Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg endorsed Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin on Thursday in his bid for re-election, calling him a national model of how bold, people-centered leadership can transform a city from the ground up. The endorsement adds to the growing political momentum behind Woodfin’s 2025 campaign and underscores the national attention Birmingham has drawn under his administration.
“I’ve always believed that the critical front lines of progress in our country are often far from Washington—they’re right in our cities and neighborhoods, shaped by local leaders taking action one challenge, one opportunity, or even one neighbor at a time,” Buttigieg said. “For years, I’ve seen Mayor Randall Woodfin doing just this kind of work in Birmingham.”
Since taking office in 2017, Woodfin has prioritized inclusive growth, public safety reform and generational investments in education. Homicides have dropped by more than 50 percent year-to-date under a public health-based strategy. The city has expanded affordable housing and directed investment into all 99 neighborhoods. The Birmingham Promise, one of Woodfin’s signature achievements, now guarantees tuition-free college for graduates of Birmingham City Schools—a program that has drawn national acclaim for its ambition and impact. Birmingham was recently named one of the top five U.S. cities for recent college graduates by The Wall Street Journal, and the city has earned a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index for its work on LGBTQ+ rights.
In his endorsement, Buttigieg praised these accomplishments as proof that local government can deliver when guided by purpose and driven by equity. For Woodfin, the feeling is mutual.
“Pete is a leader who understands that infrastructure is about more than concrete and steel—it’s about connecting people to opportunity,” Woodfin said. “His work on the national stage has inspired cities like ours to think big, act boldly, and put people first. I’m honored to have his support as we continue building a Birmingham that works for everyone.”
Woodfin’s Vision 2025 platform has focused on stabilizing housing, improving public transit, growing the economy from the ground up, and ensuring that no part of Birmingham is left behind. While local elections often fly under the radar, Woodfin’s reelection effort has already attracted high-profile endorsements from groups such as the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, the Central Alabama Labor Federation (AFL-CIO), IBEW Local 136, the Black Economic Alliance PAC, Democratic Municipal Officials, and the Birmingham Association of Realtors. He’s also secured support from Democratic leaders across Alabama, including former U.S. Senator Doug Jones, Commissioner Sheila Tyson, and a wide coalition of youth-led organizations.
With Buttigieg’s endorsement, Woodfin isn’t just gaining a political ally—he’s drawing a national spotlight back to Birmingham and reinforcing the idea that the city’s future is being watched far beyond Alabama.
