Pete Buttigieg Announces 2020 Campaign, Hopes to Make History as First-Ever Openly Gay President
Pete Buttigieg is officially in the 2020 race.
On Sunday, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, officially announced his presidential bid. If he wins, he would make history as the youngest and first-ever openly gay president.
“My name is Pete Buttigieg. They call me Mayor Pete. I am a proud son of South Bend, Indiana. And I am running for President of the United States,” Buttigieg said, addressing the crowd that had come to hear his announcement. “I recognize the audacity of doing this as a Midwestern millennial mayor. More than a little bold — at age 37— to seek the highest office in the land.”
During his speech, he promised to create a new narrative, one he says will “tell a different story than ‘Make America Great Again'”— taking a few digs at current President Donald Trump.
“The horror show in Washington is mesmerizing, all-consuming,” Buttigieg added. “But starting today, we are going to change the channel. Sometimes a dark moment brings out the best in us, what is good in us, dare I say, what is great in us.”
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And it seems like he already has the endorsement of one famous face, Ellen DeGeneres, who took to Twitter to show her support and excitement for Buttigieg’s presidential run.
“These words make me very, very happy. ‘My name is Pete Buttigieg. They call me Mayor Pete. I am a proud son of South Bend, Indiana. And I am running for President of the United States,'” she tweeted.
These words make me very, very happy.
“My name is @PeteButtigieg. They call me Mayor Pete. I am a proud son of South Bend, Indiana. And I am running for President of the United States.”— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) April 14, 2019
His announcement comes one week after speaking at the LGBTQ Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch, where he shared his emotional journey towards accepting his sexuality — making a direct appeal at the religious beliefs Vice President Mike Pence says confirm his social conservative stance on homosexuality.
“If me being gay was a choice, it was a choice that was made far, far above my pay grade,” Buttigieg said.
“That’s the thing I wish the Mike Pences of the world would understand, that if you’ve got a problem with who I am, your problem is not with me — your quarrel, sir, is with my creator,” he added.
