By Zach Hester | @hestzach

Other than Biden’s huge Super Tuesday comeback, the biggest question this week was: What’s next for former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg?

Just to get this out there in the open: yes, I know I’m only the 10,000th person to write some sort of piece about Pete Buttigieg’s political future this week. Heck, even my headline is almost the same as the New York Times article about this, but I digress. However, as a former supporter of his campaign, and an avid fan of him and his politics in general, I feel this article is merited since it’s coming from a real-life supporter and not any sort of pundit.

Since ending his own presidential bid on Sunday and quickly swinging his base of supporters to former Vice President Joe Biden the following day, Buttigieg’s political future has been almost as hot a topic as Biden’s bounce back into the limelight after a strong Super Tuesday. At 38-years-old, and based on the current frontrunners of the Democratic primary, he’s got about 40 years’ worth of presidential runs left in him; however, Buttigieg should capitalize on the national support he’s grown in 2020, while he remains popular. So let’s get into the big question: what comes next for Mayor Pete?

Vice President?

In order to immediately capitalize on the support he built in 2020 (and to please my own personal preferences) running alongside Biden seems like the best option. Biden’s massive support among minority and suburban voters mixed Buttigieg’s Midwestern credentials, cross-party appeal, and fresh face in national politics would make an insanely strong ticket for the Democrats in November.

Vice President Pete Buttigieg might be a pipe dream, and a lot of my own wishful thinking, but if the ticket wins, Buttigieg will be in a prime position to win the White House for himself in 2024 or 2028, depending on Biden’s plans.

Cabinet?

If the vice presidency is off the table, a place in a Democratic president’s cabinet is a near-lock for Buttigieg.

As a veteran and former naval intelligence officer, Buttigieg would fit well in places like Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, or even Ambassador to the United Nations. His experience as a mayor might also lend him some luck at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Departments of State or Defense feel like they may need some career-long officials for the new president’s first term, just to reconnect with our allies on the world stage, however, Buttigieg could be tapped for either role after service in another role first.

DNC Chair?

The Democrats need new leadership, period. That fight starts at the top, and it’s a fight that Mayor Pete has taken before and could be willing to take on again.

After a failed run for party chairman in 2017 resulted in him being thrust onto the national stage, this year’s presidential run cemented that, and if Democrats are unable to win against Trump in November, chairman of the Democratic National Committee seems like the most likely option for Buttigieg.

As party chairman, he could set the standard for Democrats across the nation and become the face of the movement against Trump in his second term. If he led Democrats to wins in the midterms and stepped down in 2023, he’d still have a chance at the 2024 nomination, and he would be in an even better place to win that race.

Senate?

Indiana has two U.S. Senate seats, both held by Republicans and both won by just barely 50 percent of the statewide vote.

The first seat, held by Todd Young, is up in 2022 and Mike Braun’s seat is up in 2024. While Indiana is a ruby red state, Buttigieg’s inroads with what he calls “future former Republicans” might help him build a winning coalition. This seems like the most unlikely scenario, but having Mayor Pete become Senator Pete would definitely be a welcome change in Congress’ upper chamber.

Whatever he wants.

Ultimately, Buttigieg’s next political move will only be known when he makes it. While we wait for that, it’s good to remember to be respectful and if he makes a decision that isn’t to your liking, just respect that. For all we know, Pete might be content to head home to South Bend for a while.

No matter what and whether it’s 2024, 2028, or 2040, I think President Pete is still on the horizon. Let’s all just stick around, wait, and then mobilize #PeteForAmerica once again.

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