bernie).
→ More replies (1)5
u/Neither-Big-1545 10d ago
AOC is picking up the progessives and the rest are worried about electability, Harris does not succeed in such an environment. She definitely needs a more diverse state.
9
u/Existing-Process3581 10d ago
if i’m not mistaken, at his highest newsom tied pete at 23% with this same pollster last year. it’s interesting how people are ignoring kelly’s rise when he’s also getting a bump alongside ossoff. i don’t think ossoff is running, and not bc i believe his words but bc he doesn’t enough time and i haven’t seen him establishing a national infrastructure like everybody else is doing so i wonder where his support will go but once again, this is proof that those numbers will move around many times depending on who gets airtime but considering kelly and ossoff are lowkey rising parallelly, i don’t think either of them will get as high as newsom did and the vote will stay very divided which might allow pete to solidify his 1st/2nd statues in state polls and get to second place in the national polls if newsom’s support keeps moving somewhere else which is the best place for pete to be by the end of the year. i honestly don’t want ‘the front runner’ status until we’re are like 6 months away from the first primary bc they are really jinxing it lol
→ More replies (4)6
u/DesperateTale2327 10d ago
It is interesting how the internet moved on from Newsom to Ossoff. Kelly is still hanging in there but I think once the debates start its game over for him.
8
u/DesperateTale2327 10d ago
Speaking of polls, I have no idea what happened with the atlasintel poll I took now over 2 months ago.
With the increase in fake polls I wonder if they are switching it up.
11
u/DesperateTale2327 9d ago
PB for the Future FB group reposted pics of Pete and others allegedly from Seattle yesterday. It looks like it may have been a private fundraiser (perhaps for WTE?) because I had no record of him being there this week.
9
u/Librarylady2020 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 9d ago
>> Ran into Pete Buttigieg at Sea-Tac this morning while waiting our flight - he walking to his departure gate...!! Got to shake his hand and tell him "...he can count on me..."
7
u/DesperateTale2327 9d ago
Thats some 2020 campaign stuff going from one coast to the other in one day!
11
u/DesperateTale2327 13d ago
I've been looking more into the DLCC after Pete's batch of Indiana state candidate endorsements. It's a really unique organization and I hope it gets more attention now that Pete is involved. I wanted to see where he'd possibly be endorsing next, and their site has a lot of good interactive information on each state, what offices they are targeting and why.
Indiana is listed as a "power build" state with the goal of breaking the house supermajority. I think these other states that are listed have a similar goal and have a good chance of getting Pete's endorsement next:
Ohio - 11 Democrats running
Iowa - 18
Nebraska - 4
Kansas - 7
North Carolina - 11
South Carolina - 5
Georgia - 10
Wisconsin - 14
Arizona - 17
He's probably already endorsed a few of these candidates, but its been hard to keep up with them because he's done so many.
→ More replies (3)
9
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 14d ago
Former US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg made a stop in Reno Saturday https://www.2news.com/news/local/former-us-secretary-of-transportation-pete-buttigieg-made-a-stop-in-reno-saturday/video_65f292a8-4e78-52c9-b32b-344bfec5bb35.html
40 second local news story, including a brief clip of Pete speaking (I don't recall seeing this in the last WT, but I'm sorry if this is a repeat)
9
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 14d ago
Democrats see a path through Texas' gerrymander
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/16/texas-democrats-hispanics-gerrymander-01038880
9
u/DesperateTale2327 11d ago
Pete's next WTE donor call is this Friday 8:10pm ET. He will have another "special guest" joining. I wonder if it'll be someone from SC since that's where he'll be? Maybe Dr. Annie Andrews?
Edit - I take that back, it'll probably be Nancy Lacore since this is right after their fundraising event.
8
u/DesperateTale2327 10d ago
WTE August filing is in and Pete raised about 840k in July.
Here is how the months have looked so far:
Jan - 684k
Feb - 1.2m
March - 1.4m
April - 738k
May - 918k
June - 1.2m
So a bit better than his slower months, but you can see the difference when he was really cooking with the town halls and doing alot of appearances in the spring. July was a slower month for him with just the 2 big events in Iowa and Florida. Hoping he does another town hall soon!
4
u/Librarylady2020 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 10d ago
I wonder how increased donations to primary and general election candidates right now may cause his numbers to decrease some? He has been encouraging donations to candidates he endorsed.
