Pete Buttigieg, the former transportation secretary and Democratic 2028 presidential hopeful, endorsed an independent candidate for U.S. Senate in Montana over their Democratic opponent, joining other members of the party who have backed independents in races across the country.
In a video announcement posted on X Friday, Buttigieg highlighted Seth Bodnar’s military service — the 47-year-old was an Army Green Beret who served in Iraq as a patrol leader in 2008. His history of military service is one he shares with Buttigieg, who served as Navy Reserve intelligence officer in Afghanistan.
“Seth and I don’t agree on everything,” Buttigieg said in the video. “ But at a time when Washington is more broken than ever, we need people like Seth who do the right thing and have the courage to work with anyone.”
“Thats what service teaches you,” Buttigieg continued. “Mission first, take care of others, and never forget who you work for. Seth knows who he works for.”
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Bodnar enthusiastically accepted Buttigieg’s backing in his own statement, writing that he was “proud that people across the political spectrum are joining this campaign.”
“We agree that Washington, D.C. is broken,” Bodnar wrote on X. “And it’s time we take our country back from politicians and party bosses who enable the corruption driving up costs for all of us.”
Bodnar is running against Republican candidate Kurt Alme and Democratic candidate Alani Bankhead. Many Democrats in the state believe Bodnar will have a better chance of victory in Montana — historically a GOP stronghold.
Earlier this week Bankhead told PBS that the DNC offered her a job at the committee if she dropped out of the race. The DNC has since denied those claims.
Buttigieg, who plans to campaign in seven states ahead of the midterm elections, is a major Democratic figure and one of the favorites to run for the presidency in 2028. With his endorsement of Bodnar, he joins other Democrats who have backed independents in races nationwide.
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