Continuing his staggering fundraising haul, out-gay Democratic Presidential Candidate Mayor Pete Buttigieg will hold a Los Angeles fundraiser July 25 hosted by Sean Hayes and Ellen DeGeneres.
Kevin MacLellan, Chairman of Global and International distribution for NBCUniversal, will lend his Hancock Park home for the fundraiser. Tickets for the dinner run anywhere from $500 to $2,800 per person. In addition to DeGeneres & Hayes, comedienne Chelsea Handler, actor Jason Bateman and actress Portia Di Rossi–wife of DeGeneres–will also attend and participate in hosting duties.
Related: Mayor Pete boasts huge second quarter fundraising total, further proving that gays do it better
Buttigieg has rocketed from obscurity as the mayor of South Bend, IN to national prominence thanks, in part, to a message of unity and acceptance for all Americans. That, along with his openness about his love life, has attracted a number of high-profile donors including Matt Bomer, Ryan Murphy, writer John August, Mandy Moore, comic Billy Eichner and Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President John F. Kennedy. Singer Katy Perry is also rumored to be putting together a Buttigieg fundraiser in the coming weeks alongside actor Orlando Bloom.
At present, Buttigieg currently polls about fourth within the Democratic field. A recent NBC poll had him in fourth place behind Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders.
wvrnsson
maybe I’m missing something with new math, but if he’s trailing 4 people in the polls, wouldn’t that put him in FIFTH place, not fourth. Just sayin’
Flamingo Falls
My thought as well,
chip_in_ga
It said “about” fourth place; Harris had a spike in the polls after the debate, but they are virtually tied. Pete held back in the debate, and remained professional, and Presidential (at least what us older folks consider to be Presidential and I think what the country years for. Slow and steady wins the race.
I have cancer, which I hope to beat, I want to stay alive long enough to see our first Gay President take the oath of office. And he will do it on a book that he believes in and patterns his life around; caring for the stranger, respect for all, valuing all life and our environment and loyalty to our allies..
Asphyxia 8
Harris & Sanders are tied at 13% each, hence the 4th place mention.
TxCudlr
maybe 2 of the others are tied for the same place!!……which would put him n 4th place.
[email protected]
Read carefully……..At present, Buttigieg currently polls about fourth within the Democratic field. A recent NBC poll had him in fourth place behind Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders.
NOT FIFTH!!
JaredMacBride
They can have all the get togethers they like, but he has ZERO chance to unseat the incumbent, and his nomination would cost the Democrats hundreds of down-ticket elections.
chip_in_ga
I think you underestimate the people and Pete. You sound so much like the naysayers when Obama was running….”You can’t win with a black person heading your ticket.”
JaredMacBride
@chip – The condition of the nation when Obama ran was entirely different than what we have now. This time the economy is great, not falling apart. Carville’s law has not been repealed, it’s still “the economy stupid.” Good luck on beating cancer – I bet you will – but this election is virtually a lost cause.
gaym50ish
What I think will happen is that Mayor Pete will be chosen as a vice presidential running mate, which would put him in a good position to run for president somewhere down the line. He IS the smartest candidate in the race, and practically he only one who doesn’t sound angry all the time.
evanxx
As he is with all LGBTQ issues, Pete is clueless about the HIV epidemic & people living with AIDS. He lacks the REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE & the wisdom that comes with age. In fact, his AGEIST attitudes will cost him much needed support from people over 50, because that group will get out & vote. The Millennial population Pete panders to, is famous for low turnout. _ “Kid Pete” thinks that offering Medicare for all who want it will be good enough to curb the spread of HIV, & provide for older people living with AIDS. LOL! WRONG! Many people with HIV are disabled & cannot work. Long-term survivors with AIDS still suffer from the effects of fighting this disease for decades or side-effects of the treatments. They need help. They are the invisible, stigmatized, & ignored minority that no one wants to talk about.
People on Social Security Disability can’t afford dental & vision care, social workers, case management, or even food & housing. That’s the reason every city (except South Bend) has at least one AIDS Service Organization & AIDS Housing Programs, & food assistance services. The people hardest hit by the spread of HIV are low-income Black Americans. NO WONDER his town is having racial turmoil! If Pete hasn’t controlled it in South Bend, there is NO WAY he can deal with it on a national or global level. Maybe he should get his own back yard in order, before trying to fix the entire country.
