On Tuesday, it emerged that President-elect Joe Biden will nominate Pete Buttigieg—the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., and Biden’s former rival for the Democratic presidential nomination—to serve as transportation secretary in his administration.
As one of the fastest-rising young stars in the Democratic Party, the 38-year-old was widely tipped for a role in the Biden administration. He parlayed two terms as mayor of a midsize city in a Midwestern red state into national political aspirations—narrowly winning this year’s Iowa caucus and placing second in the New Hampshire primary, before dropping out of the presidential race ahead of Super Tuesday and endorsing Biden.
As a surrogate for Biden’s campaign, Buttigieg garnered praise for his willingness to appear on Fox News and other conservative media outlets to advocate for Biden and the Democrats. That willingness to engage in debate with the other side—coupled with his success as a openly gay, Democratic politician in a traditionally conservative state—only further burnished Buttigieg’s star, with some seeing him as the future of a moderate Democratic Party capable of beating the Republicans in their own backyard. As transportation secretary, Buttigieg would be the first openly LGBTQ cabinet secretary approved by the U.S. Senate.
But Buttigieg also has his fair share of detractors. Even before the 2020 presidential campaign, his three-year stint at management consulting giant McKinsey & Co. and his overly ambitious, careerist political trajectory were already raising eyebrows among the progressive left. But a contentious primary in which he lured big corporate donors and frequently took aim at progressive favorite Bernie Sanders firmly established Buttigieg as the bête noire of the left’s vocal online commentariat—many of whom reject him as a continuation of the Democratic Party’s corporatized, neoliberal establishment.
Those voices were out in full force Tuesday to meet the news of Buttigieg’s pending nomination with skepticism and, in some cases, outright disdain—questioning his qualifications for the role and jesting about what his tenure as transportation secretary would entail.
A depressing display of the professional class belief that consultants know more than workers. He could nominate a bus driver or train conductor or city transport engineer to head the department. But the Buttigiegs of the world have convinced people their fancy credentials matter https://t.co/wBO5ftj30N
— Nathan J Robinson (@NathanJRobinson) December 15, 2020
A depressing display of the professional class belief that consultants know more than workers. He could nominate a bus driver or train conductor or city transport engineer to head the department. But the Buttigiegs of the world have convinced people their fancy credentials matter https://t.co/wBO5ftj30N
does Indiana even have mass transit lolhttps://t.co/yzYhLDfdxL
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) December 15, 2020
does Indiana even have mass transit lolhttps://t.co/yzYhLDfdxL
has pete buttigieg ridden a bus before
— Current Affairs (@curaffairs) December 15, 2020
has pete buttigieg ridden a bus before
Politico transportation reporter Sam Mintz pointed out the unprecedented scale of Buttigieg’s new task, and how he beat out some experienced candidates in getting the DOT nod.
The mayor of a city of 100,000, with 60 buses, will be appointed to lead an agency with nearly 55,000 employees, an $87 billion budget and more than a dozen administrations, overseeing the nation’s airspace, highway system, pipeline safety and much more.https://t.co/hB6bNGLDoK
— Sam Mintz (@samjmintz) December 15, 2020
The mayor of a city of 100,000, with 60 buses, will be appointed to lead an agency with nearly 55,000 employees, an $87 billion budget and more than a dozen administrations, overseeing the nation’s airspace, highway system, pipeline safety and much more.https://t.co/hB6bNGLDoK
Here's some of who Buttigieg beat out for DOT:
— Sam Mintz (@samjmintz) December 15, 2020
-David Kim (8 years at DOT, LA Transit, head of Calif's state transportation agency)
-Sarah Feinberg (4 years at DOT, led FRA, head of NYC Transit)
-John Porcari (led Maryland DOT, USDOT deputy secretary)
Here's some of who Buttigieg beat out for DOT:
-David Kim (8 years at DOT, LA Transit, head of Calif's state transportation agency)
-Sarah Feinberg (4 years at DOT, led FRA, head of NYC Transit)
-John Porcari (led Maryland DOT, USDOT deputy secretary)
But Mintz and other observers also noted that Buttigieg does indeed have transportation credentials of his own, including initiatives that he pursued as South Bend mayor.
This anecdote from @AVGregR is one of many who told @TSnyderDC and I that yes, Pete Buttigieg does in fact have some wonky transportation credentials, even if his resume looks thin on paper.
— Sam Mintz (@samjmintz) December 15, 2020
More words for subscribers: https://t.co/HLXTDxOxx4 pic.twitter.com/WBnukSatpI
This anecdote from @AVGregR is one of many who told @TSnyderDC and I that yes, Pete Buttigieg does in fact have some wonky transportation credentials, even if his resume looks thin on paper.
More words for subscribers: https://t.co/HLXTDxOxx4 pic.twitter.com/WBnukSatpI
For Urbanist Twitter talking about @PeteButtigieg and DOT. Policies established with him as Mayor:
— Joseph Molnar (@JosephRMolnar) December 14, 2020
Legalized ADUs citywide
Eliminated parking minimums in 1/2 directs, reduced everywhere else
Established @SmartStreetsSB focusing on reducing pavement, increase walkablity, cycling
For Urbanist Twitter talking about @PeteButtigieg and DOT. Policies established with him as Mayor:
Legalized ADUs citywide
Eliminated parking minimums in 1/2 directs, reduced everywhere else
Established @SmartStreetsSB focusing on reducing pavement, increase walkablity, cycling
Fun fact: when Buttigieg was mayor, South Bend won $1 million from the Bloomberg Mayor's Challenge to give people Uber cards to pay for transportation to and from work. Looking forward to more of this creative thinking from Secretary Buttigieg! https://t.co/4McuJAnM6f
— Zach Griffen (@runzach) December 15, 2020
Fun fact: when Buttigieg was mayor, South Bend won $1 million from the Bloomberg Mayor's Challenge to give people Uber cards to pay for transportation to and from work. Looking forward to more of this creative thinking from Secretary Buttigieg! https://t.co/4McuJAnM6f
Though Buttigieg will work to push forward President-elect Biden's transportation initiatives, the former mayor had plans of his own for DOT that were detailed in his larger infrastructure plan. https://t.co/ZtbJkMRBTY pic.twitter.com/z8zKXsca0u
— Justin Gomez (@JustinGomezABC) December 15, 2020
Though Buttigieg will work to push forward President-elect Biden's transportation initiatives, the former mayor had plans of his own for DOT that were detailed in his larger infrastructure plan. https://t.co/ZtbJkMRBTY pic.twitter.com/z8zKXsca0u
Buttigieg is an aviation geek who collected flight maps as a youth https://t.co/dBNpzd9SpA
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) December 15, 2020
Buttigieg is an aviation geek who collected flight maps as a youth https://t.co/dBNpzd9SpA
Still, Buttigieg’s nomination will rankle those on the left who were hoping that Biden’s cabinet would strike a more progressive tone. Thus far, it appears the President-elect’s transition has paid little mind to cabinet recommendations outlined by progressive groups.