Pete Buttigieg returns to South Carolina to woo Black voters ahead of 2028 race

Pete Buttigieg returned to South Carolina this weekend, addressing a Black congregation and an NAACP Freedom Fund dinner where he was applauded for helping obtain a $22.7 million federal grant for the “Railroad Corner” downtown revitalization. The former Indiana mayor, now transportation secretary, raised money in Charleston alongside congressional candidate Nancy Lacore and spoke at a policy forum before visiting historically Black Claflin University.

He warned of the nation’s “big trouble,” linked economic woes to political dysfunction, and urged protection of voting rights after recent Supreme Court changes. State Democratic leaders, including former DNC chair Jaime Harrison, noted that winning Black voters in South Carolina—first primary in 2028—is crucial for any nominee. Buttigieg said he remains focused on 2026 but his itinerary mirrors an early-stage presidential campaign.