Indiana mayor considers running for DNC chair: report

The mayor of South Bend, Ind., is considering a run for the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Politico reported Wednesday.

Pete Buttigieg, 34, has reportedly gotten phone calls from DNC members both in Indiana and nationally.

“I think he’s doing more listening than talking, primarily. My understanding is he’s listening and thinking about it,” a top Indiana Democrat reportedly said.

Buttigieg was the subject of a New York Times column over the summer that asked whether he would be “the first gay president.”

{mosads}He would face a crowded field in the DNC race. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison and New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley have all formally launched campaigns. And Labor Secretary Tom Perez is expected to launch his entrance into the race this week.

Buttigieg demurred when asked if he had national ambitions.

“I’ve been talking with a number of fellow local and state leaders from around the country about the future direction of the Democratic Party,” he reportedly said.

“I am staying focused on South Bend, but I do care deeply about where our country is headed. It’s clear the party needs to connect better with communities like my hometown, where working people are looking for economic fairness and for leadership that focuses on our shared values.”

Buttigieg is a Harvard graduate, a Rhodes Scholar and a lieutenant in the Navy Reserve.