View source for Rahm Emanuel

{{Short description|American politician and diplomat (born 1959)}}
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{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Rahm Emanuel
| image               = Ambassador-emanuel-portrait.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2022
| office              = 31st [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Japan|United States Ambassador to Japan]]
| president           = [[Joe Biden]]
| term_start          = March 25, 2022
| term_end            = January 15, 2025
| predecessor         = [[Bill Hagerty]] (2019)
| successor           = [[George Edward Glass|George Glass]]
| office1             = 55th [[Mayor of Chicago]]
| deputy1             = [[Ray Suarez (politician)|Ray Suarez]]<br>[[Brendan Reilly (politician)|Brendan Reilly]]
| term_start1         = May 16, 2011
| term_end1           = May 20, 2019
| predecessor1        = [[Richard M. Daley]]
| successor1          = [[Lori Lightfoot]]
| office2             = 23rd [[White House Chief of Staff]]
| president2          = [[Barack Obama]]
| deputy2             = [[Mona Sutphen]]<br>[[Jim Messina (political staffer)|Jim Messina]]
| term_start2         = January 20, 2009
| term_end2           = October 1, 2010
| predecessor2        = [[Joshua Bolten]]
| successor2          = [[Pete Rouse]] (acting)
| state3              = [[Illinois]]
| district3           = {{ushr|IL|5|5th}}
| term_start3         = January 3, 2003
| term_end3           = January 2, 2009
| predecessor3        = [[Rod Blagojevich]]
| successor3          = [[Mike Quigley]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|House positions|titlestyle=border: 1px dashed lightgrey;}}
{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office4             = [[Chair of the House Democratic Caucus]]
| leader4             = [[Nancy Pelosi]]
| deputy4             = John B. Larson
| term_start4         = January 3, 2007
| term_end4           = January 2, 2009
| predecessor4        = [[Jim Clyburn]]
| successor4          = [[John B. Larson]]
| office5             = Chair of the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]]
| term_start5         = January 3, 2005
| term_end5           = January 3, 2007
| predecessor5        = [[Bob Matsui]]
| successor5          = [[Chris Van Hollen]]
}}
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| office6             = [[Senior Advisor to the President of the United States|Senior Advisor to the President]]
| president6          = [[Bill Clinton]]
| term_start6         = January 20, 1993
| term_end6           = November 7, 1998
| predecessor6        = Position established
| successor6          = [[Doug Sosnik]]
| office7             = [[White House Political Director|White House Director of Political Affairs]]
| president7          = [[Bill Clinton]]
| term_start7         = January 20, 1993
| term_end7           = June 23, 1993
| predecessor7        = [[Janet G. Mullins Grissom|Janet Mullins]]
| successor7          = Joan Baggett
| birth_name          = Rahm Israel Emanuel
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1959|11|29}}
| birth_place         = [[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Amy Rule|1994}}
| children            = 3
| relatives           = [[Ari Emanuel]] (brother)<br>[[Ezekiel Emanuel]] (brother)
| education           = [[Sarah Lawrence College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Northwestern University]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])
| signature           = Rahm Emanuel Signature.svg
| module              = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Opening Statement of former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel at his Confirmation Hearing to be Ambassador to Japan.ogg |title=Emanuel's voice |type=speech |description=Emanuel's opening statement at his confirmation hearing to be [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Japan|U.S. ambassador to Japan]].<br>Recorded October 20, 2021}}
}}
'''Rahm Israel Emanuel''' ({{IPAc-en|r|ɑː|m}}; born November 29, 1959)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2019/11/29/UPI-Almanac-for-Friday-Nov-29-2019/6411574957229/ |title=UPI Almanac for Friday, Nov. 29, 2019 |publisher=[[United Press International]] |date=November 29, 2019 |access-date=January 11, 2020 |archive-date=December 24, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191224110508/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2019/11/29/UPI-Almanac-for-Friday-Nov-29-2019/6411574957229//|url-status=live |quote=…former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 1959 (age 60)}}</ref> is an American politician, diplomat, and former investment banker who served as [[List of ambassadors of the United States to Japan|United States ambassador to Japan]] from 2022 to 2025. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], he represented [[Illinois]] in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] for three terms from 2003 to 2009. He was the [[White House Chief of Staff|White House chief of staff]] from 2009 to 2010 under President [[Barack Obama]], and served as [[mayor of Chicago]] from 2011 to 2019.

Born in Chicago, Emanuel is a graduate of [[Sarah Lawrence College]] and [[Northwestern University]]. Early in his career, Emanuel served as director of the finance committee for [[Bill Clinton]]'s [[Bill Clinton 1992 presidential campaign|1992 presidential campaign]]. In 1993, he joined the [[Presidency of Bill Clinton|Clinton administration]], where he served as assistant to the president for political affairs and as [[Senior Advisor to the President of the United States|senior advisor to the president]] for policy and strategy. Emanuel worked at the [[investment bank]] [[Wasserstein Perella & Co.]] from 1998 for two-and-a-half years, and served on the board of directors of [[Freddie Mac]]. In 2002, he ran for the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives vacated by [[Rod Blagojevich]], who resigned to become [[governor of Illinois]]. Emanuel won the first of three terms representing [[Illinois's 5th congressional district]], a seat he held from 2003 to 2009. As chair of the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]], he oversaw Democratic wins in the [[2006 U.S. House of Representatives elections]], allowing the party to gain control of the chamber for the first time since 1994.

After the [[2008 U.S. presidential election]], President [[Barack Obama]] appointed Emanuel to serve as [[White House Chief of Staff|White House chief of staff]]. In October 2010, Emanuel resigned as chief of staff to run in the [[2011 Chicago mayoral election]]. Emanuel won with 55% of the vote over five other candidates in the [[non-partisan]] mayoral election. In the [[2015 Chicago mayoral election]], he failed to obtain an absolute majority in the first round but defeated Cook County board commissioner [[Jesús "Chuy" García]] in the subsequent run-off election. In late 2015, Emanuel's approval rating plunged to "the low 20s,"<ref name="Chicago Sun-Times">{{Cite news|title=Mayor Rahm Emanuel fundraising in Washington, D. C. Thursday|language=en|work=Chicago Sun-Times|url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/emanuel-heading-to-washington-d-c-thursday-for-fundraiser/|access-date=July 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704212355/http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/emanuel-heading-to-washington-d-c-thursday-for-fundraiser/|archive-date=July 4, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> in response to a series of scandals.<ref name="newyorker.com">{{cite news|last=Perlstein|first=Rick|date=December 31, 2015|title=The Sudden, but Well-Deserved, Fall of Rahm Emanuel|newspaper=[[The New Yorker]]|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-sudden-but-well-deserved-fall-of-rahm-emanuel|access-date=February 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101142134/https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-sudden-but-well-deserved-fall-of-rahm-emanuel|archive-date=November 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2017, Emanuel announced he planned to run for a third term,<ref name="Crain's Chicago Business">{{cite magazine|last1=Hinz|first1=Greg|title=Emanuel says there's no doubt: He's running again|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171019/BLOGS02/171019836/emanuel-says-theres-no-doubt-hes-running-again|access-date=January 30, 2018|magazine=Crain's Chicago Business|date=October 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728110754/http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171019/BLOGS02/171019836/emanuel-says-theres-no-doubt-hes-running-again|archive-date=July 28, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> but reversed his decision on September 4, 2018.<ref name=sept5 /> The ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' assessed Emanuel's performance as mayor as "mixed", and at one point half of Chicagoans favored Emanuel's resignation. He left office in May 2019 and was succeeded by [[Lori Lightfoot]]. In August 2021, President [[Joe Biden]] nominated Emanuel to be the [[United States Ambassador to Japan]];<ref>[https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20211218/p2g/00m/0na/036000c Senate OKs ex-Obama aide Rahm Emanuel as US ambassador to Japan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211218162912/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20211218/p2g/00m/0na/036000c |date=December 18, 2021 }} - The Minichi(12/18/2021)</ref> he was confirmed by the [[U.S. Senate]] in December of that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jp.usembassy.gov/rahm-emanuel-confirmed-as-ambassador-designate-to-japan/|title=Rahm Emanuel steps down as Japan ambassador ahead of Trump inauguration|website=The Hill|date=12 January 2025|access-date=15 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102115312/https://jp.usembassy.gov/rahm-emanuel-confirmed-as-ambassador-designate-to-japan/|archive-date=2 January 2022}}</ref> Emanuel departed his job in Japan upon the conclusion of the Biden administration in January 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5081475-rahm-emanuel-steps-down-as-japan-ambassador-ahead-of-trump-inauguration/|title=Rahm Emanuel Confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Next U.S. Ambassador to Japan|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=22 December 2021|access-date=8 January 2022}}</ref> On March 12, 2025, ''[[Politico]]'' reported that Emanuel was interested in running for president in the [[2028 U.S. presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |date=March 12, 2025 |title=Rahm Emanuel Is Gearing Up to Run for President |url=https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/03/12/rahm-emmanuel-president-2028-column-00224241 |access-date=March 12, 2025 |website=[[Politico]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life and family==

