CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Ex-U.S. Transportation Secretary and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg stated during his campaign stops in Iowa this week that he is running based on principles rather than aiming to reclaim a position in government. Despite his renewed presence at public engagements, which have fueled discussions about a potential bid for president again in 2028, Buttigieg emphasized focusing on these core values instead.

At present, I am not involved in any races,” he stated to journalists after an occasion which the organizers mentioned attracted roughly 1,800 individuals in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday, May 13. “A significant aspect of why this chance is so thrilling and captivating is having the ability to advocate for principles and concepts instead of focusing on a particular election campaign.

It was a homecoming of sorts for Buttigieg, who traveled extensively in Iowa over the course of his 2020 presidential primary campaign,

emerging from being an unnamed mayor of an Indiana city to becoming a leading presidential candidate

.

“It feels really good to be back in Iowa,” he said to cheers. “Anyone can come to Iowa just before an election is coming up, I wanted to make sure I had a chance to talk with the people I got to know five or six years ago and people I’m seeing for the very first time.”

The town hall was hosted by the progressive veterans organization, VoteVets Action Fund, and is part of a broader effort by the group to drive national conversations about veterans’ issues.

It was a standing-room-only crowd at the Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids.

Pete Buttigieg says Democrats must be better about laying out a proactive vision for the country

Buttigieg talked for roughly 20 minutes before addressing queries from the audience for approximately one hour. The questions addressed various veteran concerns along with others centered around the fundamental challenges confronting both the Democratic Party and the nation at large.

Buttigieg stated that for Democrats to attract possible voters, they must present a clearer outlook for what lies ahead.

“In this very instant, as resistance against the injustices emanating from Washington has never been more crucial, this goes beyond merely what we aim to halt,” he addressed the audience. “This is also about our resolve to construct something new. It’s about envisioning a future where things can improve — where they will improve once we adhere to the principles that guide our nation.”

His arrival coincides with Iowa Democrats facing the consequences of ongoing challenges.

brutal 2024 election losses

and as they begin to put together a strategy attempting to regain ground in 2026.

A series of Democratic candidates have announced they will run for various offices of late, including state Auditor Rob Sand,

who launched a gubernatorial campaign a day earlier

.

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart, who was in attendance, said Democrats in the state are looking for someone to give them hope.

They desire witnessingDemocrats engaged in resistance, offering facts,” she stated. “There are numerous concerns upsetting people. While they have strong emotions, they also seek a sense of optimism for what lies ahead.

Buttigieg stated that despite the challenge of witnessing Republican policies being implemented, it’s an opportunity to rise up and bring about transformation.

“The strength of America lies in its capacity to confront its most troubling challenges and emerge more resilient and improved as a result,” he stated.

Dubuque resident Kenneth Miller Jr., said he supported Buttigieg for president during his 2020 Iowa Caucus run, and he appreciated hearing him again in Cedar Rapids.

Miller, a U.S. Navy veteran, said he agrees with Buttigieg that Democrats need to do a better job of talking about the things they support rather than focusing on their opponents.

“It’s common sense,” he said. “… He speaks in complete sentences. He explains himself. (It’s) something we don’t get anymore nowadays from most politicians, including the one that’s running the show.”

Pete Buttigieg’s trip to Iowa raises queries about his potential 2028 presidential bid.

Even though Iowa no longer kicks off the Democratic Party’s presidential primary process, Buttigieg’s comeback nonetheless raised queries about his potential ambitions for the presidency.

He recently

decided against running for the U.S. Senate in Michigan

, fueling speculation that he could be eyeing another presidential run in 2028. And his appearance in Cedar Rapids was his first public in-person event since leaving his Cabinet post in January.

He declined to weigh in when asked by reporters whether Iowa should reclaim its first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. But he touted what the caucus experience did for his rise.

“People like me are takers and not makers of the rules on that,” he said. “What I will say is that Iowa showed me what can happen through a process where you have to be in backyards and do four town halls a day. It made it possible for somebody like me to emerge as a national figure, and it certainly made me better, not just as a candidate, but I think ultimately, as a public servant, when I did have the opportunity to serve in the Capitol.”

Buttigieg told reporters that “maybe” the Democratic Party would have been better off if Joe Biden hadn’t initially decided to run for president.

And, as we look back now, I believe most individuals would concur that this is true,” he stated. “However, we cannot afford to dwell on past experiences. Instead, we must prepare ourselves for significant challenges ahead that will test the nation and our party’s future; some of these trials are happening even at this moment, with many more expected in the coming year.

Republicans brush off Buttigieg’s ‘hollow talk’

Republicans ignored Buttigieg’s appearance in the area.

Jeff Kaufmann, the chair of the Republican Party of Iowa, stated that Trump has delivered on his pledges to veterans “while Democrats engage in political games regarding their care.”

“President Trump prioritized veterans’ issues and delivered tangible outcomes rather than hollow promises,” he stated. “From enhancing healthcare accessibility and reducing wasteful spending to discontinuing the problematic DEI initiatives at the VA, his efforts were aimed at respecting those who have served our country.”

Emily Tuttle, a representative from the National Republican Campaign Committee, stated that Buttigieg’s appearance represents “inauthentic political grandstanding” in a press release.

“The Democrats in Iowa have lost their connection with reality, bringing in a defeated extremist who backs biological males competing in girls’ athletics, providing universal medical care for undocumented immigrants, and permitting those same individuals to influence our voting processes,” she stated.

Brianne Pfannenstiel serves as the lead political journalist for the Des Moines Register. You can contact her via email at bpfann@dmreg.com or call her at 515-284-8244. Additionally, you can follow her activities on X under the handle @brianneDMR.

This story was updated to add a video.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune:

Former mayor Pete Buttigieg returns to Iowa to ‘campaign for values,’ not run for office