Pete Buttigieg Campaigns for Iowa Democrats at Liberty and Justice Event

Pete Buttigieg, the former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, visited Iowa on July 12 and 13, 2026, to campaign for state and federal candidates ahead of the midterm elections. He delivered the keynote address at the Iowa Democratic Party's annual Liberty and Justice Celebration at the Prairie Meadows Event Center in Altoona. During his speech, Buttigieg advocated for the abolition of the Electoral College, a constitutional amendment to prevent dark money in politics, and increased accountability for U.S. Supreme Court justices.

Buttigieg supported gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand, who characterized his Republican opponent, Zach Lahn, as a political operative. Other candidates, including U.S. Senate candidate Josh Turek and congressional candidate Sarah Trone Garriott, emphasized affordability and healthcare costs. Turek and Sand cited Fox News polling showing Democratic leads in their respective races, while Party Chair Rita Hart described the 2026 candidate slate as the strongest in a generation.

In Des Moines, Buttigieg rallied phone bank volunteers with Trone Garriott. While he stated his immediate focus is the 2026 elections, he refused to rule out a potential presidential bid in 2028. He also declined to take a position on whether Iowa Democrats should defy the Democratic National Committee's 2028 nominating calendar. This silence drew criticism from Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann, who noted that Buttigieg failed to affirm Iowa's place at the front of the presidential calendar.