Pete Buttigieg Launches 2020 Presidential Campaign: Watch Again

SOUTH BEND, IN — Pete Buttigieg, the South Bend mayor who rapidly went from relative unknown to practically a household name among Democrats in a matter of weeks, officially announced his candidacy for president Sunday. Buttigieg, 37, held a rally Sunday at the former Studebaker Building 84, located off South Lafayette Boulevard.

The 37-year-old Rhodes Scholar and Afghanistan War veteran had been contemplating a White House bid since January. You can watch the rally in its entirety on Patch.

Buttigieg grew up in South Bend, a city of roughly 100,000 people, and is currently in his second term as mayor. He shot to fame following a CNN town hall and has since appeared frequently on national TV news and talk shows and developed a strong social media following. His message is that America needs "a new generation of leadership."

Buttigieg's campaign has raised more than $7 million in the first three months of 2019. His poll numbers have climbed, too, with some pollsters putting him behind only Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.