Pete Buttigieg holds a baby in Iowa, Aug. 14, 2019. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

(CNSNews.com) - Pete Buttigieg, who is now one of the frontrunners for the Democratic presidential nomination, has said that he and his husband plan to start a family and may have children while he is serving as president in the White House.

“We’re hoping to have a little one soon,” Buttigieg said at an event in Brooklyn, New York on April 15 of last year, where he shared the stage with his husband, Chasten.

“I imagine it would make me a better president,” he said on CNN the next day.

On June 16, when he appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union," host Jake Tapper asked him: “Do you think, if you are elected president, hypothetically, that you will plan to start a family in the White House?”

“I don’t see why not,” Buttigieg said. “I think it wouldn’t be the first time that children have arrived to a first couple.”

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Appearing on Rachel Maddow’s MSNBC program on April 15, he expressed confidence that his husband would be a great father.

“My husband, is—he’s made for a lot of things,” said Buttigieg. “He is a great educator. He has become a great public figure, kind of coming out of the gate. But he is also going to be an amazing father. And I can’t wait to see him--I hope I’ll be good at it, too. But I can’t wait to see him have that chance.”

Biologically, Buttigieg and his husband cannot have a child because they are the same sex. When he appeared on CNN on April 16, 2019, host Poppy Harlow asked him if he had talked to his husband about “adopting” and “surrogacy.”

“This week, you said you're interested in starting a family soon,” Harlow said. “And I think this is a relevant question because I see how much having children has changed me not only as a person but in my career, in my vision and hopes for this country. And, for you, running for the highest office in the land, undoubtedly, having children will change you.

“Can you tell us,” she said, “a little bit more about how you plan to start a family, the discussions with your husband, adopting, surrogacy, and what people should expect?”

“Well, we've been thinking about it for a while,” said Buttigieg.

“Obviously, my recent professional choices have made it a little more complicated, so we’re figuring through all of that,” he said.

“We’re also not wealthy and it turns out this is--I mean, parenting is an expensive proposition for anyone but especially for a same-sex couple. There’s a lot you’ve got to figure out,” Buttigieg said.

“Yeah, fostering, adopting, surrogacy,” said Harlow.

“Yeah,” said Buttigieg.

“But surrogacy is also very expensive,” she said.

“Sure,” said Buttigieg.

“It’s also not legal everywhere,” said Harlow.

Below are the transcripts of things Pete Buttigieg has said in the past year about having a child with his same-sex husband:

Chasten Buttigieg: “‘What is your plan for paid maternity and family leave?’ That’s from Kate here in New York.” Pete Buttigieg: “Well, you know, we’re hoping to have a little one soon. So, we have a personal stake in this one, too. Campaign Event in Brooklyn, New York April 15, 2019 __________ Rachel Maddow: “Are you going to have kids? Pete Buttigieg: “I hope so. Don’t have any yet.” Maddow: “Do you have plans?” Buttigieg: “You know, this whole running for president of thing has kind of slowed down the path a little bit but-- Maddow: “But you guys talking about it?” Buttigieg: “Yes, Chasten, my husband, is—he’s made for a lot of things. He is a great educator. He has become a great public figure, kind of coming out of the gate. But he is also going to be an amazing father. And I can’t wait to see him--I hope I’ll be good at it, too. But I can’t wait to see him have that chance.” MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” April 15, 2019 __________ Poppy Harlow: "You have spoken a little bit about wanting children." Pete Buttigieg: "Yeah." Harlow: "And recently, this week, you said you're interested in starting a family soon. And I think this is a relevant question because I see how much having children has changed me not only as a person but in my career, in my vision and hopes for this country. And for you, running for the highest office in the land, undoubtedly, having children will change you. Can you tell us a little bit more about how you plan to start a family, the discussions with your husband, adopting, surrogacy, and what people should expect?" Buttigieg: "Well, we've been thinking about it for a while." Harlow: "Yes." Buttigieg: "Obviously, my recent professional choices have made it a little more complicated, so we’re figuring through all of that. We’re also not wealthy and it turns out this is--I mean, parenting is an expensive proposition for anyone but especially for a same-sex couple. There’s a lot you’ve got to figure out. Harlow: "Yeah, fostering, adopting, surrogacy." Buttigieg: "Yeah." Harlow: "But surrogacy is also very expensive." Buttigieg: "Sure." Harlow: "It’s also not legal everywhere." John Avlon: "Right." Harlow: "The same laws don't apply for same-sex couples everywhere." Buttigieg: "Right. I mean, what I know is that first of all, my husband, Chasten, will be an amazing father. He's great professionally as well, but I can't wait to see him as a parent and I will be trying to live up to his example on that. I also know that it’s another one of those experiences that I think--you know, the things that happen to you when you care for somebody more than for yourself, I can just--knowing what that's like in our marriage, I can scarcely imagine what it's like as a parent." Harlow: "Yes." Buttigieg: "But I know that it would make me a better person and I imagine it would make me a better president." Harlow: "Yes. Your mind will be blown, so, right? Right?" CNN’s “New Day” April 16, 2019 __________ Jake Tapper: “Your first wedding anniversary. Congratulations to you and Chasten, also coming at the same day as Father's Day. You said you hope to have children in the future, but that your presidential bid has slowed that down a bit. Do you think, if you are elected president, hypothetically, that you will plan to start a family in the White House? Buttigieg: "I don’t see why not. I think it wouldn’t be the first time that children have arrived to a first couple. But, obviously, that’s a conversation I had better have with Chasten before I go into it too much on television." Tapper: "All right. Well, happy anniversary. Thanks so much for joining us." Buttigieg: "Thanks." CNN’s “State of the Union June 16, 2019









