Trading places: Is Pete Buttigieg the new Kamala Harris?
- February 27, 2023
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s response to a toxic chemical spill after a train derailment has put the former small-town mayor into the harsh spotlight once reserved for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Buttigieg is seen as a top Democratic prospect, swiping a top Harris backer in her home state of California during the 2020 race who began supporting the former two-time South Bend mayor as well.
Last year, Buttigieg quietly went on paid paternity leave for months as a supply chain crisis led to bottlenecks and price hikes. While Buttigieg claimed he was “available 24/7,” emails obtained by the watchdog Protect the Public’s Trust and shared with the Washington Examiner last month showed that he dodged a meeting request from a top Republican senator due to his leave status.