The mayor of South Bend, Indiana, became the 10th Democratic candidate Wednesday to enter the 2020 race for president.
Pete Buttigieg announced the launch of his exploratory committee in a video message to supporters, pledging a "fresh start" for America.
For many candidates, an exploratory committee is a financial formality put in place before a formal announcement.
Buttigieg was 29 when he was elected mayor of South Bend in 2011. The U.S. Navy veteran now is serving the eighth and final year of his tenure as the leader of Indiana's fourth-largest city.
The nearly two-minute announcement video shows Buttigieg at home with his husband, speaking at an Iowa event and connecting with residents of his hometown.
"I am aware of the odds we would face if we proceed to mount a national campaign," said Buttigieg, in an email Wednesday. "But I am exploring this run because I can offer a different experience and perspective than anyone else. And I believe that at a moment like this, underdog campaigns will go further than the establishment would normally allow, when it comes to bold ideas that can truly meet the threats and opportunities coming our way."
Buttigieg is the third candidate so far this year to announce his intention to challenge Republican President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren launched her exploratory committee on New Year's Eve.
Other members of Congress in the race include Reps. John Delaney of Maryland and Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. President Barack Obama's former secretary of housing and urban development, Julian Castro, also is in the race.
Other candidates include New York entrepreneur Andrew Yang; author Marianne Williamson; and former state senator from West Virginia, Richard Ojeda.
(c)2019 The Hawk Eye (Burlington, Iowa)
