Mayor Pete Buttigieg continues to haul in campaign donations for his 2020 White House bid compared to many of his fellow Democratic candidates. The reason: his husband Chasten.
“He’s something of a secret weapon for this campaign,” Pete told Politico of his husband. “Chasten … really embodies a lot of the values of this campaign.”
Junior high school teacher Chasten maintains a popular Twitter account with almost half a million followers and has become a fixture at Buttigieg fundraising events. That offers a twofold advantage: in addition to furthering the cash haul, Chasten’s appearances help take the pressure off Pete to appear at every event. That affords him more time to make television appearances or speaking to voters in the field.
Related: People are loving this hope-inducing tweet from Chasten Buttigieg
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Fundraising by political spouses is nothing new. In contemporary times, the bankability of spouses like Hillary Clinton, Barbara Bush, Nancy Reagan, Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama all helped propel their husbands to the White House, and helped solidify their reelections. Chasten Buttigieg joins the ranks of breadwinners. According to Politico’s estimates, while Mayor Pete brings in, on average, $100,000 per appearance, Chasten can net at least a third of that–quite an achievement for a spouse.
Pete Buttigieg is the first openly gay man to seek the nomination of a major political party. As such, “Chasten for First Gentleman” has become one of his campaign’s many slogans. It appears Chasten is doing his part to earn the title, which is fine by us.
roniboi
I didn’t know Bill has a husband. His name should be taken out of the article.
jjose712
Bill was the husband in Hillary’s campaign in 2016
truthseeker
@jjose712
Roniboi is talking about this line, “…Bill Clinton and Michelle Obama all helped propel their husbands to the White House”
evanxx
Actually, Chasten’s presence on the campaign trail was too distracting. Especially the drama queen’s fake homelessness stories. People came to hear Pete, not Mrs. Buttigieg. This unemployed school teacher actually charges people for selfies, while Elizabeth Warren spends hours at each appearance to give them to her followers. Mrs. Buttigieg should sit quietly in the background and stop flitting about like Mrs. Doubtfire. I know several other people who switched to other candidates for the same reason.
IAMSONICE
Mr Evan. Yuck. You put too much salt on your potatoes. They are unbearable just like your personality. I will not remain quiet while you slander a gay husband for doing what women have been doing for decades. Don’t forget to put a little salt in your hands before you go dumping all over a perfectly tasty midwest snack.
Bob LaBlah
Evan, shush up. Never give an alternate reality to people who don’t want to see their reality for what it is. No matter what he says or does the main point of ANY story about him will be his being gay or something gay related such as equality and things along that line. We do not have the good sense to understand when people are more interested in profit than a cause. Remember the warnings people gave about Caitlin Jenner that led to people being banned from gay websites across the internet because they knew she was a phony from the start but you couldn’t say that because it was considered gay bashing? It was proven true in the long run. Be patient.
IAMSONICE
Mr. Know-it-All Bob, I implore you to take your own advice and shush up. Not only is your lack of logic concerning, it’s self loathing. If you can’t support an LGBT Presidential candidate or his husband then you need to take a stern look at yourself. It’s 2019 and we are at the tipping point for many critical issues that you so carelessly toss like you are above it all. Don’t be so complacent as you sip your tea, shameless.
Bob LaBlah
@Iamsonice…..” Don’t be so complacent as you sip your tea, shameless.”
For me its a Bud that I’d be sipping on and I stand with my assessments. Its a shame how blind you all insist on being regarding reality. You can’t handle the truth and thats not my problem. Glad I was of some service to you though.