Who is Pete Buttigieg?

President-elect Joe Biden recently chose former mayor of South Bend, Pete Buttigieg, for the position of United States Secretary of Transportation.

The United States Secretary of Transportation oversees the Department of Transportation and has the job of providing an efficient and economical national transportation system. The Department of Transportation makes and implements federal regulations governing the use of America’s roads and highways, airports, railways, and ports.

Pete Buttigieg is a former Navy officer and served two terms between 2012 and 2020 as the mayor of South Bend. At only 38, Pete Buttigieg is one of the biggest and youngest names in American Politics. He also made an attempt to be the Democratic candidate in the 2020 election. Buttigieg is also the first openly gay politican to have a legitimate campaign for presidency.

“This is a moment of tremendous opportunity—to create jobs, meet the climate challenge, and enhance equity for all,” Buttigieg tweeted. “I’m honored that the President-elect has asked me to serve our nation as Secretary of Transportation.”

Biden also said in his announcement making Pete Buttigieg Secretary of Transportation said, “Mayor Pete Buttigieg is a patriot and a problem-solver who speaks to the best of who we are as a nation. I am nominating him for Secretary of Transportation because this position stands at the nexus of so many of the interlocking challenges and opportunities ahead of us.” Biden added, “He will bring people together to get big things done.”

As a presidential candidate he offered ideas towards transportation such as improving access to jobs dealing with transportation and a fix-it approach to highway funding.