Pete Buttigieg made history as the first openly gay cabinet member confirmed by the Senate, but his tenure as Transportation Secretary was defined by results, not symbolism. He helped deliver the most significant infrastructure investment in generations, creating millions of jobs while rebuilding America’s crumbling roads, bridges, and transit systems.

Before Washington, Buttigieg was the mayor who brought South Bend, Indiana, back from the brink. He demolished abandoned houses, attracted new businesses, and showed that left-for-dead Rust Belt cities could thrive again. He took a leave from his mayorship to deploy to Afghanistan as a Navy intelligence officer, because that’s who he is: someone who serves.

Buttigieg has proven he can win in red America, govern effectively, and communicate complex policy in ways that resonate with everyone. His presidential run introduced America to a new kind of Democrat: young, thoughtful, and unafraid to meet voters wherever they are.