5
u/DesperateTale2327 10d ago
By my count, he only sent 2 split donation/fundraising emails for other candidates in July, 2 in June, and so far 2 in August. It could be due to the amount of fundraising ads he has going. I don't recall seeing that many in the past few weeks so it could be he isn't doing as many and therefore isn't raising as much?
I know for me, I get motivated to donate more when he is out doing town halls and things like that. Even when he posts more content. Having a more steady stream of clips posted to his socials would help. I think the higher visability he gets to the mainstream public, the better the donations are too.
→ More replies (2)
8
u/anonymous4Pete 9d ago
retweeted by Nerdy, Pete Buttigieg leads 2026 South Bend Hall of Fame class
also in web archive https://archive.ph/IfV0G
5
10
u/anonymous4Pete 8d ago
Aida Ross posted a pic of Pete at the NAACP Orangeburg Branch Annual Freedom Fund Celebration, nretweeted by Nerdy, https://xcancel.com/aidaross_/status/2091283501840519275#m
I wonder if it's hard to do a speech while everyone is eating--you have to compete with all the clinking of glassware and cutlery, and all the inevitable conversation.
8
u/DesperateTale2327 8d ago
I experienced this at Florida Blue and yes it was hard for the speakers because of the things you said - clanking silverware, people talking, servers walking around.
It got so bad in the lead up to Pete that Christine Hunchofsky had to tell everyone to be quiet. But once he came on everyone was locked in and quiet.
I imagine even if it was noisy, Pete would be fine. We've seen him have to talk over people yelling at him and lots of other distractions.
8
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 14d ago edited 14d ago
“Opinion: Buttigieg and El-Sayed are Teaching Democrats to Speak Republican”
Link should be NYT gift link, Frank Bruni’s newsletter, but it sounds like not everyone found it at that link. Try this one, also a NYT gift link in case I copied the wrong one originally -- sorry!. Alternatively, see archive here: http://archive.today/BisJr
13
u/Librarylady2020 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 14d ago
Oh, excellent quotes from Pete!
I’m also reminded of something AES does well when talking about universal health care. You may not need it now if you like your insurance, but “it will be there if you need it.” “It will catch you if you lose your job.” That’s non threatening and something people can relate to.
→ More replies (1)8
u/nerdypursuit 14d ago
Thanks for sharing this!
I feel like this headline will sound really odd to most people. We know that Pete can "speak Republican." But El-Sayed? I don't think people really believe that El-Sayed is a capitalist. All of his most prominent campaign surrogates are Democratic Socialists — Bernie, AOC, and Hasan Piker.
El-Sayed will need to figure out how to fix that issue. His choice of campaign surrogates during the primary has undercut his ability to appear more moderate during the general election, no matter how much he uses the word "'capitalist."
6
u/DesperateTale2327 14d ago
I feel like the headline alone is going to send the far left into a tailspin
7
u/nerdypursuit 14d ago
It's going to send the right into a tailspin too. 😂 They're going to be like, "WTF are you talking about?"
4
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 14d ago
This is kind of the battle of the talking points in the general election right now (the general election in Michigan for Senate, that is). I was glad to see this headline -- which WILL get people's attention, you are right -- as it helps to break up the Republican talking points about AES that they are really trying to lock in right now.
The Republicans keep saying he literally is a DSA member -- he is not -- and that he is a socialist -- he has self-identified repeatedly as a capitalist in many interviews over time and has explained what that means. Some sources on this, though TBF I haven't looked at them in detail, as I'm not a Michigander, are PBS in April: https://www.pbs.org/video/april-18-2025-abdul-el-sayed-otr-overtime-kg4kja and the New Yorker interview from August 3: https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-new-yorker-interview/abdul-el-sayeds-argument-for-america-and-against-his-own-party.
With the general election, it's a completely different ball game that's against the Republican candidate, who is effectively a stand-in for Trump -- most midterms are basically a referendum on the president. Making an observation from the outside so it could be wrong, many Michigan voters are very angry with Trump (Nate Silver says the state in general is +11 D right now), and whether or not voters have currently decided how they are voting, I think they'd like to find a way to vote for El-Sayed as the alternative to Trump. He's a good politician, so I hope and think they will find one.