[email protected]
no he is too young n not that wellknown. but he has shown strength and great at public speaking. i also think he would be a great vice president
CarrieV
I might agree with you here. In 2008 when California ran the vote for gay marriage/marriage equality, it was soundly voted down.
Remember why? It was because the charismatic first Black Presidential candidate had *all* the Black people racing to vote that year… and they did not like the idea of gay marriage being accepted. People may claim they’re OK with gays having equal rights in some convo with a person they just want to shut up, but very often they still harbor many negative notions about LGBTQ folk. I don’t know if Pete could win without the Black vote (which he ain’t gettin’).
ShowMeGuy
I don’t see any Democrats voting for Trump just because the DNC runs a “queer” as their candidate. It isn’t 1957 anymore. Democrats are evolving while Republicans are regressing.
GayEGO
Naw, Pete may not win the election but he may be selected to be vice president. Trump likes to cheat, lie and deny to win, but will likely be impeached before the 2020 election. I imagine hearing the sirens of the prison vans pulling up to the White House to arrest Trump who, as usual, will scream – “I did nothing wrong! This is a witch hunt!”. The witch will fly in on a broom stick cackling – “I found you Donnie! The witch hunt is over!”.
Realistically, we will just have to wait and see, our checks and balances are supposed to resolve this mess we have in the White House.
James Hart
One third of Democrats (33% according to Pew Research Associates) identify as pro-life and pro-traditional values. They will jump ship and either not vote, or hold their noses voting for Trump.
Catholicslutbox
Waste of time and money.
He’s great for increasing visibility, but he stands NO chance of winning.
I rather go with a sure thing.
Dimples girl
And your sure thing is……
Easy_charm
Too much at stake to discount anyone. Personally the current occupants of the white house are so abhorrent, I will vote blue no matter who. In the mean time Pete Buttigieg represents with humility and intelligence.
mz.sam
Its still very early and a long campaign season according to the media poller-coaster. GO, MAYOR PETE!
notasjw
I’d rather have root canal surgery without anesthetic than vote for a socialist. Racism and identity politics took over the once great Dem party. Voted Dem all my life up through Obama. Not sure If I will ever come back. That being said its great that we live in a time where a black man can be president (yet people still claim racism is rampant) and a gay man can run.
Kangol2
The GOP is a party devoted to identity politics. All it cares about is the rich and corporations, not unlike its pre-Teddy Roosevelt incarnation, but it has fused that to white (Christianist/Dominionist) nationalism, and has consequently lost the popular vote in six of the last seven elections. It could return to some of its earlier incarnations, but instead it has leapt off the rails and doesn’t seem to want to get back on track
Catholicslutbox
Haha?
The republican party relies heavily on racism, ethnocentrism, and identity politics more than any other party.
There are a lot of idiots, A LOT, that vote republican for those reasons alone- even though everything else the party stands for puts them at a disadvantage.
Brian
No need to argue. Both parties are horrible.
Diplomat-G
@notasjw,
Ah yes please don’t come back I doubt you were ever a democrat but somehow you need to come on this site and show your ignorance. The fact that you mention having a black president as suddenly providing proof that this country is not racist is perhaps the most idiotic false equivalency I have heard to date. What is the going rate at Russian troll factories you seem to post a great deal of nothing do you need a new dryer or something?
armandov
Does that term “identity politics” really mean anything? Doesn’t everyone participate in identity politics to some degree? —
The young mother with three school kids votes for the candidates who will improve public schools and programs for working mothers b/c being a mom is her identity.
The rich identity as such and their $$ is paramount so they vote for Republicans in order to reduce their taxes and create more tax loopholes.
Older voters are voting for candidates that will support and fund medicare and social security since they are now identified as senior citizens.
We all vote based on our identities and personal situations to some degree.
Charlie in Charge
He has my vote in the primary – would love to see him on the ticket (as pres or VP ) in 2020.
To the folks certain Trump has it on lock – people were certain about Hilary too.
James Hart
A bad economy will ensure Trump’s defeat, and a good economy will bring him to victory. It’s the economy, stupid.
Kangol2
I’m not sure how far Mayor Pete will go, but he is proving to be a formidable candidate thus far.
Essentially the media keep telling us that the Democrats should elect someone ideologically akin to Dwight Eisenhower: a socially and economically moderate Republican who will not really mock the boat but also will provide a soft break to some of the worst crap that Drumpf has done, and, like Gerald Ford did with Richard Nixon, let him get away with his crimes after he leaves office.
