Buttigieg Announces Book as 2028 Speculation Builds
Pete Buttigieg announced on November 10 that he has written a book called Next, adding to questions about whether he will seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. He made the announcement in a social media video, saying he had spent about a year thinking about the subject of what comes next.
The book is scheduled for release January 26. Buttigieg, 44, served as transportation secretary throughout Joe Biden’s presidency and ran for the Democratic nomination in 2020. He became the first openly gay candidate to lead the field in delegates during a presidential primary, after prevailing in the Iowa caucuses that year.
Buttigieg campaigned for Democrats during the 2026 election cycle, raising his national profile, and regularly appeared on Fox News as a Democratic commentator. He moved with his family to Michigan in 2022 but declined to run for the Senate there this year.
Several other Democrats seen as possible 2028 contenders have also published books, including Kamala Harris, Josh Shapiro, Gavin Newsom and Andy Beshear. Buttigieg previously published Shortest Way Home and Trust: America’s Best Chance. His new book will arrive at a similar point in the campaign cycle to his 2019 announcement that he was exploring a presidential bid.
Buttigieg’s New Book Keeps a Democratic Future in View
Pete Buttigieg’s announcement of Next puts a prominent Democratic voice back in the conversation about the party’s future. He said in a social media video that he had spent about a year thinking about what comes next; the book is set for release January 26.
Buttigieg served throughout Joe Biden’s presidency and campaigned for Democrats across the country during the 2026 election cycle. His public profile is already national: in 2020, he became the first openly gay candidate to lead the delegate count in the presidential primary, taking the Iowa caucuses.
The book arrives as Democrats weigh possible successors for 2028. Kamala Harris, Josh Shapiro, Gavin Newsom and Andy Beshear have also published books as potential contenders draw attention. Buttigieg’s last presidential campaign began with an exploratory committee in 2019, making this announcement an obvious marker of his continued ambitions, even as he has not announced a campaign.
After serving in Biden’s Cabinet, Buttigieg declined to run for Michigan’s Senate seat this year and instead campaigned for other Democrats. Next gives him another platform to shape the conversation about where the party goes from here.
Book Announcement Fuels More 2028 Speculation Around Buttigieg
Pete Buttigieg’s new book announcement is the latest sign that the 2028 Democratic field is taking shape well before voters choose a nominee. Next will be released January 26, and Buttigieg said he had been thinking about its subject for about a year.
The former transportation secretary built a national profile through his 2020 presidential campaign and his service in Joe Biden’s Cabinet. He also campaigned for Democrats during the 2026 election cycle. Those credentials keep him in the conversation, but a book announcement is not a campaign announcement: Buttigieg has not declared a run.
His 2020 bid became historic when he won the most delegates in the Iowa caucuses, the first openly gay candidate to do so. He later endorsed Biden before Super Tuesday. Buttigieg has published two earlier books, and several other Democrats considered possible 2028 candidates—including Kamala Harris, Josh Shapiro, Gavin Newsom and Andy Beshear—have also released books.
Buttigieg chose not to run for Michigan’s Senate seat this year after moving to the state in 2022. Instead, he campaigned for other Democrats. The January release gives him a fresh opportunity to draw attention as the party’s next presidential contest approaches, while leaving voters to judge whether the book signals a serious bid or simply keeps his profile high.
Reported by The Washington Examiner, Daily Mail US, Townhall.
