A year ago today, I saw the New York Times article announcing Pete’s presidential exploratory committee. I was one of the few (outside of South Bend) who knew his name. You see, he had captured my attention a year earlier. nytimes.com/2019/01/23/us/…
Actually, even earlier. I voted for him for treasurer in 2010. The current treasurer, Richard Mourdock (google him… yikes) was aggressively attacking the auto industry bailout, which I found shockingly unacceptable in a state so dependent on those union jobs. Pete lost.
From 2010-2016, several friends of mine moved to South Bend. South Bend?! I was surprised. I was familiar with the city, my husband graduated from Notre Dame about 15 years ago. From an outsider’s perspective, it didn’t seem to have much going for it. But I was wrong.
The only thing South Bend needed was a visionary leader who could inspire the city to believe in itself again and the skills to make meaningful change. I kept hearing about exciting things happening there. When SB’s young mayor ran for DNC chair, I began to pay closer attention.
I read his letter from flyover country and realized just how profound a voice like his from the industrial midwest was, how seen I felt, and what a difference that fresh perspective could make for our party. medium.com/the-moment-by-…
I was crushed when Pete dropped out of the race for DNC. But I hoped this might open new doors for him on the national stage. Was that ever true or what? This video still rings so true today.
Which brings me back to that January 2019 New York Times article. Barely a blip on the internet that day. A month later, I made my first campaign donation. I told everyone in my family to donate as their birthday gift to me. Anything to get him on that debate stage.
In March, I watched his CNN Town Hall and felt like I could barely breathe during it. I was so hopeful that America would watch and pay attention. In April, I cried on my couch while I watched his announcement in South Bend. America had responded.
This summer I returned to South Bend for the first time in a few years. There are streets I don’t recognize, small businesses that are thriving, restaurants that were full. We saw public art, parks under development, new housing being built.
What a journey this has been for so many of us. Whatever brought you to @Petebuttigieg, whenever you “discovered” him, however you’re choosing to help him, take a moment to think and reflect about that today.
@PeteButtigieg Let’s keep moving forward, keep encouraging others to join #TeamPete, keep following the Rules of the Road that call us to be our best selves, even as the road gets crazy in the days and weeks ahead.
