Democrats seem reluctant to confront the clear challenges faced by Pete Buttigieg regarding a potential presidential run in 2028.
Buttigieg has consistently found support among affluent, college-educated liberals who tend to read publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post. A recent poll from Emerson University shows that in a hypothetical Democratic primary, Biden—another former Transport Secretary—outperformed Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Josh Shapiro, securing 16% of the imagined voter base.
A notable observation was made on social media stating, “Black voters aren’t likely to support the gay white guy for president, but I doubt the Democrats will acknowledge this openly.”
It’s evident that Buttigieg struggled significantly with Black Democrat voters, securing absolutely zero support—while Harris received 30%, Newsom got 9%, AOC 4%, and Shapiro merely 2%.
Buttigieg’s past voting patterns reflect a continued disconnect, particularly with older, religious Black voters in Southern states like South Carolina. Although he attempted to engage with this demographic during his 2020 campaign, his identity played a significant role in his inability to gain traction. Even Rep. James Clyburn from South Carolina has acknowledged this issue.
Clyburn remarked, “I know many people my age who feel this way.”
So, do the Democrats have the courage to face facts, as Clyburn has? Is Buttigieg willing to recognize that his appeal to religious minorities, especially in the South, is virtually nonexistent?
It seems unlikely. Despite his lack of broad appeal, the media nonetheless treats Buttigieg as the ideal Democratic candidate, overlooking the fact that many potential voters may not resonate with his narrative.
If the Democratic Party hopes to realign itself before the next election cycle in 2028, it will need to disregard the media’s adoration and reassess figures like Buttigieg critically.