Emanuel's father, Benjamin M. Emanuel, was born in [[Jerusalem]], where he was a member of the [[Irgun]], a controversial [[Zionism|Zionist]] paramilitary organization that operated in [[Mandatory Palestine]]. He moved to the United States to work as a [[pediatrician]] at [[Michael Reese Hospital]].<ref name="VF">{{cite news|last=Emanuel|first=Ezekel|title=Growing Up Emanuel|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=March 2013|pages=358–89}}</ref><ref name="BioGuide_Emanuel">{{cite web |title=Emanuel, Rahm |url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=e000287 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206105353/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=E000287 |archive-date=February 6, 2017 |access-date=April 26, 2019 |work=[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]] |publisher=United States Congress}}</ref> The surname ''Emanuel'' ([[Hebrew]]: {{lang|he|עמנואל}}), which means "God is with us", was adopted by their family in memory of Rahm's uncle (his father's brother) Emanuel Auerbach, who died of an infection after being hit by a stray bullet in Jerusalem during the [[1933 Palestine riots]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://digitaledition.chicagotribune.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=0fdf470b-97cb-4ed0-8702-a380ecaec769 | title=Father of former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel - City }}</ref>

Emanuel's maternal grandfather was a [[History of the Jews in Moldova|Moldovan Jew]] who emigrated from [[Bessarabia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://michiganavemag.com/personalities/articles/of-the-people?page=3|title=Rahm Emanuel: Mayor of the People|access-date=November 29, 2012|first=Tom|last=Negovan|work=Michigan Avenue|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508143810/http://michiganavemag.com/personalities/articles/of-the-people?page=3|archive-date=May 8, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> His mother, Marsha (née Smulevitz), is the daughter of a West Side Chicago labor union organizer who worked in the [[civil rights movement]]. She briefly owned a local [[rock and roll]] club,<ref name="NYT_Bumiller_19970615">{{cite news|title=The Brothers Emanuel|last=Bumiller|first=Elisabeth|author-link=Elisabeth Bumiller|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804E4D61631F936A25755C0A961958260|access-date=December 17, 2008|date=June 15, 1997|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name="Hendrix_WashPost">{{cite news|first=Steve|last=Hendrix|title=Fighting for The Spoils|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/21/AR2006102101049_pf.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|page=D1|date=October 22, 2006|access-date=November 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907210923/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/21/AR2006102101049_pf.html|archive-date=September 7, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> and later became an adherent of [[Benjamin Spock]]'s writings.

Emanuel's parents met during the 1950s in Chicago.<ref name="Hendrix_WashPost"/> Emanuel was born on November 29, 1959, in Chicago, Illinois. His first name, ''Rahm'' ({{Script/Hebrew|רם}}) means ''high'' or ''lofty'' in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]].<ref name="Haa_20081106">{{cite news|access-date=November 6, 2008|last1=Pfeffer|first1=Anshel|first2=Shlomo|last2=Shamir|url=https://www.haaretz.com/2008-11-06/ty-article/obamas-first-pick-israeli-rahm-emanuel-as-chief-of-staff/0000017f-ef81-da6f-a77f-ff8f9e7a0000|title=Obama's first pick: Israeli Rahm Emanuel as chief of staff|work=Haaretz|date=November 6, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109052604/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1034855.html|archive-date=November 9, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> He attended [[Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School]] in Lakeview for elementary school. He has been described by his older brother [[Ezekiel Emanuel|Ezekiel]], an [[oncologist]] and [[bioethicist]] at the [[University of Pennsylvania]], as "quiet and observant" as a child.<ref name=VF/> [[Ari Emanuel|Ari]], his younger brother, is the CEO of [[Endeavor (company)|Endeavor]], an entertainment agency with headquarters in [[Beverly Hills, California]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|title=WMA, Endeavor approve merger|date=February 27, 2009|access-date=November 29, 2012|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|url=https://variety.com/2009/scene/markets-festivals/wma-endeavor-approve-merger-1118002879/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104033037/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002879|archive-date=November 4, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Emanuel also has a younger adopted sister, Shoshana.<ref name=NYT_Bumiller_19970615/>

==Education and ballet dance==
Ezekiel has written that their father "did not believe in falsely building his sons' self-esteem by purposefully letting us win, or tolerating sloppy play." About Rahm, he also wrote:

{{blockquote|"Though fiercely intelligent ... he was not naturally inclined to sit at a desk and put in extra effort to turn a B into an A. As my father often said, without noting that the phrase applied to himself at that same age, "Rahm always tries to get the maximum for the minimum."<ref name=VF/>}}
While he lived in Chicago, Emanuel attended the [[Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School]]. After his family moved to [[Wilmette, Illinois|Wilmette]], north of the city, Emanuel attended public schools: Romona School, [[Wilmette Junior High School|Locust Junior High School]], and [[New Trier High School]].<ref name="Hendrix_WashPost" /><ref name="Fortune_Easton_20061002">{{cite news|first=Nina|last=Easton|access-date=November 6, 2008|date=October 2, 2006|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/02/8387515/index.htm|title=Rahm Emanuel: Rejuvenating the hopes of House Democrats|magazine=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402170224/http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/02/8387515/index.htm|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> He and his brothers attended summer camp in Israel, including the summer following the June 1967 [[Six-Day War]].<ref name="NYT_Bumiller_19970615"/><ref name="JTA_Kampeas_20081109">{{cite news|first=Ron|last=Kampeas|url=http://jta.org/news/article/2008/11/09/1000859/rahm-emanuel-attack-dog-policy-wonk-committed-jew|title=Rahm Emanuel: attack dog, policy wonk, committed Jew|agency=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]]|date=November 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081113115737/http://jta.org/news/article/2008/11/09/1000859/rahm-emanuel-attack-dog-policy-wonk-committed-jew|archive-date=November 13, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> While a high school student working part-time at an [[Arby's]] restaurant, Emanuel severely cut his right middle finger on a meat slicer, which was later infected from swimming in [[Lake Michigan]]. His finger was partially [[amputated]] due to the severity of the infection.<ref name="VF" /><ref name="time2bio">{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1856965,00.html|title=2-min. Bio; Rahm Emanuel|last1=Stephey|first1=M.J.|first2=Kate|last2=Pickert|date=November 6, 2008|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=November 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081123000422/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1856965,00.html|archive-date=November 23, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Rahm was encouraged by his mother to take ballet lessons, and is a graduate of the Evanston School of Ballet,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ACTF56SnaykC&q=rahm+emanuel++Evanston+School+of+Ballet&pg=PA569|title=The Jews of Capitol Hill: A Compendium of Jewish Congressional Members|first=Kurt F.|last=Stone|isbn=978-0810857315|year=2010|publisher=Scarecrow Press }}</ref> as well as a student of the Joel Hall Dance Center, where his children later took lessons.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/weiss/7124012-452/chicago-dancing-festival-celebrates-a-milestone.html|title=Chicago Dancing Festival celebrates a milestone|first=Hedy|last=Weiss|newspaper=suntimes.com|date=August 17, 2011|access-date=June 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202100224/http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/weiss/7124012-452/chicago-dancing-festival-celebrates-a-milestone.html|archive-date=February 2, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> He won a scholarship to the [[Joffrey Ballet]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120623/ISSUE01/306239974/mayors-past-plays-a-role-in-chicagos-future-in-dance|title=Mayor's past plays a role in Chicago's future in dance|first=Shia|last=Kapos|publisher=chicagobusiness.com|date=June 25, 2012|access-date=June 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808113817/http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120623/ISSUE01/306239974/mayors-past-plays-a-role-in-chicagos-future-in-dance|archive-date=August 8, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> but turned it down to attend [[Sarah Lawrence College]], a liberal arts school with a strong dance program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slc.edu/about/notable-alums/index.html|title=Notable Alumni Government and Public Service|publisher=[[Sarah Lawrence College]]|website=slc.edu|date=June 2, 2013|access-date=June 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515082132/http://www.slc.edu/about/notable-alums/index.html|archive-date=May 15, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> While an undergraduate, Emanuel was elected to the Sarah Lawrence Student Senate. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence in 1981 with a bachelor of arts in [[Liberal Arts|liberal arts]], and went on to receive a master of arts in [[speech]] and [[Communication studies|communication]] from [[Northwestern University]] in 1985.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rBQalt39A6UC&q=rahm+emanuel+m.a.+speech+communications+northwestern&pg=PA83|title=Official Congressional Directory, 2007-2008|isbn=978-1598043853|year=2007|publisher=Government Printing Office }}</ref>

