Pete Buttigieg slips into Dallas for meeting with local leaders

Looking to gain traction in the Texas presidential primary, Pete Buttigieg slipped into Dallas Tuesday for a meeting with prominent area leaders.

Styled as a forum, the meeting was held at Paul Quinn College and moderated by the school’s president, Michael Sorrell. About 20 people attended the invitation only event, including Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, Dallas City Council members Chad West, Tennell Atkins and Adam Bazaldua, as well as school board member Miguel Solis. The meeting was closed to the public and media.

“It went well,” Sorrell said. “He comes across as very bright and likable. People posed some very good questions and he was forthright with answers.

“It’s easy to understand why he’s doing well,” Sorrell said. “He raises an interesting point about what winning Democrats look like in presidential elections.”

Most of the leaders that attended the event are undecided about the March 3 presidential primary, and Buttigieg’s appearance was designed to get local elected leaders to know him in advance of the Super Tuesday primaries.

Texas is expected to play a critical role in the Democratic Party’s nominating process. Buttigieg, the former South Bend mayor, trails former Vice President Joe Biden and Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont in most Texas polls.

But on Wednesday Solis, who ran for mayor last year, is announcing that he’s endorsing Buttigieg.

“Since 2014, I’ve called him a colleague and a friend and along the way I’ve come to better understand the definition of excellence in public service through his example. I know Pete will be ready to lead America on day one,” Solis said in a statement shared with The Dallas Morning News. “America is at a crossroads both at home and abroad. And Pete’s leadership could not be more needed than at this very moment in our nation’s history.”

Buttigieg’s trip to Dallas includes two fundraisers. On Tuesday night business leaders Michael and Sharon Young hosted him in their North Dallas home.

He told the gathering that Texas would play a critical role in the 2020 presidential election.

“Texas has the chance to flex some muscle in the primary and nominating process,” he said. “It’s why we’ve been meeting with organizers on the ground.”

He said it was important that Democrats field a nominee with coattails. And he expressed solidarity with local leaders angry at state officials that are chipping away at local government control.

“One thing you will never catch the Democratic Party doing, if I’m your nominee and president, is treating the presidency like it’s the only office that matters,” he said. “These races and these offices are so critically important.”

Buttigieg said the Texas primaries would be memorable.

“This race will be at a very lively stage when it gets here,” he said.