Pete Buttigieg rallied for Democratic congressional candidate Denise Powell in Omaha on Tuesday, drawing more than 500 supporters to Metropolitan Community College’s South Omaha campus while deliberately keeping his own 2028 presidential ambitions in play.
Buttigieg, the former U.S. Transportation Secretary and 2020 Iowa caucuses winner, told the crowd there was no going back to the Trump administration’s policies. “We really have to face what’s happened of our nation’s task in this moment will not be as simple as just reversing the damage that has been done,” he said, calling out President Donald Trump’s approach to Iran, Medicaid cuts, and delays in releasing the Epstein files.
Powell, who co-founded a political action committee supporting female candidates, is making her first run for elected office in the competitive 2nd District seat held by Republican Don Bacon. She won the Democratic primary in May as the first Latina ever to secure a Democratic nomination for federal office in Nebraska.
Keeping 2028 Options Open
Earlier in his Iowa trip, when asked directly whether he would rule out a 2028 White House run, Buttigieg offered a single word: “Nope.” The response signals he intends to remain a potential contender in what is shaping up to be a crowded Democratic primary field.
“I already have a lot of great friends in Iowa, and it’s been fun to reactivate some of those relationships in the service of the ticket that’s on the ballot right now in ’26,” Buttigieg told reporters on July 13. “I’m super focused on this year’s election. The future will come, but right now, we got a very important set of elections in front of us right now.”
Buttigieg has become a prolific midterm campaigner, endorsing candidates in more than 30 races across the country as part of a strategy to build his profile and network ahead of any potential 2028 bid. His Omaha and Iowa stops reflect the national importance of these swing districts—Nebraska’s 2nd District flipped blue in 2020 when it backed Kamala Harris and has remained a key pickup opportunity for Democrats seeking to gain House seats in November.
At the Omaha rally, Buttigieg praised Powell as someone who understands that the wealthiest country in the world ought to have the best-funded public schools and that women’s healthcare decisions should remain between a woman and her doctor. He also turned attention to Vice President Brinker Harding, calling him part of the status quo and criticizing House Speaker Mike Johnson for planning to bring Johnson to campaign in Omaha against Powell.
Sources
- The Des Moines Register — Buttigieg’s “nope” response on ruling out 2028, his focus on 2026 midterms, and his Iowa campaign stops in July 2026.
- Omaha World-Herald — Details of the Omaha rally on July 14, crowd size of 500+, location at Metropolitan Community College, Powell’s background and candidacy, and Buttigieg’s remarks on Trump administration policies.
- CNN — Confirmation that Buttigieg is endorsing candidates in more than 30 races as a prolific midterm campaigner.
- Nebraska Examiner — Powell’s May 2026 Democratic primary victory and her status as the first Latina Democratic nominee for federal office in Nebraska.
- NPR — Context on Nebraska’s 2nd District as a swing seat that voted for Kamala Harris in 2020.