Emanuel took part in a two-week civilian volunteer holiday, known as the [[Sar-El]], where, as a civilian volunteer, he assisted the [[Israel Defense Forces]] during the 1991 [[Gulf War]], helping to repair truck brakes in one of Israel's northern bases.<ref name="SweetEnforcer">{{cite news|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/11/rahm_emanuel_enforcer.html|first=Lynn|last=Sweet|title=Rahm Emanuel, enforcer|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=November 7, 2008|access-date=November 11, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081110092122/http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/11/rahm_emanuel_enforcer.html|archive-date=November 10, 2008}}</ref><ref name="IDF_Service">{{cite news|first=James|last=Zogby|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-zogby/rahm-emanuel-and-arab-per_b_143976.html|title=Rahm Emanuel and Arab Perceptions|work=[[HuffPost]]|date=November 14, 2008|access-date=February 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701204451/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-zogby/rahm-emanuel-and-arab-per_b_143976.html|archive-date=July 1, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Political staffer career==
Emanuel began his political career with the [[public interest]] and [[consumer rights]] organization Illinois Public Action.<ref name="RahmHouseBio">{{cite web|url=http://www.house.gov/emanuel/aboutrahm.shtml|title=About Rahm|access-date=December 9, 2008|year=2007|work=Congressman Rahm Emanuel|publisher=[[United States House of Representatives]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731215256/http://www.house.gov/emanuel/aboutrahm.shtml|archive-date=July 31, 2008}}</ref> He went on to serve in a number of capacities in local and national politics, initially specializing in fund-raising for Illinois campaigns, and then nationally.<ref name="RahmJVL">{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/emanuel.html|title=Rahm Emanuel|access-date=December 9, 2008|year=2008|encyclopedia=[[Jewish Virtual Library]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080904212231/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/emanuel.html|archive-date=September 4, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Emanuel worked for Democrat [[Paul Simon (politician)|Paul Simon]]'s [[United States Senate election in Illinois, 1984|1984 election]] to the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7702408.stm|title=Profile: Rahm Emanuel|date=November 7, 2008|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=June 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928194328/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7702408.stm|archive-date=September 28, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> He also worked as the national campaign director for the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]] in [[1988 United States House of Representatives elections|1988]], and was senior advisor and chief fund-raiser for [[Richard M. Daley]]'s successful initial campaign for [[mayor of Chicago]], in [[1989 Chicago mayoral special election|1989]].<ref name="RahmHouseBio" /> He subsequently worked for Illinois Attorney General [[Neil Hartigan]], conducting opposition research for his [[1990 Illinois gubernatorial election|1990 gubernatorial campaign]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grieve |first=Jack |date=October 4, 2023 |title=Crain's 40 Under 40 event returns with Rahm Emanuel as speaker |url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-events/rahm-emanuel-speak-crains-40-under-40-event}}</ref>

At the start of then-[[Arkansas Governor]] [[Bill Clinton]]'s [[Bill Clinton presidential campaign, 1992|presidential primary campaign]], Emanuel was appointed to direct the campaign's finance committee.<ref name="RahmJVL" /> Emanuel insisted that Clinton schedule time for fund-raising and delay campaigning in [[New Hampshire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/10-craziest-rahm-emanuel-momentsfacts-2011-2|title=10 Craziest Rahm Emanuel Moments/Facts|publisher=businessinsider.com|date=February 24, 2011|access-date=June 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520092527/http://www.businessinsider.com/10-craziest-rahm-emanuel-momentsfacts-2011-2|archive-date=May 20, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Clinton embarked on an aggressive national fund-raising campaign that allowed the campaign to keep buying television time as attacks on Clinton's character threatened to swamp the campaign during the [[New Hampshire primary]]. Clinton's primary rival, [[Paul Tsongas]] (the New Hampshire Democratic primary winner), later withdrew, citing a lack of campaign funds.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/20/us/1992-campaign-primaries-tsongas-abandons-campaign-leaving-clinton-clear-path.html|title=The 1992 Campaign: Primaries; Tsongas Abandons Campaign, Leaving Clinton a Clear Path toward Showdown with Bush|first=Robin|last=Toner|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 20, 1992|access-date=February 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003090852/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/20/us/1992-campaign-primaries-tsongas-abandons-campaign-leaving-clinton-clear-path.html|archive-date=October 3, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Richard Mintz, a Washington public relations consultant who worked with Emanuel on the campaign, spoke about the soundness of the idea: "It was that [extra] million dollars that really allowed the campaign to withstand the storm we had to ride out in New Hampshire [over Clinton's relationship with [[Gennifer Flowers]] and the controversy over his [[conscription|draft]] status during the [[Vietnam War]]]." Emanuel's knowledge of the top donors in the country, and his rapport with "heavily Jewish" donors helped Clinton amass a then-unheard-of sum of $72 million.<ref name="newest">{{cite news|access-date=June 2, 2007|url=http://www.ujc.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=68298|title=Newest Jewish U.S. Representative Makes Instant Impact|agency=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]]|last=Kintisch|first=Eli|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061201062239/http://www.ujc.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=68298|archive-date=December 1, 2006 }}</ref> While working on the Clinton campaign, Emanuel was paid a retainer by the investment bank [[Goldman Sachs]].<ref name="WE">{{cite magazine |last1=Carney |first1=Timothy P. |date=November 20, 2008 |title=Goldman Sachs Will Be Sitting Pretty With Emanuel in the Obama White House |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/1108230/goldman-sachs-will-be-sitting-pretty-with-emanuel-in-the-obama-white-house/ |access-date=August 20, 2024 |magazine=[[The Washington Examiner]]}}</ref>

== Clinton administration ==
[[File:Photographs of President William Jefferson Clinton and Vice President Albert Gore meeting with Thomas F. "Mack" McLarty III, Rahm Emanuel, Bruce Lindsey, David Wilhelm, and others in the Oval Office of the White House (14).jpg|thumb|right|Emanuel with President [[Bill Clinton]] in 1993]]
Following the campaign, Emanuel served as a senior advisor to Clinton at the [[White House]] from 1993 to 1998.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/01/AR2010100100891.html|title=Biographical information on Rahm Emanuel|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=October 1, 2010|access-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106093614/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/01/AR2010100100891.html|archive-date=January 6, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In the White House, Emanuel was initially assistant to the president for political affairs<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1993/01/15/clinton-white-house-appointments/|title=Clinton White House Appointments|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=January 15, 1993|access-date=June 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203062127/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1993-01-15/news/1993015187_1_special-assistant-domestic-policy-president-and-deputy|archive-date=February 3, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> and then senior advisor to the president for policy and strategy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2012/11/mayor-rahm-emanuel-to-speak-on-campus.html|title=Mayor Rahm Emanuel to Speak on Campus|first=Storer H.|last=Rowley|publisher=[[Northwestern University]]|date=November 19, 2013|access-date=June 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530001338/http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2012/11/mayor-rahm-emanuel-to-speak-on-campus.html|archive-date=May 30, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> He was a leading strategist in White House efforts to institute [[NAFTA]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/1993-12-05/the-a-team-that-saved-naftas-bacon|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628201823/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/1993-12-05/the-a-team-that-saved-naftas-bacon|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 28, 2013|title=The A Team That Saved Nafta's Bacon|work=Business Week|date=December 5, 1993}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/clinton/interviews/emmanuel.html|title=Rahm Emanuel|work=[[Frontline (U.S. TV series)|Frontline]]|first=Chris|last=Bury|publisher=PBS|date=June 2000|access-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021082931/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/clinton/interviews/emmanuel.html|archive-date=October 21, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> among other Clinton initiatives.<ref name="GU">{{cite news|access-date=November 11, 2006|url=https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,,1944305,00.html|title=Profile:Rahm Emanuel—Former ballet dancer turned political fixer|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=November 10, 2006|page=18|location=London}}</ref>

