Openly Gay Mayor Pete Buttigieg Bows Out of DNC Chair Race

As Democrats search for their next chair this weekend, one buzzworthy candidate conceded the race before voting started.

Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, withdrew from the race to lead the Democratic Party Saturday. Buttigieg's candidacy, while a longshot against other frontrunners, still drew significant attention to the mayor. He's young for politics (at 35 years old), a Rhodes Scholar, a veteran, and openly gay. Many Democrats consider him a rising star within the party and a middle-ground candidate for Democrats who are split between establishment and more leftist politics.

In his concession speech, Buttigieg emotionally thanked his campaign team, including, "Chasten [Glezman], my partner, my love, daring me to dream big but also keeping me close to earth."

He also emphasized that the Democratic Party was a party "for freedom ... yes, the freedom to marry the person that you love" and a party that "keeps families together, be they immigrants or LGBT."

He also reminded Democrats of the importance of reconnecting with the American heartland and communities like his--"to not treat the presidency like it's the only office that matters."

"[We need] to pay attention to communities like ours, not as exotic species, but as people like you," he said.