On the Republican side, we have an ethical and moral black hole, a pathologically lying, racist, narcissist and nationalist, multiply accused of rape and harassment, who benefited from a hostile foreign power meddling in our elections and regularly attacks our Constitution and allies while coddling dictators. He has appointed homophobic judges faster than any other president in US history, and runs our government like one of his corporations, which is to say, ineptly and incompetently.
Among the Democrats there is one candidate who is a certifiable socialist, and he is not going to win. There are a few real economic progressives, and one or two have a chance. There are many more socially progressive but essentially neoliberal Democrats who may or may not have a chance. Every last one of them is pro-gay/pro-LGBTQIA, so that is not an issue. Neoliberalism has failed us repeatedly, and most people do not want social conservatism, but we are probably going to have to choose between a socially progressive but economically neoliberal Democrat and the Ogre currently in the White House. If it’s Mayor Pete vs. Drumpf, the former is an easy choice.
Terrycloth
Figures ellen would be there .shes over exposed..where is Neil Patrick Harris and his husband David Burka..they should be the host ..although Sean Hayes is very funny.ellen not so much..she thinks she is.
chrispy33
The fund raiser is in LA. NPH and hubby live up way from me in Manhattan. And I do understand they may be planning something similar in NYC. If they do I would certainly hope to be able to attend.
Brian
That’s your concern? Who’s hosting the fundraiser?
MISTERJETT
maybe they don’t support him. maybe they don’t think he’s the best man for the job. maybe they see beyond the gay thing.
James Hart
Except for left-wing gay people, no one really cares who Degeneres, Hayes, or Harris endorses.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
He definitely won’t get the nomination, however the VP slot is not out of the realm of possibility….
James Hart
If a woman of color (Harris) or a white woman (Warren) or a white man (Biden or Sanders – then they’ll need to select a woman for V.P.), are the choices, then Buttigieg will not get the V.P. nod.
Mojohood
Who cares? Just because he is gay does not mean he is the best candidate. I have been gay for decades and am so tired of this community thinking the only thing that matters is gay gay gay. Get over yourselves.
chrispy33
He’s the best candidate regardless. Military, Rhodes scholar, young, great speaker with great ideas. If it wasn’t for the fact that he’s gay he’d be much higher in the polls. That’s what needs to change.
James Hart
Buttigieg’s candidacy is a vanity project for the gay community. His candidacy has no traction.
judysdad
I applaud Mayor Pete and he is definitely in my top three. But there’s something about Kamala that I LOVE, and I don’t quite feel that for Pete. (Personally, I think Biden will be the nominee–someone “safe”.
Brian
Kamala has backtracked twice on her stance on healthcare and once on the whole busing thing with Biden. If she doesn’t stop revising her stances based on polling after the fact, she is quickly going to lose credibility and be known as the most pandering candidate in the race.
azjeff17
Mayor Pete makes us proud.
Hdtex
No. He doesn’t.
James Hart
He makes us proud? Ridiculous!
bobnla
mayor Pete: appealing, bright, articulate, and gay…but he is Far Left with few accomplishments, which is the bottom line for me. I am a Republican, always open to hear out all the candidates and choose accordingly… but I will stay that way in this election 2020 and vote for President Trump enthusiastically. MAGA. For those planning to vote for mayor Pete just because he is gay, is a sad commentary on political perspective
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
How cute!!!!
A little troll slithered onto Queerty!
Diplomat-G
@BOBnla,
You are not a Republican, you are a trumpshite that will follow a con-artist because, in the end, that’s what misogynistic, ignorant racist do. The Republican party died a long time ago now you are simply the party of stupidity and fearmongering.
Hdtex
Quislings and kapos aren’t the first in the ovens, but they end up in the same place eventually.
Kangol2
Mayor Pete is many things but “far left” he ain’t. He’s a garden-variety social liberal and economic neoliberal. Look at his stances and his governance. Bernie Sanders is “far left”–truly, not that that’s a bad thing, but Mayor Pete is not, and saying it over and over doesn’t make it true.
Condor221
Go Pete! I’ve donated twice and will again! However, we have to be realists about all this. Don’t forget the VP position if offered. It will get you in the door and then, it’s up to you
James Hart
You’ve wasted your money.
MISTERJETT
lets not vote for him just because he’s gay. lets vote for him because we think he’s the best man for the job.
James Hart
Which he isn’t the best man for the job.
tonylovesotis
With great funding, the backing of Ellen DeGeneres et al; plus locking in Stacey Abrams as his VP along with her strong endorsement from Oprah, I think America might just see its first openly gay president. Character IS destiny.