Emanuel is known for his "take-no-prisoners style" that has earned him the nickname "[[John Rambo|Rahmbo]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&tkr=1000L:US&sid=aIta_oE35qv0|title=The 2008 Forward 50 Picks 'Rahmbo', Obama's New Chief, Edgy|publisher=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|date=November 13, 2008|access-date=October 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203093743/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&refer=conews&tkr=1000L%3AUS&sid=aIta_oE35qv0|archive-date=December 3, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Emanuel sent a dead fish in a box to a pollster who was late delivering polling results.<ref name="Newsweek_Smalley_20080414"/> On the night after the [[U.S. presidential election, 1992|1992 election]], angry at Democrats and Republicans who "betrayed" them in the 1992 election, Emanuel stood up at a celebratory dinner with colleagues from the campaign and began plunging a steak knife into the table and began rattling off names while shouting "Dead! Dead! Dead!".<ref name=NYT_Bumiller_19970615 /> Before [[Tony Blair]] gave a pro-Clinton speech during the impeachment crisis, Emanuel reportedly screamed at Blair "Don't fuck this up!" while Clinton was present.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/talk/2008/11/17/081117ta_talk_widdicombe|title=Wind on Capitol Hill Emanuel in Full|first=Lizzi|last=Widdicombe|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|date=November 17, 2008|access-date=February 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009131837/http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2008/11/17/081117ta_talk_widdicombe|archive-date=October 9, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Blair and Clinton both burst into laughter.<ref>{{cite book|first=Con|last=Coughlin|title=American Ally: Tony Blair and the War on Terror|year=2006|publisher=HarperCollins}}</ref> However, by 2007 friends of Emanuel were saying that he has "mellowed out".<ref name="newest"/> Stories of his personal style have entered the popular culture, inspiring articles and websites that chronicle these and other quotes and incidents.<ref name="washpo">{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/11/top_10_facts_you_need_to_know.html|title=Ten Facts You Need to Know About Rahm Emanuel|first=Chris|last=Cilizza|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 6, 2008|access-date=December 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130153539/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/11/top_10_facts_you_need_to_know.html|archive-date=November 30, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="rahmfacts">{{cite web|url=http://rahmfacts.com|title=Rahm Emanuel Facts|publisher=rahmfacts.com|access-date=December 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103194515/http://rahmfacts.com/|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref name="rahmblr">{{cite web|url=http://rahmblr.tumblr.com/|title=Rahmblr|access-date=December 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217052156/http://rahmblr.tumblr.com/|archive-date=December 17, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="politico">{{cite web|work=[[Politico]]|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/anneschroeder/1108/Because_really_theres_never_too_much_Rahm_anything_.html|title=Because really there's never too much Rahm anything|first=Anne|last=Schroeder|date=November 12, 2008|access-date=December 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313004537/http://www.politico.com/blogs/anneschroeder/1108/Because_really_theres_never_too_much_Rahm_anything_.html|archive-date=March 13, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> The character [[Josh Lyman]] in ''[[The West Wing]]'' was said to be based on Emanuel, though executive producer [[Lawrence O'Donnell]] denied this.<ref>{{cite news|quote=Like the president-elect, Emanuel is a Chicago native with a strong connection to the city's politicians. Both have inspired characters on the television series ''The West Wing'', with Emanuel providing the model for Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman.|access-date=November 7, 2008|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/07/rahm-emmanuel-obama-white-house-economy|title=Economic rescue plan main priority as new chief of staff named|first=Ewen|last=MacAskill|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=November 7, 2008|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904054946/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/07/rahm-emmanuel-obama-white-house-economy|archive-date=September 4, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Career in finance==
After serving as an advisor to Bill Clinton, in 1998 Emanuel resigned from his position in the administration and joined the [[investment banking]] firm [[Wasserstein Perella & Co.|Wasserstein Perella]], where he worked for 2.5 years.<ref name="NYT_Sanati_20081107">{{cite news|title=Rahm Emanuel, Former Investment Banker|first1=Cyrus|last1=Sanati|first2=Andrew Ross|last2=Sorkin|work=[[New York Times]]|date=November 7, 2008|url=http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/rahm-emanuel-former-investment-banker|access-date=November 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210072839/http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/rahm-emanuel-former-investment-banker/|archive-date=December 10, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Although he did not have an MBA or prior banking experience, he became a managing director at the firm's Chicago office in 1999, and according to congressional disclosures, made $16.2 million in his 2.5 years as a banker.<ref name="NYT_Sanati_20081107"/><ref name="Fortune_Easton_20060925">{{cite journal|last=Easton|first=Nina|title=Rahm Emanuel, Pitbull politician|date=September 25, 2006|journal=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/09/17/magazines/fortune/politics.fortune/index.htm|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=November 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103115435/http://money.cnn.com/2006/09/17/magazines/fortune/politics.fortune/index.htm|archive-date=November 3, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> At Wasserstein Perella, he worked on eight deals, including the acquisition by [[Commonwealth Edison]] of [[Exelon|Peco Energy]] and the purchase by [[GTCR|GTCR Golder Rauner]] of the SecurityLink home security unit from [[SBC Communications]].<ref name="NYT_Sanati_20081107"/>

===Freddie Mac===
In 2000, Emanuel was named to the Board of Directors of [[Freddie Mac]] by President Clinton. He earned at least $320,000 during his time there, including later stock sales.<ref name="chitrib_26march">{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-rahm-emanuel-profit-26-mar26,0,5682373.story|title=Rahm Emanuel's profitable stint at mortgage giant|newspaper=chicagotribune.com|date=March 26, 2009|access-date=July 10, 2010|first1=Bob|last1=Secter|first2=Andrew|last2=Zajac|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619115537/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-rahm-emanuel-profit-26-mar26,0,5682373.story|archive-date=June 19, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> During Emanuel's time on the board, Freddie Mac was plagued with scandals involving campaign contributions and accounting irregularities.<ref name="chitrib_26march" /><ref name="ChicagoTribune_Kass_20061122">{{cite news|last=Sweet|first=Lynn|title=Too much money a bad thing? 5th District House candidate Rahm Emanuel tested voter reaction to $6 million salary|date=January 3, 2002|work=The Chicago Sun-Times|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1426034.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022125544/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1426034.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 22, 2012}}</ref> The Bush administration rejected a request under the [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|Freedom of Information Act]] to review Freddie Mac board minutes and correspondence during Emanuel's time as a director.<ref name="chitrib_26march" /> The [[Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight]] later accused the board of having "failed in its duty to follow up on matters brought to its attention". Emanuel resigned from the board in 2001 before his first bid for Congress.<ref name="freddie">{{cite news|access-date=November 7, 2008|url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=6201900&page=1|title=Emanuel Was Director Of Freddie Mac During Scandal|last1=Ross|first1=Brian|first2=Rhonda|last2=Schwartz|date=November 7, 2008|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109023123/http://www.abcnews.go.com//Blotter//story?id=6201900&page=1|archive-date=November 9, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> During this time, he served on the Board of Commissioners of the [[Chicago Housing Authority]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Board of Commissioners 2001-05-15 - May_15_2001.pdf |url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6173149-Board-of-Commissioners-2001-05-15-May-15-2001-pdf.html |website=Document Cloud |access-date=18 August 2024}}</ref>

==Congressional career==
[[File:Dingell Emanuel Paczki.jpg|thumb|left|Rep. [[John Dingell]] and Rep. Emanuel celebrate [[Paczki]] Day, February 28, 2006 ]]

===Elections===
In 2002, Emanuel pursued the U.S. House seat in the 5th district of Illinois, previously held by [[Rod Blagojevich]], who successfully ran for [[governor of Illinois]]. His strongest opponent in the crowded primary of eight was former Illinois state representative Nancy Kaszak. During the primary, [[Edward Moskal]], president of the [[Polish American Congress]], a [[political action committee]] endorsing Kaszak, called Emanuel a "millionaire [[carpetbagger]]".<ref name="NYT03062002">{{cite news|last=Wilgoren|first=Jodi|title=Ethnic Comments Rattle Race for Congress|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 6, 2002|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/06/us/ethnic-comments-rattle-race-for-congress.html|access-date=January 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304185137/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/06/us/ethnic-comments-rattle-race-for-congress.html|archive-date=March 4, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Emanuel won the primary and defeated [[U.S. Republican Party|Republican]] candidate Mark Augusti in the [[United States House elections, 2002#Illinois|general election]]. Emanuel's inaugural election to the House with 67% was the closest he ever had for this seat, as he subsequently won more than 70% in all of his re-election bids.

