Pete Buttigieg announced Thursday he will not run for Michigan’s governorship or the state’s open US Senate seat in 2026, setting up a potential presidential bid in 2028.

Buttigieg wrote that he "seriously" considered running for office in 2026 but that the Democratic Party has a "deep and talented bench in Michigan."

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that he will not seek an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, a move that leaves the door wide open for him to seek a much bigger role as his party’s next presidential nominee.