Pete Buttigieg has officially ruled out a run for Michigan’s soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat, a move that has stirred speculation about his long-term political ambitions, particularly a potential bid for the presidency in 2028.

Buttigieg, who served as U.S. Transportation Secretary and previously ran in the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries, announced this week that he would not pursue a campaign for Senate or governor of Michigan in 2026, despite earlier reports that he was considering both options.

“I care deeply about who Michigan will elect as Governor and send to the U.S. Senate next year, but I have decided against competing in either race,”

Buttigieg shared on social media platform X. “While my own plans don’t include running for office in 2026, I remain intensely focused on communicating and supporting a vision for the future.”