Institute of Politics

He’s been called the future of the Democratic Party by former President Barack Obama, the President of Nowhere, USA by Politico, and the man who could topple Trumpism by Rolling Stone. So who is he? Meet Pete Buttigieg, the 36-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and a Democratic candidate for President of the United States. An Afghanistan veteran, a Rhodes scholar, and the first openly gay executive in Indiana, Mayor Pete was first elected in 2011 – the same year _Newsweek named South Bend one of America’s dying cities. Now, he has chronicled his two terms as mayor in a new book, Shortest Way Home: One Mayor’s Challenge and a Model for America’s Future_. Join the IOP as we welcome Mayor Pete to campus for a conversation on his book, his vision for the Democratic Party, and his plans after leaving office later this year. This conversation will be moderated by Sara Burnett of the Associated Press.