Joe Biden has announced his withdrawal from the US Presidential race, endorsing Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.

This has raised the question of who will be Harris' running mate.

Pete Buttigieg, the US Secretary of Transportation, is considered a leading contender.

Born on January 19, 1982, Buttigieg is the son of Maltese immigrant Joseph Buttigieg and Jennifer Anne Montgomery.

A graduate of Harvard College and a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, he holds a degree in philosophy, politics, and economics.

Buttigieg served in the US Navy Reserve from 2009 to 2017, including a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan in 2014.

He made history as the first openly gay cabinet member when President Biden appointed him as Transportation Secretary.

Married to Chasten Buttigieg, the couple has two children.

Buttigieg served as Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, from 2012 to 2020, contributing to economic improvements in the area.

He gained national attention during the 2020 presidential race but later endorsed Kamala Harris, pledging his support for her presidential campaign.