There is still plenty of time before the next election, however. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) has two years left on her second term. Whitmer won both of her elections by significant margins and remains popular in the state. Due to state laws, she cannot run for another term, and there will be a new candidate for governor in the 2026 election.

Furthermore, recent political setbacks experienced by Michigan Democrats have left many seeking change, according to the Associated Press. Republicans won control of Michigan’s House, and Donald Trump won the state in the 2024 presidential election. With Buttigieg now a Michigan resident, some feel he could take the mantle from Whitmer and be the new face of the state’s Democratic Party. 

Incidentally, Buttigieg was in Monroe, Michigan, on Monday to announce government funding to replace the River Raisin Bridge on I-75 between Detroit, Michigan, and Toledo, Ohio. The government will provide $196 million in grants for the project, according to WILX-10. The bridge is considered one of the country’s 18 “most economically significant bridges in the nation.”

“For commuters, for truck drivers, for anyone who uses America’s interstate highways, our bridges are essential to keep people and goods moving—and the Biden-Harris Administration has taken unprecedented steps to repair and rebuild these critical structures,” Buttigieg said about the project. “We’ve made good on our promise to address our country’s most economically significant bridges—and are now going beyond our initial goal of ten bridge megaprojects—while also delivering much-needed repairs to thousands of other bridges nationwide to make driving safer and supply chains stronger.” 

Later, during an event at a union hall located near Detroit, Buttigieg was greeted by workers who tried to get a feel for a potential run as the state’s governor. They asked him questions about the state and Michigan’s culture. One person asked Buttigieg if he knew this week’s opponent of the Detroit Lions, the Associated Press reported. Buttigieg was unable to provide an answer. Yet, despite an apparent lack of the schedule for the Detroit Lions, many people still supported him at the event. One person in attendance expressed gratitude for appearances on Fox News.

“I personally want to thank you for going up, facing the Fox News crowd, listening to people’s questions and answering. And I think you’re one of the few politicians that does that,” the guest said to the transportation secretary. 

The enthusiastic crowd at the event shows that a fair amount of Democrats could view the former mayor of a city in Indiana as Michigan’s political savior. As for now, Buttigieg has said that he is undecided on whether he will run for governor and does not want to commit to any plans for the future. He said he is focusing on finishing his term as part of the Biden administration. 

“I haven’t made any decisions about, big decisions about my future. And I know that we’ve got six more weeks, and we’re going to sprint through the tape,” Buttigieg said.