James Hart
LOL. Not gonna happen in 2020.
enlightenone
One black president in 230 years suggest “racism is still rampant!”
Kangol2
Don’t forget, just the other day Bill Lee, the governor of Tennessee, publicly proclaimed a day honoring Nathan Bedford Forrest, a notorious slave trader, Confederate marauder, murderer of hundreds of Black Union soldiers at Fort Pillow, an avowed white supremacist, and one of the co-founders and first Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan. And even more outrageous, he’s required to do so by Tennessee state law (and also honor the Confederacy and traitor Jefferson Davis, Andrew Jackson, traitor Robert E. Lee, etc.) but he admitted had no problem with doing so. But hey, there’s no more racism, and no white supremacy. GTFOH!
curiobi
I am not an American, so I’m just saying politely, no shade, From what I’ve seen in debates, appearances, and messaging I personally think Warren has the experience and policies to be the best at the job, and either Kamilla or Pete should be her VP.
We’ve all suffered from May in my country and Trump, who just are not suitable. May wasn’t elected and ignored the will of the people and Trump is a celebrity not a politician.
I think Warren has the skills and knowledge and experience. Pete is simply too young. I think Pete will be less politically green after serving as Warren’s VP and then be ready for the role when her 1 or 2 terms are up. I think Kamilla will be ready after that, and tgen AOC will be ready to take on the world, and won’t that be something to see!
Observant
Yes, thank you.
You may not be an American, but yours is the most reasoned comment in this discussion..
Brian
Elizabeth Warren killed her chances with the whole Native American thing. If she were to win the nomination that’s all we would hear about, every day until the election.
James Hart
You know little of American politics.
robco
This is a good strategy for Mayor Pete, even if he doesn’t win. He has little chance of winning statewide office in IN, the state that elected Pence as governor. I admit, I gave his campaign a small donation to clear the debate hurdle because I wanted to see an openly gay candidate on that debate stage. That being said, he does have some difficulties around race that he needs to address.
He’s positioning himself well for a Cabinet position. Since he is a veteran, I think maybe Secretary of Defense, just to see all the heads of the religious wing nuts explode. I wouldn’t waste him as VP, that job is pretty much worthless.
James Hart
Buttigieg would have to be approved by a Republican Senate to be Secretary of Defense. You live in a dream world if you think that they would consent to his appointment.
Felecia
I live in Indiana, and DO NOT judge us from Mike Pence’s actions. At about the same time Pence signed the ‘Religious Freedom Act’…a law that allows homophobic business-owners to suddenly find Jesus and legally throw us out of their fine establishments; even if they’ve never seen a bible OR the inside of a church…he packed up and went to lick Trump’s boots. The ink was still drying as the luggage was loaded up, and the outrage was lessened since his ass was GONE and now as VP, practically delegated to do nothing but show up and smile. Harmless, finally…unless somebody kills Trump, that is. No wonder the jackass is still breathing, lol…yet we also elected Pete; a major slap to any ‘Churchie Right-to-Hate’ law. Indiana is TRYING to overcome Pence’s Fourth Reich, and since now he’s left the bunker for greener Nazi pastures, we have a shot at it. Yet I’m not voting for Pete because he’s gay like me. I am voting for him because I like what he has to say; and I am almost 60. So to the person who claims that America’s senior citizens won’t support him, I say ‘bullshit’. JFK was our youngest President at the time, and he won by a landslide…older people have known for decades that the only thing Americans want from us is to ‘hurry up and die, leave some room for the up-and-coming younger set…and don’t forget to sign the will’, lol…electing a fresh new face is the only way maybe we can actually get things changed for the young relatives we are leaving behind as we age further and pass away. My friends and neighbors in the 55 and Older complex that I live in are also voting for Pete…same reason. And as we have seen by things like Baby Bush and Brother Jeb throwing ballots for Democrats into a Florida lake, not to mention getting the Supreme Court to declare him ‘legally POTUS’ after that fact; ANYTHING can and will happen here in an American election. My vote was one of those ending up in the lake, as I lived in Florida back then. Now we have the Russians tinkering with our election-process. During the Cold War, this would have been enough to send a nuke straight over Moscow with no regrets….and I’m sure Senator McCarthy, the ‘commie hunter’ from the 50’s, is spinning in his grave about that shady Trump victory, lol…but the fact remains that NOBODY is gonna do shit about it. To do so would be to admit that another country CAN influence the outcome of our voting system, so why bother showing up at the polls at all…a