CHICAGO (AP) – Rahm Emanuel’s surprise announcement that he won’t seek another term as Chicago mayor clears the way for other top Democrats in the nation’s third-largest city to enter the race.
Emanuel said Tuesday he was abandoning his plans to win a third term. The 58-year-old offered no reason for withdrawing just months before February’s election.
With Emanuel out, there are no clear front-runners.
The twelve candidates declared to date include a former Chicago police superintendent, Garry McCarthy; a former Chicago public schools CEO, Paul Vallas; and Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown.
Among the establishment Democrats who political observers say could now consider running are Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and ex-U.S. Commerce Secretary Bill Daley.
Daley is the brother of Richard M. Daley, who Emanuel succeeded as mayor in 2011.