===Tenure===
[[File:Rahm Emanuel at St. Hyacinth Church.jpg|thumb|Rep. Emanuel speaking at [[Basilica of St. Hyacinth|St. Hyacinth Basilica]] in [[Chicago's Polish Village]]]]
Emanuel was elected after the October 2002 [[Iraq resolution|joint resolution]] authorizing the [[Iraq War]], and so did not vote on it. However, in the lead up to the resolution, Emanuel spoke out in support of the war.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pavlischek |first=Keith |date=2008-11-07 |title=Rahm Emanuel on the Iraq War |url=https://firstthings.com/rahm-emanuel-on-the-iraq-war/ |access-date=2025-07-14 |website=First Things |language=en-US}}</ref>

In January 2003, Emanuel was named to the [[House Financial Services Committee]] and sat on the subcommittee that oversaw Freddie Mac. A few months later, Freddie Mac Chief Executive Officer Leland Brendsel was forced out and the committee and subcommittee commenced more than a year of hearings into Freddie Mac. Emanuel skipped every hearing allegedly for reasons of avoiding any appearance of favoritism, impropriety, or conflict of interest.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2009/03/26/rahm-emanuels-profitable-stint-at-mortgage-giant/|title=Rahm Emanuel's profitable stint at mortgage giant|access-date=October 18, 2015|first1=Bob|last1=Secter|first2=Andrew|last2=Zajac|date=March 26, 2009|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211021358/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2009-03-26/news/chi-rahm-emanuel-profit-26-mar26_1_rahm-emanuel-freddie-mac-president-barack-obama|archive-date=December 11, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Emanuel aligned himself with the centrist [[Democratic Leadership Council]].<ref name="TheNation_Nichols_20081105">{{cite journal|access-date=February 2, 2009|url=http://www.thenation.com/doc/20081117/nichols2?rel=rightsideaccordian|title=Rahm Emanuel: Face of Change?|journal=The Nation|first=John|last=Nichols|date=November 5, 2008}}</ref>

===Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman===
Emanuel assumed the position of [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]] chairman (DCCC) after the death of the previous chair, [[Bob Matsui]]. Emanuel led the Democratic Party's effort to capture the majority in the House of Representatives in the 2006 elections. The documentary ''[[HouseQuake]]'', featuring Emanuel, chronicles those elections.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/us/politics/22baker.html|title=Emanuel at the Epicenter: Then and Now|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|last=Baker|first=Peter|date=October 21, 2009|access-date=February 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207223839/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/us/politics/22baker.html|archive-date=February 7, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Emanuel had disagreements over Democratic election strategy with [[Democratic National Committee]] Chairman [[Howard Dean]]. Dean favored a "[[fifty-state strategy]]", building support for the Democratic Party over the long term, while Emanuel advocated a more tactical approach focusing attention on key districts.<ref name="Time_Allen_20060604">{{cite news|last1=Allen|first1=Mike|last2=Bacon|first2=Perry Jr.|title=Whose Party Is It Anyway?|date=June 4, 2006|magazine=Time|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,1200740,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930121906/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,1200740,00.html|archive-date=September 30, 2007}}</ref>
[[File:Rahm Emanuel DNC 2008.jpg|thumb|right|Emanuel speaks during the second day of the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]] in [[Denver]], Colorado ]]

The Democratic Party gained 30 seats in the House in the [[United States House elections, 2006|2006 elections]], and Emanuel received praise for his stewardship of the DCCC, even from Illinois Republican Rep. [[Ray LaHood]], who said, "He legitimately can be called the golden boy of the Democratic Party today. He recruited the right candidates, found the money, and funded them, and provided issues for them. Rahm did what no one else could do in seven cycles."<ref name="WP_Haygood_20061108">{{cite news|last=Haygood|first=Wil|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 9, 2006|page=C05|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/08/AR2006110802239.html|access-date=January 3, 2007|title=Democratic 'Golden Boy' Rahm Emanuel, Basking In the Glow of Victory|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830023233/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/08/AR2006110802239.html|archive-date=August 30, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

However, Emanuel also faced criticism for his failure to support progressive candidates, as Howard Dean advocated.<ref>{{cite web|title=Justin Coussoule Confirms Obama/Kaine Threw Out Dean's 50 State Strategy And Have Given Him NO Support|date=August 14, 2010|work=Crooks and Liars|url=http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/justin-coussoule-confirms-obamakaine|access-date=February 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708204843/http://crooksandliars.com/nicole-belle/justin-coussoule-confirms-obamakaine|archive-date=July 8, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Emanuel had "aggressively recruited right-leaning candidates, frequently military veterans, including former Republicans". Many of the Representatives that Rahm had recruited, such as [[Heath Shuler]], ended up "[voting] against important Obama administration priorities, like economic stimulus, banking reform, and health care". Progressive activist [[Howie Klein]] has said that Emanuel's congressional campaign strategy was short-sighted, as it "contributed to the massive G.O.P. majorities we have now, the biggest since the nineteen-twenties" when the Democrats lost control of the House in the 2010 mid-term elections.<ref name="newyorker.com"/> Progressives like Rep. [[Maxine Waters]] criticized him for recruiting conservative [[Blue Dog Democrats]] since they played a leading role in [[Obamacare]] (Affordable Care Act) negotiations, and stripping it down while voting against other liberal priorities. She characterized it as his "chickens are coming home to roost" since he had told that they could vote the way they wanted once in office.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rahm's chickens come 'home to roost' |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/07/rahms-chickens-come-home-to-roost-025552 |access-date=2025-07-22 |website=POLITICO}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Deirdre |title='Blue Dog' Democrats: Current health bill not acceptable - CNN.com |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/10/house.health.care/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608191932/https://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/10/house.health.care/index.html |archive-date=June 8, 2025 |access-date=2025-07-22 |website=[[CNN]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=James |first=Frank |date=2009-07-28 |title=Democratic Blue Dogs Biting Hand That Once Fed Them? |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2009/07/democratic_blue_dogs_biting_ha.html |access-date=2025-07-22 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref>

After Emanuel's election as chairman of the Democratic Caucus (see below), [[Chris Van Hollen]] became committee chair for the 110th Congress.

===Democratic Caucus chairman===
After his role in helping the Democrats win the 2006 elections, Emanuel was believed to be a leading candidate for the position of [[Party whips of the United States House of Representatives|Majority Whip]]. Nancy Pelosi, who became the next [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the House of Representatives]], persuaded him not to challenge [[Jim Clyburn]], but instead to succeed Clyburn in the role of [[Democratic Caucus Chairman of the United States House of Representatives|Democratic Caucus Chairman]]. In return, Pelosi agreed to assign the caucus chair more responsibilities, including "aspects of strategy and messaging, incumbent retention, policy development, and rapid-response communications". Caucus vice-chair [[John B. Larson|John Larson]] remained in his role instead of running for the chairman position.<ref name="WP_Babington_20061110">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/09/AR2006110901764.html|title=Reid, Pelosi Expected to Keep Tight Rein in Both Chambers|last1=Babington|first1=Charles|first2=Jonathan|last2=Weisman|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=November 10, 2006|page=A12|access-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108023848/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/09/AR2006110901764.html|archive-date=November 8, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> After Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] asserted that he did not fall within the bounds of orders set for the [[Executive (government)|executive branch]], Emanuel called for cutting off the $4.8 million the Executive Branch provides for the Vice President's office.<ref name="Politico_Allen_20070627">{{cite news|last=Allen|first=Mike|title=Dems force Cheney to flip-flop on secret doc|publisher=[[Politico (newspaper)|Politico]].com|date=June 27, 2007|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2007/06/dems-force-cheney-to-flip-flop-on-secret-docs-004679|access-date=June 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629154202/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0607/4679.html|archive-date=June 29, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref>

==White House chief of staff==
Emanuel declared in April 2006 that he would support [[Hillary Clinton]] should she pursue the presidency in 2008. Emanuel remained close to Clinton since leaving the White House, talking strategy with her at least once a month as chairman of the DCCC.<ref name=Fortune_Easton_20061002 /> However, Emanuel's loyalties came into conflict when his home-state Senator, [[Barack Obama]], expressed interest in the race. Asked in January 2007, about his stance on the Democratic presidential nomination, he said: "I'm hiding under the desk. I'm very far under the desk, and I'm bringing my paper and my phone."<ref name="ChicagoTribune_Dornign_20070119">{{cite news|last=Dorning|first=Mike|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=January 19, 2007|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0701190131jan19,1,2183324.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed|title=Rahm Emanuel's Great Loyalty Test|access-date=January 21, 2007}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Emanuel remained neutral in the race until June 4, 2008, the day after the final primary contests, when he endorsed Obama.<ref name="wp-endorse">{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/06/04/emanuel_to_endorse_obama.html|title=Emanuel Endorses Obama|last=Murray|first=Shailagh|date=June 4, 2008|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=November 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130153545/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/06/04/emanuel_to_endorse_obama.html|archive-date=November 30, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Rahm Emanuel Oval Office Barack Obama.jpg|thumb|upright|White House Chief of Staff Emanuel reads a newspaper in the [[Oval Office]], as President Barack Obama talks on the phone on April 4, 2009]]
[[File:P012109PS-0027 (3484808984).jpg|thumb|Emanuel with Barack Obama in the Oval Office]]