nightmare the politicos in DC would like to avoid. The ‘Greatest Nation on Earth’ finger-fukked by Putin and his formerly-Soviet buddies is a worse black-eye on the United States than the fact we were late to the Space Race and DIDN’T build the Mir Space Station first, lol…believe me, this is why nothing will be done about Trump except the 2020 election, and the hope he loses…which if happens, will happily sweep the Russian unpleasantness under the Oval Office rug with a quick statement of ‘and moving on’….it’s the American Way to find something the public will focus on so we forget the REAL situation; and an openly gay Presidential candidate amid the rest of the bunch might just do that for the Democrats. It won’t matter if Pete wins or not..the ‘scandal’ of him will downplay the Russian meddling of 4 years ago…something both the Jackasses AND The Big, Stubborn Elephants in Washington agree on, lol…but it is still exciting to have an LGBT candidate in the race. Mayor Pete will make history as such; a history that our youngest people can be proud of, and know his name as surely as they know the monikers of other famous Civil Rights personages in America. It’s OUR time now…and I am enjoying the fresh air here in Indiana, since we opened the windows and chased the stink of Mike Pence and his Nazi regime away. The ‘Religious Freedom Act’ is in the midst of being repealed, on the basis of all Americans already have religious rights thanks to the Founding Fathers. We didn’t need the extra law to ‘protect’ Churchies and promote their faiths, Mr. Pence…so no thanks, lol. Whattaya know; the Veep of the United States can quote the bible, but knows nothing of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, lol. Mighty unfair to immigrants who have to prove they know not only those, but stupid crap like the personal statistics of every sitting President since Ol’ George W. in order to become a sworn citizen. Wow.
graphicjack
Pete is a non-starter. The fact that he is raising so much money from elites is a reason NOT to elect him. We need someone like Warren or Sanders who is incorruptible and not tied to big corporate interests or lobby groups. I could care less if he’s gay, especially since he’s proven he can’t govern his own town well with the mess that is his racist police force and how he’s bungled it. It doesn’t matter if he can speak Norwegian if he’s not a good and fair leader. I am tired of the queer press giving him a pass just because he’s gay and articulate. Look at his record. Look at his performance. Look at the money he’s raising and from where. Those things should alarm people, not excite them.
ccohen747
A lot of positives have occurred over the last 30 years. We finally have a candidate who is articulate, educated and served in the military- the complete opposite of this present “leader” . George Bush torpedoed the US economy as evidence by the dates they occurred.. it couldn’t be resurrected overnight. Trump appear to win on the economy but the groundwork started as soon as Obama was elected.. you know who Trumpis electing lifetime judge appointment s- as young as he can get them . I like Elizabeth Warren but the republicans are starting their “she’s to old campaign”now in case she gains traction. The well qualified Sanders and Biden are too old.
James Hart
I don’t like raining on their parade, but Buttigieg is never going to get the Democratic nomination in 2020. These celebrities should save their money. He can’t even run a small city, like South Bend, properly; how is he going to run America? Due to the crime statistics, the levels of poverty, and racial disharmony in his city, he really has no chance to be elected. His is a vanity project, and nothing more.
James Hart
To: chip_in_ga,
Buttigieg values all life??? Give me a break. He supports abortion right up to the moment of the baby’s birth. That is NOT valuing all life.
Chrisk
A fetus is not a life. Even so it’s a women’s right to choose.
James Hart
Do remember: Today’s Democratic Party is not the party of your mom or dad’s. It has moved far left on every issue that most Americans abhor: Forced busing; racial reparations; “free” tuition (NOTHING is free – which Bernie Sanders says will mean higher taxes for middle and working class Americans); a green new deal (which means much higher taxes on everyone and the need to curtail the use of technology and automobiles); eliminating private health insurance; etc. These are bad issues for Democrats to run on. As Richard Cohen, a very liberal columnist in the Washington Post, said, these issues will put Trump back into the White House in 2020. Can you imagine the Trump commercials showing clips from the past two Democratic debates??? The middle and working class suburbanites will run in droves from the Democratic nominee for president.
James Hart
Everyone should know that according to Pew Research Associates, 33% of Democrats identify as pro-life and pro-traditional values. If Buttigieg gets the POTUS Democratic nomination (which he won’t), this will drive these voters right into the arms of Donald Trump.
Wolfie
You could use the REAL Pride flag in the background.