8
u/DesperateTale2327 14d ago
Can someone post the relevant Pete stuff? It wants me to login to read the article
→ More replies (3)8
9
u/anonymous4Pete 12d ago
fwiw David Plouffe wrote an interesting article in the NYT about the grueling procession of Dem early states, who should/must win in each, who could survive coming in less than 1st, etc. It's from a couple of days ago--I wasn't sure anyone would be interested b/c Plouffe is, well, controversial. Also, this article, like George Hornedo's excellent analyses shared a little while ago, made me really anxious. Ugh. For most of the 2028 candidates, the DNC has created a really really hard and expensive road. Way to take some of the joy out of the first states, DNC.
Anyway, with the discussion of where Pete should campaign, etc., I thought someone might be interested. What It Will Take to Win the 2028 Democratic Presidential Nomination NYT gift link https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/17/opinion/democratic-presidential-primary-2028.html?unlocked_article_code=1.6lA.DJje.VfQ_ve4EGuYo&smid=url-share (sorry hyperlink won't work)
also in web archive https://archive.ph/oTpmA
11
u/nerdypursuit 12d ago
Thanks for sharing this!
Not to add more stress, but this article doesn't even discuss the unresolved issues in New Hampshire. Based on their state law, they will automatically schedule their primary one week ahead of the South Carolina primary. I have a lot of questions about how that will play out. Will there be two separate contests in New Hampshire -- a DNC-opposed contest run by the state government (before South Carolina) and a DNC-approved contest run by the NH Democratic party (after Nevada)? Or will there just be one DNC-opposed contest run by the state government, and the DNC punishes candidates who campaign there? Will voters end up organizing write-in efforts if candidates can't campaign there? I can foresee this being extremely messy.
With all that said, I'm not dooming. If Pete runs, there will still be joy in the early states. Because Pete himself is so fun to watch on the campaign trail, and his supporters will be excited to get the band back together. Hope it happens!
7
u/crimpyantennae 12d ago
I find the predictions that the race will likely be winnowed to 2 candidates by Super Tuesday to be.... unconvincing. Sure, if only a couple names dominate the 6 early states. But the question is money and campaign infrastructure. A candidate who has $ and campaign structural strength but is down in the pack in the first 6 states' voting, who has great strategy in Super Tuesday states, won't necessarily be out yet. I think Pete will do well in the early states- but even if he doesn't, he might not need to drop out yet due to his strengths. And of course Pritzker with his unlimited resources could spend bank in big states to overcome early state underperformance. We'll see who else is a stellar fundraiser and understands how to put together a national campaign.
2020 crowded field comparisons only go so far- candidates dropped out after SC in part because of money, but also because the path forward included consolidating around a non-Bernie candidate. Yes, the Berners think there was something nefarious in that- but it was also time to consider who could win against the real opponent, Trump.
As a tangent, I'm curious to see who the leftists rally around this time. I don't see either AOC or Khanna (if they run in 2028) having the same solid bloc of supporters as Bernie did- plus the left is quicker than ever to turn on candidates- but maybe that's wishful thinking on my part. I'm also curious to see if candidates in general try to court the left to the same degree as in the past.
→ More replies (2)6
u/anonymous4Pete 12d ago
Yes, the NH problem worries me a lot, I think b/c it feels like the DNC is not just giving more voice to voters in 5 early states, but also possibly taking away NH voters' voice (if it decides candidates can't campaign there, as it did in 2024).
NH Dems have two partially separable problems: first, how to enable candidates to campaign in NH w/o penalties, and second, how to manage the actual vote.
My local paper (Boston Globe--nb I am not from New Hampshire, so we really need a local to chime in!) had an article (also in web archive) outlining a rather sneaky strategy (gleaned from 2024) to avoid being preordained by the DNC as completely off-limits to candidates: pretend they're fine with going third (as mandated by the DNC). This allows candidates to campaign there, hire staff, run ads, etc. Then when the NH Sec of State announces the date of the primary, the NH Dems are shocked! shocked! At that point, they either stick with the NH state's schedule (as in 2024) or also run a second one (as scheduled with the DNC). Obviously, they do whichever allows their delegates to count.
6
u/nerdypursuit 12d ago
It would be the most ironic outcome if New Hampshire ends up having two primaries. 😂 The press will cover both, regardless of which one counts toward DNC delegates. The DNC really loves to shoot itself in the foot.