On November 6, 2008, Emanuel accepted the position of [[White House Chief of Staff]] for U.S. President [[Barack Obama]].<ref name="NYT_Baker_20081106">{{cite news|date=November 6, 2008|access-date=December 17, 2008|last1=Baker|first1=Peter|last2=Zeleny|first2=Jeff|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/us/politics/06elect.html|title=For Obama, No Time to Bask in Victory As He Starts to Build a Transition Team|work=[[The New York Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424143904/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/us/politics/06elect.html|archive-date=April 24, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="accepted">{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2008/11/emanuel-accepts-white-house-job-015371|title=Exclusive: Emanuel accepts White House job|last1=O'Connor|first1=Patrick|first2=Mike|last2=Allen|work=[[Politico]]|date=November 6, 2008|access-date=December 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218200319/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15371.html|archive-date=December 18, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> He resigned his congressional seat effective January 2, 2009.<ref name="ChicagoBusiness_Merrion_20081229">{{cite news|access-date=February 9, 2009|first=Paul|last=Merrion|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=32418|title=Emanuel resigns seat effective Friday|publisher=[[Crain Communications Inc.|ChicagoBusiness.com]]|date=December 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203094248/http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=32418|archive-date=February 3, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> A special primary to fill his vacated congressional seat was held on March 3, 2009, and the special general election on April 7.<ref name="chictrib120">{{cite news|first=Dan|last=Mihalopoulos|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-congress-20-jan20,0,6500724.story|title=26 file for congressional seat vacated by Rahm Emanuel|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=January 20, 2009|access-date=February 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209071440/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-congress-20-jan20,0,6500724.story|archive-date=February 9, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> [[John Fritchey]], a candidate for that seat, said at a forum that Emanuel had told him he may be interested in running for the seat again in the future.<ref>{{cite news|first1=John|last1=McCormick|first2=Dan|last2=Mihalopoulos|url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/02/candidate-says-emanuel-might-want-to-reclaim-house-seat-someday.html|title=Candidate says Emanuel might want to reclaim House seat someday|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=February 1, 2009|access-date=February 3, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204180641/http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/02/candidate-says-emanuel-might-want-to-reclaim-house-seat-someday.html|archive-date=February 4, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

Some Republican leaders criticized Emanuel's appointment because they believed it went against Obama's campaign promises of less divisive politics, given Emanuel's reputation as a partisan Democrat.<ref name="accepted" /> Republican Senator [[Lindsey Graham]] disagreed, saying: "This is a wise choice by President-elect Obama. He's tough, but fair, honest, direct, and candid."<ref name="McClatchy_Talev-Thomma_20081107">{{cite news|access-date=November 11, 2012|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/11/05/choosing-rahmbo.html|title=Inside Obama's chief-of-staff selection|website=[[The Daily Beast]]|first=Richard|last=Wolffe|date=November 5, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117231204/http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/11/05/choosing-rahmbo.html|archive-date=November 17, 2012}}</ref> Ira Forman, executive director of the [[National Jewish Democratic Council]], said that the choice indicated that Obama would not listen to the "wrong people" regarding the U.S.–Israel relationship.<ref name="FoxNews_Ninan_20081105"/> Some commentators opined that Emanuel would be good for the [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process]] because if Israeli leaders made excuses for not dismantling settlements, Emanuel would be tough and pressure the Israelis to comply.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jeffrey|last=Goldberg|url=http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/11/rahm_emanuel_and_israel.php|title=Rahm Emanuel and Israel|work=[[The Atlantic]]|date=November 6, 2008|access-date=November 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109073715/http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/11/rahm_emanuel_and_israel.php|archive-date=November 9, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ForeignPolicy_Kenner_20081107">{{cite news|first=David|last=Kenner|url=http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/10246|title=Rahm Emanuel and Israel|work=[[Foreign Policy]]|date=November 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205032423/http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/10246|archive-date=December 5, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Some [[Palestinians]] expressed dismay at Emanuel's appointment.<ref name="Kalman">{{cite news|first=Matthew|last=Kalman|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/11/06/2008-11-06_obama_chief_of_staff_rahm_emanuel_is_no_.html|title=Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is no pal of ours, Israel's foes say|work=[[New York Daily News]]|date=November 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081110054136/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/11/06/2008-11-06_obama_chief_of_staff_rahm_emanuel_is_no_.html|archive-date=November 10, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[[Ali Abunimah]] of the [[Electronic Intifada]] said that Obama's appointment of Emanuel sent the signal he would not be taking "more balanced, more objective, more realistic advice that could change the course from the disastrous Palestine-Israel policies of the Bush and Clinton administrations". {{cite news|url=http://i3.democracynow.org/2008/11/6/president_elect_obama_and_the_future|title=President-Elect Obama and the Future of US Foreign Policy: A Roundtable Discussion|work=[[Democracy Now!]]|date=November 6, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081111235542/http://i3.democracynow.org/2008/11/6/president_elect_obama_and_the_future|archive-date=November 11, 2008}}</ref>

Weeks after accepting the appointment, Emanuel participated on a panel of corporate chief executive officers sponsored by the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'', and said, "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste."<ref>{{cite news|title=In Crisis, Opportunity for Obama|first=Gerald F.|last=Seib|date=November 21, 2008|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122721278056345271|access-date=March 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223071022/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122721278056345271|archive-date=February 23, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Emanuel explained later, "... what I said was, never allow a good crisis to go to waste when it's an opportunity to do things that you had never considered, or that you didn't think were possible."<ref>{{cite news|title=VIDEO: Rahm Emanuel Clarifies 2008 Comment "You Never Want A Serious Crisis To Go To Waste"|first=Ruth|last=Ravve|date=January 11, 2011|publisher=[[Fox News]]|access-date=March 5, 2015|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/video-rahm-emanuel-clarifies-2008-comment-you-never-want-a-serious-crisis-to-go-to-waste/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150308081004/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01/11/video-rahm-emanuel-clarifies-2008-comment-never-want-serious-crisis-to-go-to/|archive-date=March 8, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In a 2009 article in ''[[The New York Times]]'', Emanuel was characterized as being "perhaps the most influential chief of staff of a generation".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/us/politics/16emanuel.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=Emanuel Wields Power Freely, and Faces the Risks|first1=Peter|last1=Baker|first2=Jeff|last2=Zeleny|date=August 16, 2009|access-date=April 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508201248/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/us/politics/16emanuel.html?hp|archive-date=May 8, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Emanuel has a reputation for his no-holds-barred negotiation style that involves "his share of shouting and cursing". Ezekiel Emanuel has written, "The impatient, pushy Emanuel style is so well known that during a recent job interview I was asked, point-blank, whether I had the level-headed temperament the position required. ... . [A]s obvious as our flaws are to others, it's difficult to recognize them in ourselves."<ref name="VF" /> At a January 2010 closed-door meeting in the White House with liberal activists, Emanuel called them "fucking retarded" for planning to run TV ads attacking conservative Democrats who didn't support Obama's health-care overhaul. After the remarks were quoted in a front-page story of the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703808904575025030384695158|title=Chief of Staff Draws Fire From Left as Obama Falters|first=Peter|last=Wallsten|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|date=January 26, 2010|access-date=March 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311183233/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703808904575025030384695158|archive-date=March 11, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and after he was criticized by [[Sarah Palin]], Emanuel apologized to organizations for mentally disabled people for using the word "retarded".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zeleny|first1=Jeff|last2=Stolberg|first2=Sheryl|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/emanuel-apologizes-in-wake-of-palin-slam|title=Emanuel Apologizes, in Wake of Palin Slam|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 2, 2010|access-date=February 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206031955/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/02/emanuel-apologizes-in-wake-of-palin-slam/|archive-date=February 6, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author-link=Jake Tapper|last=Tapper|first=Jake|url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/02/rahm-apologizes-for-privately-calling-liberal-activists-retarded.html|title=Rahm Apologizes for Privately Calling Liberal Activists 'Retarded'|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=February 2, 2010|access-date=February 19, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219172431/http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2010/02/rahm-apologizes-for-privately-calling-liberal-activists-retarded.html|archive-date=February 19, 2010 }}</ref>

