Nevada Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui has scored a high-profile endorsement in her race for lieutenant governor, as former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will campaign in Las Vegas on her behalf, her campaign announced Tuesday.
Jauregui’s team called the visit a “major endorsement,” highlighting Buttigieg’s national profile as a former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and Cabinet member under President Biden.
As Secretary of Transportation from 2021 to 2025, Buttigieg faced widespread flight cancellations, FAA system delays, and the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. His involvement in implementing a nationwide electric vehicle charging network also fell short of initial goals, according to critics.
As lieutenant governor, Jauregui would serve on the State Board of Transportation, chair the Commission on Tourism, and act as governor when the elected governor is out of state, responsibilities some observers say make Buttigieg’s endorsement particularly notable given his record in federal transportation oversight.
Jauregui has served nearly a decade in the Nevada Legislature, focusing on gun control, housing policies, and expanded government programs. Her campaign says Buttigieg’s support underscores shared Democratic priorities on federal and state involvement in addressing public challenges.
Buttigieg, meanwhile, is widely expected to continue stumping for Democratic candidates nationwide as speculation grows about future political runs, possibly for governor or Senate in Michigan.
The Las Vegas event marks one of several stops on Buttigieg’s campaign tour to bolster Democratic candidates in key battleground states ahead of the 2026 elections.
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