Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel coy about his political future
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Rahm Emanuel testifies during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2021 in Washington, D.C. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
This week, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel went on a media blitz to tell the world he was back in town and ready for more public service.
The big picture: Emanuel was here for the Chicago Council on Global Affairs event honoring his ambassadorship to Japan, which ends when President-elect Trump takes office in January. His name has been floated for everything from Democratic party chair to leading Illinois as governor.
What they're saying: "I'm not interested in the party. I'm interested in what the party can do for people," Emanuel told the Sun-Times. He also secured interviews with several other local outlets.
- "My enjoyment [is] in what I've done in public service."
Between the lines: In interviews with several other local outlets, Emanuel maligned the Democrats' election performance and waxed poetic about his political future.
- He did not rule out running for office.
Three options on the table:
1. Governor: Gov. JB Pritzker has yet to signal if he will run for a third term in 2026. Pritzker was very active in the 2024 presidential election and could step aside to take a run at the Democratic nomination in 2028. Emanuel knows Illinois politics well and could jockey out other candidates in a primary election.
2. U.S. senator: All signs point to Sen. Dick Durbin retiring, leaving his seat open for 2026. Emanuel is ambitious, and he's served in Congress, the White House and as the mayor of Chicago. The Senate could be a landing spot to insert himself back into the national political scene.
3. Public sector: In several interviews, Emanuel said public service doesn't necessarily mean elected office. He could seek a political appointment (unlikely in the Trump administration) or head a nonprofit organization.
- Maybe even reunite with David Axelrod to run the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics or help his former boss by leading the Obama Presidential Center?
Yes, but: Emanuel comes with local baggage. The former mayor is unpopular among progressive Chicago Democrats and Black voters. Emanuel presided over the largest public school closings in U.S. history and has been accused of covering up the police murder of Laquan McDonald while running for re-election.
The bottom line: Emanuel may still be figuring out his next political move, which could drastically affect what happens in the next election cycle.