According to Jonathan Alter's book, [[The Promise: President Obama, Year One|''The Promise'']], Emanuel opposed Barack Obama's plan for a broad health care reform, but Obama overrode him. Emanuel advocated a smaller plan because it could get bi-partisan support. Emanuel wanted to expand coverage for children, and increase the number of single mothers eligible for Medicaid. For that reason, it was dubbed "the Titanic plan", a reference to the priority given to saving women and children during the sinking of the ''[[RMS Titanic|Titanic]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/05/book_rahm_spent_week_aggressiv.html|title=Book: Rahm "begged" Obama for days not to pursue ambitious health reform|first=Greg|last=Sargent|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=May 14, 2010|access-date=June 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229191018/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/05/book_rahm_spent_week_aggressiv.html|archive-date=December 29, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Reportedly, House Speaker Pelosi had to convince Obama on the health care initiative after Emanuel dramatically scaled it back. Emanuel has since apologized for his role, saying, "Thank God for the country, he didn't listen to me", after the Supreme Court upheld "ObamaCare" in 2012.<ref name="newyorker.com"/>

As chief of staff, Emanuel would make his staff laugh. During a staff meeting, when [[Chief Technology Officer of the United States|Chief Technology Officer]] [[Aneesh Chopra]] gave uniformly upbeat reports, Emanuel is said to have looked at him and said: "Whatever you're taking, I want some."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/01/nation/la-na-rahm-assess-20101001/2|title=Rahm Emanuel's old-school style was key to new presidency|first=Peter|last=Nicholas|date=October 1, 2010|access-date=October 22, 2012|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114123131/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/01/nation/la-na-rahm-assess-20101001/2|archive-date=November 14, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> For a time, his desk had a nameplate reading "Undersecretary for Go Fuck Yourself", though it was removed after [[Michelle Obama]] expressed her dislike of it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Parker |first=Ashley |date=October 30, 2025 |title=Rahm Emanuel … For President? |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/10/mayor-rahm-emanuel-2028-presidential-election/684611/ |access-date=October 31, 2025 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref> Emanuel had a hand in warstrategy, political maneuvering, communications and economic policy. [[Bob Woodward]] wrote in ''[[Obama's Wars]]'' that Emanuel made a habit of telephoning [[Director of the Central Intelligence Agency|CIA Director]] [[Leon Panetta]] and asking about the [[Targeted killing#Use by United States government|lethal drone strikes]] aimed at [[Al Qaeda]], asking, "Who did we get today?".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newstips.org/2012/05/nato-summit-drone-warfare-challenged/|title=NATO summit: drone warfare challenged|publisher=Community Media Workshop|date=May 13, 2012|access-date=October 16, 2012|first=Curtis|last=Black|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802061258/http://www.newstips.org/2012/05/nato-summit-drone-warfare-challenged/|archive-date=August 2, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2010, Emanuel was reported to have conflicts with other senior members of the president's team and ideological clashes over policy. He was also the focal point of criticism from left-leaning Democrats for the administration's perceived move to the center. By September 2010, with the Democrats anticipating heavy losses in mid-term elections, this was said to precipitate Emanuel's departure as chief of staff.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/us-politics/8035615/Pete-Rouse-to-replace-Rahm-Emanuel-as-White-House-chief-of-staff.html|location=London|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|first=Alex|last=Spillius|title=Pete Rouse to replace Rahm Emanuel as White House chief of staff|date=September 30, 2010|access-date=April 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204120126/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/us-politics/8035615/Pete-Rouse-to-replace-Rahm-Emanuel-as-White-House-chief-of-staff.html|archive-date=February 4, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Mayor of Chicago==
===Elections===
====2011====
{{wikinews|White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel steps down to run for Mayor of Chicago}}
{{See also|2011 Chicago mayoral election}}
On September 30, 2010, it was announced that Emanuel would leave his post as White House Chief of Staff to run for [[mayor of Chicago]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rahm-emanuel-leave-white-house/story?id=11740794|title=ABC News: Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel Likely to Announce White House Departure This Week|website=ABCNews.go.com|date=September 27, 2010|access-date=July 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831160724/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rahm-emanuel-leave-white-house/story?id=11740794|archive-date=August 31, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> He was replaced by [[Pete Rouse]] on October 2, 2010. Emanuel entered the race with high-[[name recognition]], having not only a sizable local profile, but also a sizable national profile.<ref name="local2014">{{cite book |last1=Foreman |first1=Sean D. |last2=Godwin |first2=Marcia L. |title=Local Politics and Mayoral Elections in 21st Century America: The Keys to City Hall |date=2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-57893-2 |pages=128–133 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Eo-LBQAAQBAJ |access-date=18 May 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

Emanuel's eligibility for office was challenged on the basis of his lack of residency in Chicago for one year prior to the election. This was the period when Emanuel was in Washington serving as the White House chief of staff. The Board of Elections and the [[Cook County Circuit Court]] affirmed his eligibility. A divided Court of Appeals reversed the Circuit Court, holding on January 24, 2011, that residency for purposes of a candidate is different from residency for purposes of being a voter.<ref>{{cite court|url= http://www.state.il.us/court/Opinions/AppellateCourt/2011/1stDistrict/January/1110033.pdf|litigants= Maksym & McMahon v. The Board of Election Commissioners of Chicago|date= January 24, 2011|court= Illinois Appellate}}</ref> A further appeal to the [[Illinois Supreme Court]] resulted in a unanimous decision reversing the Court of Appeals and affirming Emanuel's eligibility.<ref name="rulingoverturned">{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna41291795|title=Ill. high court: Emanuel can run for Chicago mayor|first1= Sophia|last1= Tareen|first2= Tammy|last2= Webber|work=[[NBC News]]|date=January 27, 2011|access-date=January 27, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=The One-Man Political Machine|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/magazine/20Emanuel-t.html|date=February 17, 2011|first=Scott|last=Turow|author-link=Scott Turow|work=[[The New York Times|The New York Times Sunday Magazine]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907215547/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/magazine/20Emanuel-t.html?_r=3&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1297947909-NPo7qpsoM6/PL1Mk6L8pkw&pagewanted=all|archive-date=September 7, 2012|url-status=dead}} (Note [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/magazine/20Emanuel-t.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1297947909-NPo7qpsoM6/PL1Mk6L8pkw&pagewanted=all the original] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217064134/http://www.nytimes.com//2011//02//20//magazine//20Emanuel-t.html |date=February 17, 2011 }} has better formatting.)</ref>

In the race, Emanuel had a financial advantage over the other candidates.<ref name="local2014"/> He was by far the best-financed candidate, with more than three times the campaign funds as the second-best financed candidate ([[Gery Chico]]), and more than twenty-times the third-best financed candidate ([[Carol Moseley Braun]]).<ref name="local2014"/> Emanuel's had his financial advantage from the very start of his candidacy, as he began his campaign with approximately $1.2 million from his congressional campaign fund.<ref name="local2014"/> By December 31, 2010, he had raised more than $10.5 million in additional funds.<ref name="local2014"/> On January 1, 2011, the Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act took effect, limiting individual personal contributions to candidates to $5,000.<ref name="local2014"/> Nevertheless, he continued to raise substantial funds, ultimately having procured a total $15 million over the course of his campaign (including those funds transferred from his congressional campaign committee).<ref name="local2014"/> Emanuel was able to raise so much because he had experience fundraising, had built a Washington connections and a national profile, and his brother Ari had Hollywood connections.<ref name="local2014"/> He had 75 contributors give more than $50,000, twenty-five of which were from out of state.<ref name="local2014"/> Among these high-dollar contributors were [[Steven Spielberg]], [[Donald Trump]], and [[Steve Jobs]].<ref name="local2014"/> Despite having a national fundraising operation, three-quarters of his donations came locally.<ref name="local2014"/> More than $800,000 of his contributions were from financial exchange and trading executives, with his largest single donation being a $200,000 donation from executives of the [[Chicago Mercantile Exchange]].<ref name="local2014"/>