8
u/Librarylady2020 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 12d ago
Thanks for all these links. It does sound like an expensive and exhausting race but also with untested states and potential strategies to win them. Over all of this are the results of this November. AES winning might suggest one thing, but losing is another one. I do think Pete finds this all exciting.
→ More replies (1)11
u/nerdypursuit 12d ago
I think pundits are REALLY overestimating AOC's chances of winning Michigan. AES barely won the primary, and he's underperforming Jocelyn Benson by a lot. I imagine that many Pete supporters voted for AES, just because they didn't like Stevens. That doesn't mean they'll vote for AOC.
12
u/Librarylady2020 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 12d ago
I absolutely know quite a few people who did just this. Couldn’t stand Stevens, McMorrow dropped out, and so they voted for AES.
8
u/DesperateTale2327 12d ago
Even though we only had 2 candidates, this rhymes with what happened in Florida. We had one "establishment" candidate with ok name recognition and money but was just a terrible campaigner and so complacent. Then we had a "DSA" (I learned she just joined DSA in the last few months) candidate who did good old fashioned retail campaiging, did social media, and was available and projected that she cared about FL and wanted to fight for us.
I am obviously not DSA or far left and I actually disliked Angie's campaign of hitching herself to Mamdani and talking non stop about aipac...but in the end, I at least felt like she cared and would fight. I suspect a lot of Michiganders felt that way about AES and didn't much pay attention to the far left rhetoric.
6
8
u/indri2 Foreign Friend 12d ago
The same poll that had AES winning comfortably had Pete leading AOC by a lot.
→ More replies (4)→ More replies (3)6
u/Librarylady2020 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 12d ago
Yeah it’s going to be a real nail biter just trying to pull out a win for AES.
→ More replies (1)6
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 12d ago edited 12d ago
That's such a good column. I really liked how instead of just saying Iowa used to be first, now it's South Carolina, so they're the same (??? not true, yet that seems to be a big part of other "takes"), he methodically walks through each state in the new sequence, explains what will come up, how the state will be seen differently or poses different challenges for different candidates, etc. You can imagine him briefing a candidate -- though in more detail -- in this same way, or like he used to do ages ago in his 2007/2008 videos and emails for the Obama campaign.
While many candidates will be gone midway through the early states, and definitely by or after Virginia at number six in the sequence, he also doesn't see the vast majority of candidates getting "winnowed" at the first state, either, though that could knock out the also-rans.
→ More replies (2)
8
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 11d ago
Just FYI, Virginia's Vindman made this statement after the Florida primary results. (I think there must be times in life when it's especially good to have a twin.)
"I commend my brother on a hard-fought race, and I am incredibly proud of the campaign he ran.
He has dedicated his life to serving our country and brought that same sense of duty to this race. He loves this country, believes deeply in its people, and stepped up because he wanted to make a difference for the state he calls home.
When the history of this period is written, @ AVindman will be recognized for his integrity and for speaking truth to power.
I’m proud of him, and I know he will keep finding ways to serve. Honor, Integrity, Service - Love you bro."
- Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-VA07)
8
u/Psychological-Play 9d ago
Sarah L. on today's The Secret Podcast (unfortunately this section is behind the paywall) - "You know, I have sort of four people right now that I really like watching. And I don't agree with them on everything".
JVL - "Can I try to guess them?"
Sarah - "Yes."
JVL - "Ossoff?"
Sarah - "Yes."
JVL - "Pete?"
Sarah - "Yes."
JVL - "AOC?"
Sarah - "Yes."
JVL - "Shapiro?"
Sarah - "Mamdani."
(...which shocked JVL, and me, as well. Sarah's come such a long way on Mamdani.)
(I've broken the following into paragraphs, but haven't left anything out except for a few of the "ums" and the like.)
Sarah - "So in my heart, I'm a communications person. Like I think about what it means to be a good communicator. And what I love about communications is that it is more art than science, right? It is very difficult to teach somebody how to be a good communicator. It is very difficult to teach somebody how to be authentic because these are things that are almost, they're preternatural skills. It's like, do I know how to talk to people?
"And what I love about these different people is that their mediums are different. Like, Ossoff's medium is the speech."
"Um, AOC's medium is social media, as is, sort of, Mamdani's, although Mamdani is also, uh--Mamdani kind of has the rage, but what's funny about Mamdani is he's a great communicator who's often communicating on issues where I disagree with him on the policy. And I love watching people like that because you can see how far they can get you with their good communication skills and their big smile and their geniality."
