The Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council has touted “a national mystery guest” for this year’s Labor Day picnic.
That could raise some eyebrows given the speaker roster in years past has included presidents and former presidents. President Barack Obama spoke at the picnic in 2009, as did former President Bill Clinton in 2016.
This year, the mystery guest is expected to be possible presidential contender and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer Brian Griffin told The Enquirer he anticipates Buttigieg will be one of the speakers at the picnic Sept. 5 at Stricker’s Grove in Crosby Township.
They’re working on the final details and expect to make a formal announcement soon, Griffin said.
“He’s a good friend of labor, and he’s obviously a personality who is in play politically for the coming years,” Griffin said.
Buttigieg is expected to introduce Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton. Other speakers include Rep. Greg Landsman and Tim Burga, Ohio’s AFL-CIO president.
The AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic for many years was held at Coney Island along the Ohio River. After Coney Island closed at the end of 2023, the AFL-CIO has held the picnic in the more rural part of the region northwest of Cincinnati at Stricker’s Grove.
Why is Buttigieg coming to Cincinnati?
Buttigieg has become an avid campaigner during the midterms, endorsing more than 30 Democrats across the country and traveling to many swing states.
Buttigieg is coming to support Acton’s gubernatorial campaign and celebrate labor, said Sean Manning, a spokesman for Buttigieg, in a text to The Enquirer.
“Pete is looking forward to returning to Ohio to celebrate Labor Day and working families and union members and make the case for why Amy Acton should be the state’s next governor,” Manning said in the text.
He’s a well-known name on many shortlists as a possible Democratic presidential candidate in 2028. During a trip to the early presidential caucus state of Iowa in July, Buttigieg wouldn’t rule out a 2028 presidential run.
“Nope,” he told reporters in Des Moines when asked if he ruled out a presidential run. He didn’t elaborate.
Who is Buttigieg?
Buttigieg, known by many of his supporters as Mayor Pete for his stint as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, rocketed to national fame as a presidential contender in 2020.
Despite at the time being a relatively unknown 38-year-old mayor of a northern Indiana town, Buttigieg rose into the top tier of Democratic presidential candidates in 2020. He eventually dropped out and endorsed Joe Biden.
Biden picked Buttigieg as transportation secretary.
If you go
What: Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council Labor Day Picnic
When: Sept. 5, noon-6 p.m.
Where: Stricker’s Grove, 11490 Hamilton Cleves Road, Crosby Township.
Cost: $25 per person.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here’s why Pete Buttigieg will speak to Cincinnati unions
Reporting by Scott Wartman, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Scott Wartman, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
