MONROE, Michigan. — In a crowded union hall outside Detroit, a worker shifts the conversation from politics to the personal, questioning Transportation Secretary. Pete Buttigieg on his knowledge of Michigan, the state he recently began calling home.

“Mayor Pete – Secretary Pete, I apologize,” shouted an auto worker in the crowd. “Now that you’re a Michigander, who are the Lions playing on Sunday? »

Taken by surprise, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, was unable to respond. Knowledge of the schedule of the long-suffering but recently booming Detroit football team is not an official prerequisite for holding statewide office. But the informal exchange illustrates the challenge Buttigieg could face in proving his connection to Michigan voters — an obstacle that some Democrats nevertheless hope he will overcome by entering a crowded gubernatorial race.

Although Buttigieg has said publicly and privately that he won’t make any decisions about his future until the Biden administration ends on Jan. 20, he has already responded to calls from Michigan Democrats urging him to enter the race of 2026 to replace the governor. Gretchen Whitmerwhose mandate is limited.

Buttigieg, who moved to Traverse City, Michigan, shortly after his failed 2020 presidential campaign, has not ruled out the possibility, according to a source speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

“I have not made any major decisions regarding my future. And I know we have six weeks left and we’re going to sprint across the strip,” Buttigieg told reporters at an event south of Detroit on Monday.

Bound by the nature of his official trip, Buttigieg avoided political questions during his visit, which included a stop at a union hall in Dearborn before heading south to Detroit to highlight nearly $200 million in federal funding to replace a bridge. But pressure on him to enter the gubernatorial race will likely only intensify after Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, seen by many Democrats as the leading contender to succeed Whitmer, announced last week plans to run as an independent.

“People are shocked, stunned and angry. Many view this as a serious situation in which Mike Duggan could put the governor’s mansion back in Republican hands and roll back years of progress,” said Andrew Feldman, a Democratic strategist who has worked for the state party.

Michigan Democrats, who until recently were post big wins in a battleground state and advanced a progressive agenda with remarkable party unitysuddenly find themselves in a new period of unrest after significant losses in the 2024 elections, including a grueling presidential defeat.

President-elect Donald Trump won the state by a wider margin than in 2016, and Republicans regained control of the House of Representatives, ending Democratic dominance in the Legislature. In its final month of holding a slim majority in both houses, the party struggled to pass meaningful legislation, hampered by internal divisions.

With Whitmer — herself the subject of speculation about whether she will seek higher office — still has two years left in her term, Duggan’s surprise decision kicked off the race to replace her and left Democrats worried that the mayor of Michigan’s largest city could drain support from their candidate and hand the job to the Republicans.

Buttigieg, who rose to prominence through his 2020 presidential campaign and skillfully engaged with conservative audiences on the president’s behalf Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harrismight have the allure of regaining that support.

“Personally, I want to thank you for standing in front of the Fox News crowd and listening to people’s questions and answering them. And I think you’re one of the few politicians to do that,” a Buttigieg attendee said Monday at the union hall, drawing loud applause.

Buttigieg moved to Michigan to be closer to his husband’s family, he said Monday in an interview with The Associated Press. “I grew up a few miles from the state border, so even growing up I was getting news from Michigan and both sides of the border. And I could name many moments over the years, some wonderful and some really difficult, like when our little guy was in the ICU in Grand Rapids. »

“But yeah, at the end of the day, this is our home,” Buttigieg said.

Other potential candidates may not yet be ready to concede either race. Michigan Democrats still have one of the most important political seats in the country, and several other high-profile candidates are expected to join the race soon.

Secretary of State Jocelyne Benson confirmed last week that she is “definitely considering” a run for governor and is actively listening to voters’ concerns as she weighs her decision. She also criticized Duggan for abandoning the party rather than tackling its challenges.

“For me it’s important that in times like this we don’t run away from the party, but stay and fix the problem,” Benson said in a televised interview with reporters.

The lieutenant governor. Garlin Gilchrist He is also considering a run for governor and has assembled a team to explore the possibility, although a final decision will not be made until 2025, according to a source with direct knowledge. Gilchrist, 42, a Detroit native, who is black, could provide a strong contrast to Duggan, 66, who is white. If he runs, Gilchrist plans to engage with voters who feel the Democratic Party has failed to address their frustrations with the status quo, the source said.

There are also a number of dark horse candidates, including Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. The Flint area sheriff rose to prominence after marching with a crowd of protesters following the death of George Floyd in 2020. Swanson, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August, recently said to the AP that he had a “team do due diligence” regarding a possible run.

“As far as the Michigan Democratic Party is concerned, this is a great time to restructure,” Swanson said in a recent interview. “Not having a polarizing platform, but a more unifying platform. »

“The whole manual must be evaluated and restructured to listen to people,” he added.