Mayor Pete: An Unprecedented Look At This Unlikely Presidential Candidate

Release date: November 12, 2021
Running time: 91 minutes
Directed By: Jesse Moss (Boys State, The Overnighters)

MAYOR PETE brings viewers inside Pete Buttigieg’s campaign to be the youngest President of the United States, providing an unprecedented intimacy with the candidate, his husband Chasten, and their ambitious team. From the earliest days of the campaign, to his unlikely, triumphant victory in Iowa and beyond, this film reveals what really goes on inside a campaign for the highest office in the land—and the myriad ways it changes the lives of those at its center. Recently appointed U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Buttigieg serves as the first openly LGBTQ Senate-confirmed Cabinet member in U.S. history. 

Like another previous high profile political campaign documentary (the surprisingly enjoyable Mitt), Mayor Pete aims to give an inside look into an unconventional candidate and life on the campaign trial.  It is an unprecedented look at this candidate, which really does give viewers an insight into the person and the position that they are running for.  Pete Buttigieg (and yes, I asked Alexa how to spell that) is an unlikely presidential candidate and politician, which makes his rise to prominence so fascinating.  He often will be introspective and thoughtful in what he says, saying what he really thinks rather than what would be a good soundbite.  This is not a normal quality for a politician, especially one running for the highest office in the land.  So seeing him molded into a legitimate presidential contender is a fascinating experience.

Buttigieg had an interesting and challenging life and has more to him than you can get in a simple soundbite or a debate.  Giving this window into his background and day to day routines is fascinating and endearing.  I loved hearing why he got into politics, what he didn’t like about the presidential process, and also seeing the decisions he made on the campaign trail.  It was an unprecedented year with some horrible occurrences and this documentary gives you a front row seat to all of that.

But the tragedy of this documentary is that it comes too late.  Obviously something like this could not be done during the campaign trail, but seeing the person after the fact makes you wonder what would have happened had this type of information been available during the campaign.  If the documentary didn’t make clear that Buttigieg doesn’t care as much about political strategy, I would think that this was an elaborate plan for a future presidential run.  And if it is, after spending this time with Mayor Pete and his family, I’m excited to see what his future holds.  

Mayor Pete gives an unfiltered window into this unconventional person and presidential candidate and the crazy circumstances that had him rising to prominence. 

Watch it.

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Mayor Pete is available to stream on Amazon Prime.