Pete Buttigieg Drops Out of Presidential Race After Historic Campaign

The field for the Democratic nominee is quickly narrowing, and the latest to call it quits is former South Bend mayor, Pete Buttigieg. He made the announcement on Sunday from South Bend after canceling a scheduled rally in Dallas, Texas on the same night.

Buttigieg's campaign, though over, is historic. As an openly gay man, jumping into the race with his husband at his side, his successes and the milestones he's reached are unprecedented. The candidate was also one of the youngest candidates seeking the nomination, and was an unknown on the national level when his campaign began. But while won the Iowa caucus, narrowly beating out Bernie Sanders, the Harvard and Oxford graduate has not fared well since.

Even with its successes, Buttigieg's campaign had many issues, particularly with queer and trans voters, as well as Black voters. His record as mayor, as well as his planned policies -- sometimes the lack thereof, -- and groups that he affiliated himself with, all proved problematic with these demographics. In the South Carolina primary, the candidate suffered a major defeat that underscored his lack of support with Black voters. Ending the campaign now means that the 38 year old will not participate in Super Tuesday.

Still, the visibility that Buttigieg provided will likely mean a lot to some. While the results of the Iowa caucus were in dispute, the candidate optimistically spoke to what victory could mean.

"It validates the idea that we can expand a coalition not only unified around who it is we're against but around what it is we're for," he said at the time. "And it validates a kid somewhere in a community wondering if he belongs, or she belongs, or they belong in their own family, that if you believe in yourself and your country, there's a lot backing up that belief."

"This is what we have been working, more than a year to convince our fellow Americans of, that a new and better vision can bring about a new and better day," he continued.

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