Pete Buttigieg, 2020 Democratic caucus winner, to headline Iowa Democrats’ July event

Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg — the winner of the 2020 Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses — is coming back to Iowa in July, fueling speculation on a potential 2028 run.

Buttigieg will be the keynote speaker at the Iowa Democratic Party’s Liberty & Justice dinner this year, an annual fundraiser scheduled for 4 p.m. July 12 at Prairie Meadows Event Center in Altoona.

“We are so excited to have Pete Buttigieg join us at this year’s annual Liberty and Justice Celebration,” Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said in a statement. “Pete has shown time and time again that he effectively communicates with all kinds of voters: Independents, Democrats, and Republicans alike – just the kind of coalition we need to build to win in Iowa this year.”

Buttigieg spent a significant amount of time in Iowa ahead of the 2020 election as he campaigned to become the Democratic presidential nominee. He came to Iowa as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, with much less name recognition than other competitors like former President Joe Biden, who ended up winning the nomination; U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, but ended up winning the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses. He eventually ended his campaign in March 2020 and supported Biden. He went on to serve in the Biden administration as U.S. secretary of Transportation.

In addition to the upcoming IDP event, Buttigieg held an event in Cedar Rapids in 2025 and weighed in ahead of the June 2 Democratic U.S. Senate primary to endorse Iowa Rep. Josh Turek, who won the nomination Tuesday.

After the 2020 election cycle, Iowa lost its place as first-in-the-nation status leading the Democratic presidential nominating process. But as politicians look to the 2028 presidential election, Iowa remains a frequent stop for politicians speculated to run for president in future elections. Visits from national candidates in 2026 come as Iowa is seen as a state that could play a major role in Democrats’ efforts to end GOP control in Congress in the midterm elections, and as a possible early state in the 2028 Democratic nominating cycle as the Democratic National Committee reconsiders the nominating calendar.

Buttigieg is not the only potential Democratic presidential contender visiting Iowa ahead of the midterms — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is rallying with Auditor Rob Sand, the Democratic nominee for governor, on Sunday in Des Moines. U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan came in April to support state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott’s campaign for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. Other Democrats, including Arizona U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego and former President Barack Obama’s chief of staff Rahm Emanuel also came to Iowa in 2025.