Former US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has fuelled speculation about a possible 2028 presidential campaign after announcing plans to release a new book titled Next, just one week after the midterm elections.
The 44-year-old former Cabinet official revealed the upcoming publication on Tuesday through a video shared on social media, saying he had spent considerable time thinking about his future.
” So lately, a lot of people have been asking me, ‘What’s next?’
And as chance would have it, I have been thinking about exactly that subject for about a year,” Buttigieg said.
He added that he was proud to announce the project and excited about the release of his new book.
The announcement has attracted attention as Buttigieg remains among the Democrats being considered as potential contenders for the 2028 presidential nomination.
Book Release Coincides With Previous Presidential Campaign Timeline
Next is scheduled for publication on January 26, a date that falls around the same period in the presidential election cycle when Buttigieg launched his exploratory committee for the 2020 presidential race in January 2019.
At the time, he became the first major openly gay candidate to pursue a presidential nomination from a major US political party.
Buttigieg’s book announcement follows the release of two previous publications: Shortest Way Home, published a month after he launched his exploratory committee, and Trust: America’s Best Chance, which came out ahead of the 2020 election.
Buttigieg Among Democrats Considered for 2028 Race
Buttigieg has remained a prominent name in discussions about the next Democratic presidential contest.
An August poll by Quantus Insights identified him as the leading contender among potential 2028 Democratic candidates.
However, several other national polling surveys continue to place former Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of other possible contenders.
Harris, who was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2024, released her campaign memoir, 107 Days, in September 2025. The book became a bestseller.
Other Democrats associated with possible 2028 presidential ambitions have also published books.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro released his book in January, followed by California Governor Gavin Newsom a month later.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear also published a book in September.
On the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance released Communion in June as a follow-up to his earlier memoir, Hillbilly Elegy.
From South Bend Mayor to Biden’s Transportation Secretary
Before joining the Biden administration, Buttigieg served two terms as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, between 2012 and 2020.
He also unsuccessfully sought the position of Democratic National Committee chairman in 2017.
Despite that setback, he pursued a presidential campaign, announcing his exploratory committee in Washington on January 23, 2019, before formally launching his campaign in April.
His 2020 presidential bid made history in February when he became the first openly gay candidate to win the most delegates in a presidential nominating contest after securing victory in the Iowa caucuses.
However, the Iowa results were delayed for a day because of a software malfunction, affecting the momentum surrounding his victory.
Senator Bernie Sanders also won the popular vote in the state, strengthening his own campaign.
Sanders subsequently narrowly defeated Buttigieg in the New Hampshire primary before securing a decisive victory in the Nevada caucuses.
The contest shifted following the South Carolina primary, where former Vice President Joe Biden secured a significant victory.
Buttigieg endorsed Biden the day before Super Tuesday, when several states held their Democratic primary elections.
Buttigieg Served Throughout Biden’s Four-Year Administration
Following Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, Buttigieg was appointed Secretary of Transportation.
He remained in the position throughout Biden’s four-year administration.
In 2022, Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten, relocated their family to Traverse City, Michigan.
The move prompted speculation that he could pursue a Senate seat in the state during the 2026 elections.
However, he ultimately decided against entering the Senate race.
Instead, Buttigieg campaigned for other Democratic candidates ahead of the midterm elections and became a regular Democratic voice on Fox News Channel.
His latest book announcement comes as attention turns to the potential candidates who could compete for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