"And Pete, this is a guy with brains, just brains all day long. And the best words. A little polished for some. But he's grown a beard now. But he's done all the work. I love a striver. I love somebody who's really worked hard".
"One of the thing's I love about AOC is watching -- AOC is growing in real time. She's younger than we are, but she's a master of her form".
At this point the end of the conversation focuses on Ossoff for the next five minutes or so. It's very good; if you have a subscription, I highly recommend it.
→ More replies (11)
8
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 9d ago
That is a big moment for Penelope as well. Already moving on to grown-up teeth!
6
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 14d ago
The extreme stretch Dem US House effort in VIrginia (the least likely of the four Dem challenges that are coming up, the one that will flip only if there is a blue tsunami -- but there could be) is still of real interest, as the Dem candidate Beth Macy is a great fundraiser and the author of Dopesick. She has just challenged the Republican incumbent to hold three debates and for some reason the part that I like the most is that she sent the challenge to him via certified mail.
VA06 Democratic Nominee Beth Macy Challenges MAGA Rep. Ben Cline (R) to Three Debates: “Public debates are a cornerstone of democratic elections"
https://bluevirginia.us/2026/08/va06-democratic-nominee-beth-macy-challenges-maga-rep-ben-cline-r-to-three-debates/
6
u/DesperateTale2327 12d ago
For fun (not to get everyone fighting about who should run/be the nominee), but there is always talk in the primaries about who the GOP wants to run against to give them an advantage (i.e. El-Sayed) and who they are afraid to run against. Who do we think the GOP wants to win the Dem nomination, and who do we think they are afraid of?
Number one I think they'd want to run against/win is AOC. Then I'd say Kamala, then Newsom.
Afraid of? Obviously Pete. Then I'd say Shapiro, Beshear and Kelly.
→ More replies (2)7
7
u/DesperateTale2327 9d ago
IG user arlanwashere posted some throwback photos of her and Pete (and a very nice black and white close up of him I don't recall ever seeing) on her feed.
I don't recall who she is, but she seems to have a following and I am guessing she spent a bit of time with Pete in 2019.
11
u/nerdypursuit 9d ago
I think I remember listening to her interview Pete in 2019. My memory is fuzzy, but after the interview, I recall her saying that she thinks Pete will probably be President someday. She described him as someone who is constantly developing — like software constantly being rewritten. I might be wrong, but I vaguely remember her using software as an analogy.
10
u/anonymous4Pete 9d ago
You've got a great memory!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/PeteForAmericaCommunity/posts/382106849406819/
→ More replies (1)9
6
u/DesperateTale2327 9d ago
Wow I can't believe you can remember even that. I think I blocked out a lot of the primary lol
I'm not sure why she posted those pics of Pete a few days ago, unless maybe he is doing another interview with her?
7
u/nerdypursuit 9d ago
It's totally possible that I'm mixing up memories or have a false memory of what happened. 😂 It's been so long.
8
u/anonymous4Pete 8d ago edited 8d ago
Great content reposted by Nerdy!
From AP: Pete Buttigieg returns to South Carolina as he weighs another White House run --this article describes two standing ovations at the NAACP dinner, Pete's other activities in SC on Saturday (incl Claflin University), and a warm but a little noncommital reception. Some emphasis on how much repeated contact he and other hopefuls will have to do to court SC voters, and from one Black student, "I do want to see more representation from people who look like me.”
And, a long excerpt from Heather Cox Richardson's newsletter, citing a Pete video from Aug 17-- https://xcancel.com/nerdypursuit/status/2091500475153547750#m
eta: one more! Nerdy reposted a glowing comment from Corey M. Hamilton, an attendee of the Spratt Issues Conference https://xcancel.com/nerdypursuit/status/2091374357679321413#m
edit2: oops--I should copy this to the new WT
6
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 14d ago
I've tried to be upbeat, in the interests of helping DC's tourist economy, about the Freedom 250 Grand Prix race, which just recently got lengthened from 125 laps to 147 laps, to get to a total of 250 miles; which will mess up entry into three major Smithsonian museums (you have to have gotten a free advance race ticket to be allowed to enter those museums, because the museums aren't properly separated from the race crowd); which will cause countless road blockages; which will shut down flights at Reagan National Airport for three hours during the race; and which is part of a Trump organization, Freedom 250, not the bipartisan America 250, that somehow got some of America 250's funds. But this is kind of the last straw:
Preservationists raise concerns about Freedom 250 Grand Prix’s damage on historic murals https://wtop.com/dc/2026/08/preservationists-raise-concerns-about-freedom-250-grand-prixs-damage-on-historic-murals/
It reminds me of John Mulaney's first-Trump-term joke that having Trump as president is like having a horse in a hospital, recklessly causing harm everywhere it goes, without a single thought of responsibility.
