Pete Buttigieg Kicks Off Presidential Campaign: Live Stream Rally, What Time, How to Watch

Though Pete Buttigieg — the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana — has done nothing to hide his intention of seeking the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, he still has not yet officially announced his candicacy. The political upstart will change that on Sunday, April 14, when he launches his campaign with a rally in his hometown.

The actual Buttigieg announcement rally will take place at the former Studebaker Building 84, located at 635 S. Lafayette Blvd. in South Bend, the northern Indiana city where the presidential hopeful is currently serving his second term as mayor. The South Bend Tribune reports that the event was originally slated to happen outside, but was moved indoors due to the threat of rain on Sunday.

But anyone wishing to watch the Buttigieg rally without braving the weather, crowds, or driving all the way to South Bend, can do so online. The live feed, via YouTube, should be watchable below. If there's a problem with that video, C-Span is slated to live stream the rally on its website, starting at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Additionally, for people who want to view the rally with other Mayor Pete backers, the Buttigieg campaign website lists a number of watch parties around the nation, set up by supporters of the soon-to-be-official candidate.

Buttigieg, who was largely unknown on the national political field until recently, has emerged as a potential dark horse candidate among the crowded field of Democratic contenders. According to Real Clear Politics, the latest polls of voters in the bellwether states of Iowa and New Hampshire show him currently in a respectable third place in both states.

The openly gay mayor, who married his husband Chasten in 2018, recently found himself in the spotlight over his criticism of fellow Hoosier, Vice President Mike Pence. As governor of Indiana, Pence signed the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act, intended to allow private business owners to assert their religious beliefs as a defense in legal disputes. The bill was heavily criticized by human rights organizations and the LGBTQ community, who argued it would be used by businesses to discriminate against non-straight customers.

Speaking last weekend about his marriage and his faith, Buttigieg referenced Pence directly.

"People often talk about things like marriage equality as a moral issue," said Buttigieg on Sunday. "And it is certainly a moral issue in my personal life. It's a moral issue because being married to Chasten has made me a better human being. It has made me more compassionate, more understanding, more self-aware and more decent. My marriage to Chasten has made me a better man."

He continued: "And yes, Mr. Vice President, it has moved me closer to God."

Pence supporters accused Buttigieg of being a radical who wrongfully attacked the vice president's religious beliefs.

"You had Mayor Pete come out, and for no reason, take on the vice president of the United States, when all the vice president said in the past about him is nice things; about his service to the country and his work as mayor," said Fox News host Brian Kilmeade on Tuesday.