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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — South Bend’s Democrat mayor says he will not be seeking re-election in 2019.

Mayor Pete Buttigieg said Monday he will not seek a third term at the helm of South Bend. The decision comes as he is under heavy consideration to run for president in the 2020 election.

“Serving South Bend has been the great honor of my life and I’m looking forward to more good work in the remaining year of my current term,” Buttigieg said on Twitter. “I also know this is not a job to hold forever, and it is time to give new leadership a chance to lead our city forward. My time in office here will end at the end of 2019, and I will not seek a third term.”

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Buttigeig has not said officially if he plans to run on the Democrat ticket for the White House in 2020. He has said in the past it is something that he is considering.

“This is somone who has a great track record as Mayor,” said Matt Sinovic with Progress Iowa, a liberal group that releases a list before every presidential election cycle of possible Democrat candidates for president.

“He’s someone I would consider a progressive leader in Indiana and in a more conservative part of the Midwest.”

Iowa is always the first state caucused in every presidential election.

 (PHOTO: Derek Henkle/Getty Images)