Democratic leaders in Michigan are putting together a plan to keep their party in power after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s (D) second term ends in 2026.

“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 told reporters on Monday at an event near Detroit. But the AP reports that he is already getting calls from Democratic leaders in the state to run for governor in 2026.

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Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan (D) announced his run for governor as an independent just last week, putting pressure on Democrats to find a unifying candidate in the very purple state, where voters just elected Democrat Elissa Slotkin to be their U.S. senator at the same time as they voted for Donald Trump to be president. Detroit is a Democratic stronghold in the state and Duggan could siphon off key support for the Democratic gubernatorial nominee.

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Buttigieg is from South Bend, Indiana, but several years ago, he bought a home in Traverse City, Michigan, the hometown of his husband Chasten. He is currently serving as secretary of transportation, a post that will end on January 20, 2025, Trump’s inauguration day.

There was some talk about him running for senator last year after Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) announced that she would not seek reelection this year.

“I am fully focused on serving the President in my role as Secretary of Transportation, and not seeking any other job,” Buttigieg said at the time. “We are hard at work to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, grow the economy, and create good-paying jobs.”

Buttigieg has only grown in popularity among Democrats since then. Known for his direct and smart responses to conservative talking points that often go viral, as well as his Obama-like message of pragmatism and unity, Buttigieg represents to many a direction in which the Democratic Party could go to rebuild a majority.

If Buttigieg does throw his hat in the ring for the governorship, he would likely face the current Michigan secretary of state, Jocelyn Benson (D), and lieutenant governor, Garlin Gilchrist (D). Several local politicians are also rumored to be considering a run for governor.

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