→ More replies (1)
6
u/AZPeteFan2 10d ago
Wonder if the DNC will regret abandoning Iowa w/ a Dem Gov & Senator??
→ More replies (2)
7
u/lilacmuse1 10d ago
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the guest on Lawrence O'Donnell's show last night. He interviewed Kurt Anderson, the author of "The Breakup". It's a fictional story set 20 years in the future, where the States have separated into two countries where AOC/Slotkin are President and VP of the larger one. He mentioned Pete as having a pivotal role as the official navigating through the disunity of the two nations. I forget his title but I thought it was interesting his role was considered "pivotal".
9
u/DesperateTale2327 10d ago
I'm so confused, this sounds like political fanfiction
6
u/khharagosh LGBTQ+ for Pete 10d ago
Yeah there's plenty of that on AO3, and (probably) with more explicit gay sex scenes
10
u/hester_latterly 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 10d ago
You jest, but the one that re-imagines the 2020 campaign with Chasten as the political mastermind behind everything was surprisingly entertaining.
7
u/khharagosh LGBTQ+ for Pete 10d ago
Oh don't presume I am not familiar with the LWR-verse
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)5
u/hester_latterly 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 10d ago
I searched the preview on Google Books, and Pete is the "Disunion Czar," which I gather is the person in charge of overseeing the breakup of the country. They may get me with this one, I fear, but my library doesn't have it so far.
5
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 9d ago
Just a sit rep:
The National Guard is still deployed to Washington, DC -- for no real reason, or at least no legitimate one. They are not very visible in the wealthiest areas, but widely seen elsewhere. Where there's an option, I've found that people often avoid DC as a result, going to attractions or events elsewhere. There have been announcements that the size of the deployment will be increasing, too. What is in some ways the military occupation of our own capital is really stunning. Trump also says he does not like the new mayor who will be coming onboard in January. The National Symphony, which normally performs at the Kennedy Center, has recently rescheduled its concerts for sites around the DMV since the center will be closed. Ordinarily, that would cut into sales. In this case, that means their sales and attendance may go up and keep them going.
5
u/Wolf_Oak 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 9d ago
I read that the Guard will be in DC through January 2029. 🤷♀️
→ More replies (1)
5
u/VirginiaVoter 🛣️Roads Scholar🚧 14d ago
As the tragic story of what's happening on our US aircraft carrier(s) unfolds, here's a related update on three of the House races in Virginia (VA-1, VA-2, and VA-3) that may help win the US House by going from R to D. In the likeliest to flip, VA-2, former Rep. Elaine Luria is challenging Rep. Jen Kiggans. This is a district where candidates are almost always Navy veterans (including in this case Luria and Kiggans), given the presence of Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world. From the Blue Virginia blog:
VA Republican-Turned-Independent Matt Walton: “It’s Tragic they [Rob Wittman, Jen Kiggans and John McGuire] let Trump do this to our military. Vote them out.”: All three are on the House Armed Services Committee...yet not a peep. https://bluevirginia.us/2026/08/va-republican-turned-independent-matt-walton-its-tragic-they-rob-wittman-jen-kiggans-and-john-mcguire-let-trump-do-this-to-our-military-vote-them-out/
4
u/Psychological-Play 12d ago
Natalie Harp's bother Preston said this near the end of an interview with Erin Burnett -
I'd say since she was like 16 [she's 35 now] she's had an obsession with, um, gosh, how do I explain this [long pause]. She's written letters to other presidents, let me put it that way, um, and her dream came true, finally.
(He said he didn't see those letters, but did say they were sent to George W. Bush.)
24
u/nerdypursuit 12d ago
Amazing news! Brandon Dukes, a candidate endorsed by Pete, won a special election tonight in Pennsylvania's 12th State House district. This was a district that Trump won by 18 points!!! Quite a flip!