September 7, 2010 3:53 PM

Richard Daley Drops Chicago Mayoral Bid; Will Rahm Run?

By
Stephanie Condon
Topics
Democrats ,
White House ,
State Politics

Mayor Richard Daley speaks at a news conference in Chicago, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009. The six-term mayor announced today he will not seek re-election next year.

(Credit: AP Photo/John Smierciak)

Updated at 5:25 p.m. ET

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley announced today he will not run for re-election in 2011.

After six terms in office, it's "time for me, it's time for Chicago to move on," Daley said at a news conference, the Chicago Tribune reports. Daley, whose wife Maggie has been battling breast cancer since 2002, said he was making a "personal decision" to "begin the new phase" of his life with his family.

Daley's decision leaves the door open for White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to run for the seat. Emanuel, a former congressman, has signaled interest in the job in the past.

"I hope Mayor Daley seeks re-election," Emanuel, a Chicago native, said earlier this year. "I will work and support him if he seeks re-election. But if Mayor Daley doesn't, one day I would like to run for mayor of the city of Chicago."

Emanuel has said he has always aspired to be mayor, even when he was in the House of Representatives. He was seen as a rising star in the Democratic caucus and a possible candidate for speaker of the House before he left to work in the White House.

Daley has served as mayor since 1989 but has recently faced declining public approval ratings, the Tribune notes. A poll from the newspaper this summer found only 37 percent of city voters approved of the job Daley was doing as mayor, compared with 47 percent who disapproved.

The filing deadline to enter the mayor's race is November 22, and the election will be held on February 22, 2011.

Update, 4:15 p.m. ET: Emanuel released a statement saying, "While Mayor Daley surprised me today with his decision to not run for reelection, I have never been surprised by his leadership, dedication and tireless work on behalf of the city and the people of Chicago."

While Emanuel has yet to say whether or not he will run next year, the group Progressive Change Campaign Committee has been collecting signatures from liberals, angered by the White House officials' reported role in the health care debate, pledging not to support Emanuel in any future election.

"I will not support Rahm Emanuel in any future election for Congress, Mayor of Chicago, Governor, or other office," the petition reads. "He sold us out on the public option and is a weak Democrat who caves instead of fighting conservatives and corporate power. We won't forget the choices you've made, Rahm."

Update, 5:25 p.m. ET: President Obama today released a statement regarding Daley's decision.

"No mayor in America has loved a city more or served a community with greater passion than Rich Daley," he said. "He helped build Chicago's image as a world class city, and leaves a legacy of progress that will be appreciated for generations to come."

Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of her posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.


Add a Comment
by biggie46 September 8, 2010 3:29 AM EDT
I've been reading all the comments on this about how he's a crook, mob boss he bled the city dry.
Man all of you must be some of the stupidest voters the city has. the man has served 6 terms.
Wow you all are just now find out he is a crook after he decides not to run for a 7th
Are the voters in chicago that dumb to have kept re-electing him over and over and over and over and over again.
Man much said about the register voters in that city
Reply to this comment
by pragmatist1 September 7, 2010 11:35 PM EDT
Daddy Daley was a much better mayor than the son. Rahm would be worse than Daley Jr. The city has enough problems without the likes of Rahm and his cronies adding to the corruption that's pervasive with Chicago-style politics.
Reply to this comment
by louiville35 September 7, 2010 5:52 PM EDT
No better place for Rahm to get elected then Chicago or any other corrupt place like Detroit.
Reply to this comment
by Simifanene September 7, 2010 5:38 PM EDT
Thank God, there goes one dishonest man. A man who hurt all of us Chicago citezens. He led his city like his crooked father did, as a mafia puppet. The City of Chicago will be a better place. He's probably being hounded by the FBI. They must be getting close to his corrupt connection. It's a good day for our country. Chicago is a gangster town, from the Mayor to the lowest city worker. No city job is given out unless you vote for the party. I live in Chicago, and it is a mafia, police drug dealer payoff city. Justice is nowhere. The police are corrupt as our the judges and prosecutors. Graft rules the city. The cities minorities are discriminate by the Chicago police and inspectors. Good by Mayor Daily and may bad luck come upon you.
Reply to this comment
by retm-w September 7, 2010 9:22 PM EDT
So you'll end up voting for another spitting image of daily, and nothing will change but the name. Same as any other major city.
by Simifanene September 7, 2010 11:37 PM EDT
No, I don't vote because of the stacked deck make's voting worthless in Chicago. I never voted until President Obama's honestly led me to the voting booth. I'm white, but I hope a unknown honest south side black man runs for office in Nov. Then I'll vote again. Only a man from the southside of Chicago can change Chicago's corrupt system. The FBI is needed more in our city. Corruption rules and it hurts when you can't trust your police, judges, aldermem and mayor.
by michaelm07 September 7, 2010 4:59 PM EDT
Like rats, abandoning a sinking ship. I suppose he's bled it dry so no need to stick around. People say he got things done. Well, maybe but at what expense to the city.
Reply to this comment
by Quantrill13 September 7, 2010 4:29 PM EDT
LOL! This is a real hoot! Going from Daley, the MOB Boss of Chi-town for many, many years, to Rahm, the Marxist as the possible new Mayor? Not much of a change there is it? Daley has run Chicago into so much debt, he is only second to Barry Bama, our clueless President.
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