South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. | Scott Eisen/Getty Images 2020 elections Nearly 60 mayors and ex-mayors endorse Buttigieg

Fifty-eight U.S. mayors announced their endorsements of Pete Buttigieg, giving the South Bend, Ind., mayor a boost of institutional support for his presidential campaign.

In a USA Today op-ed, the current and former mayors, including some who have already publicly backed Buttigieg, called for "a great mayor in the White House." The column — written by Mayors Steve Adler of Austin, Texas; Christopher Cabaldon of West Sacramento, Calif.; and Nan Whaley of Dayton, Ohio — emphasizes Buttigieg's bipartisan credentials and executive experience.


"We endorse him from heartland towns, coastal cities, suburban communities, and every other corner of our great country," the mayors wrote. "What’s more, in the spirit of the community of mayors, we are already offering Pete our best ideas and helping engage grassroots supporters all across the country."

Although the mayors are largely white, Buttigieg picked up some key endorsements from mayors of color, a constituency of voters with whom Buttigieg has struggled to make headway, notably including in the key-primary state of South Carolina. Buttigieg picked up his first endorsement from a Hispanic official: Mayor Michelle De La Isla of Topeka, Kan., the city's first Latina mayor. Former Mayor Sly James of Kansas City, Mo., and Mayor Mark Barbee of Bridgeport, Pa., who are both black, also signed on to the endorsement.

Several mayors also hail from early nominating states, including Ryan Arndorfer of Britt, Iowa, and Suzanne Prentiss of Lebanon, N.H.

Another notable nod came from Breea Clark of Norman, Okla., Sen. Elizabeth Warren's hometown.