Emanuel proposed lowering the city's [[sales tax]] and raising the service tax.<ref name="local2014"/> Emanuel supported negotiating with the [[Chicago Teachers Union]] for longer school days and school years.<ref name="local2014"/> Emanuel opposed instituting an elected school board.<ref name="local2014"/> This received criticism from other candidates.<ref name="local2014"/> Other candidates assailed his tenure at Freddie Mac.<ref name="local2014" /> As the frontrunner, Emanuel had gotten more press coverage than other mayoral candidates. This was furthered by the fact that the challenge to his residency became a dominant headline.<ref name="local2014" /> Emanuel entered the race with solid backing from North and Northwest Side Democratic Ward Committeemen.<ref name="local2014" />

Emanuel's advertisements portrayed him as having strong roots in the city, and, in telling his biography, emphasized his upbringing on the [[North Shore (Chicago)|North Shore]].<ref name="local2014"/> Contrarily, Emanuel's opponents attempted to characterize him as a [[carpetbagger]], hailing not from the city itself but rather from the North Shore and Washington, D.C.<ref name="local2014"/> Emanuel's advertisements also sought to emphasize his tenures in working in the White House and his tenure as a congressman.<ref name="local2014"/> Emanuel would highlight his relations with presidents Clinton and Obama.<ref name="local2014"/> He also sought to highlight the fact that he had forged connections in Washington during his time in congress, and also had strong business ties.<ref name="local2014"/>

Emanuel had overwhelming support from Jewish and [[LGBT]] voters.<ref name="local2014"/> Emanuel held a lead with independent progressives, including strong support from the [[lakefront liberals]] voting bloc of wealthy white progressives from the city's northern lakefront.<ref name="local2014"/> As the only white candidate in the race, Emanuel was seen as likely to receive unified support from a majority of the white electorate.<ref name="local2014"/> Since the Hispanic vote was largely split between two Hispanic candidates (Gery Chico and [[Miguel del Valle]]), once Emanuel was able to secure the support of the majority of the black vote, he had secured himself victory.<ref name="local2014"/>

In attracting African American voters to his candidacy, Emanuel was helped by his associations with Presidents Clinton and Obama, both of whom were extremely popular among the African American community.<ref name="local2014"/> After Moseley Braun's support began to crater following a character attack on fellow candidate [[Patricia Van Pelt Watkins]] which backfired, Emanuel was the beneficiary as the, largely African American, voters that abandoned their support of Moseley Braun's candidacy primarily migrated to support his candidacy.<ref name="local2014"/> Once this happened, Emanuel had all but secured himself a first-place finish, and the remaining candidates were left to jockey for second-place in hopes of there being a runoff.<ref name="local2014"/>

Emanuel carried the endorsements of both the city's major daily newspapers, the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' and the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''.<ref name="local2014"/> Emanuel's mayoral campaign was the inspiration for a satirical Twitter account called MayorEmanuel, which received more than 43,000 followers, more popular than Emanuel's actual Twitter account. Emanuel announced on February 28 that if the author would reveal himself, he would donate $5,000 to the charity of the author's choice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/RahmEmanuel/status/42340121093226496|title=Twitter / Rahm Emanuel: The offer still stands to|publisher=Twitter.com|access-date=July 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018235758/https://twitter.com/RahmEmanuel/status/42340121093226496|archive-date=October 18, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> When Chicago journalist Dan Sinker revealed himself, Emanuel donated the money to Young Chicago Authors, a community organization which helps young people with writing and publishing skills.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/02/rahm-emanuel-dan-sinker-m_n_830577.html|title=Rahm Emanuel, Dan Sinker Meet: Young Chicago Authors Get $12,000 Donation|publisher=[[HuffPost]]|date=March 2, 2011|access-date=July 17, 2011|first=Jen|last=Sabella|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313225612/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/02/rahm-emanuel-dan-sinker-m_n_830577.html|archive-date=March 13, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:20121103 Rahm Emanuel and Antonio Vernon.jpg|thumb|Emanuel (left) at the 2012 [[Hyde Park, Chicago|Hyde Park]] Obama presidential reelection campaign office]]
Emanuel was elected on February 22, 2011, with 55% of the vote,<ref name="CNN-20110222">{{cite news|last= Bohn|first= Kevin|url= http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/22/illinois.elections/|title= Rahm Emanuel wins Chicago mayoral vote|publisher=[[CNN]]|date= February 22, 2011|access-date= February 23, 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121109114752/http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/22/illinois.elections/|archive-date= November 9, 2012|url-status= live}}</ref> and was sworn in as the [[List of Mayors of Chicago|55th]] [[Mayor of Chicago]] on May 16, 2011, at the [[Pritzker Pavilion]], becoming Chicago's first Jewish mayor.<ref name="Rahm Emanuel Elected Chicago Mayor">{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2011-02-22-emanuel-mayor-chicago_N.htm|title=Rahm Emanuel elected Chicago mayor|date=February 23, 2011|access-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025091552/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2011-02-22-emanuel-mayor-chicago_N.htm|archive-date=October 25, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> At his inauguration were outgoing Mayor [[Richard M. Daley]], Vice President [[Joe Biden]], Labor Secretary [[Hilda Solis]], Treasury Secretary [[Timothy Geithner]], former Mayor [[Jane Byrne]], and [[William M. Daley]], brother of the outgoing mayor and who would later serve as White House Chief of Staff.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-rahm-emanuel-to-be-sworn-in-today-as-chicago-mayor-20110515,0,2840741.story|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|title=Emanuel sworn in as mayor: "Let us share the necessary sacrifices"|date=May 16, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518045412/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-rahm-emanuel-to-be-sworn-in-today-as-chicago-mayor-20110515,0,2840741.story|archive-date=May 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/16/emanuel-set-to-begin-new-chapter/#more-159253|work=[[CNN]]|title=Emanuel begins new chapter|date=May 16, 2011|access-date=May 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519102029/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/16/emanuel-set-to-begin-new-chapter/#more-159253|archive-date=May 19, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====2015====
{{See also|2015 Chicago mayoral election}}
In August 2014, ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' poll reported Emanuel had a 35% approval rating as mayor of Chicago.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/30/rahm-emanuel-black-voters_n_5906484.html|work=[[HuffPost]]|title=Rahm Emanuel Has "Ticked Off A Lot Of People"|date=September 30, 2014|access-date=February 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415031549/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/30/rahm-emanuel-black-voters_n_5906484.html|archive-date=April 15, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pearson|first=Rick|date=August 14, 2014|title=Chicago Tribune poll: Support for Mayor Rahm Emanuel falling fast in Chicago|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-karen-lewis-met-0814-20140814-story.html#page=1|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=December 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203024442/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-karen-lewis-met-0814-20140814-story.html#page=1|archive-date=December 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, Emanuel won 56 percent of the vote in the run-off election against Jesús "Chuy" García held on April 7, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Japsen|first1=Bruce|title=Chicago's Rahm Emanuel Re-Elected, Says 'Hard Choices' Ahead|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2015/04/07/chicagos-rahm-emanuel-fights-off-mayor-1-percent-label-to-win-re-election/|access-date=April 8, 2015|work=[[Forbes]]|date=April 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408065413/http://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2015/04/07/chicagos-rahm-emanuel-fights-off-mayor-1-percent-label-to-win-re-election/|archive-date=April 8, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> He had been hurt by sharp neighborhood criticism of his decision to shut down 50 public schools in black and Latino neighborhoods, and his installation of [[red light camera]]s, together with anger at the high level of gun violence on the streets. On the other hand, he was supported by the business community and most elements of the Democratic party.<ref>{{cite news|first1= Kim|last1= Bellware|first2= Joseph|last2= Erbentraut|date= April 7, 2015|url= https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/07/chicago-mayoral-election-2015_n_7018672.html|title= Rahm Emanuel Survives Runoff Election And Wins Second Term As Chicago Mayor|work=[[HuffPost]]|access-date= February 18, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181230112857/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/07/chicago-mayoral-election-2015_n_7018672.html|archive-date= December 30, 2018|url-status= live}}</ref>

====2019====
{{See also|2019 Chicago mayoral election}}
Emanuel announced in October 2017 that he was running for reelection in 2019, despite low approval ratings and some potentially serious challengers.<ref name="Crain's Chicago Business"/> In September 2018, Emanuel decided to not run for reelection. Close friend [[David Axelrod (political consultant)|David Axelrod]] told ''USA Today'' that Emanuel had grown uncertain about his devotion to a third term.<ref name="sept4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/09/04/chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-wont-seek-re-election/1191517002/|title=Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's bombshell news leaves city at crossroads|first=Aamer|last=Madhani|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=September 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905225300/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/09/04/chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-wont-seek-re-election/1191517002/|archive-date=September 5, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Emanuel had been leading in the polls prior to his decision to withdraw. However according to [[Politico]] citing data from [[Public Policy Polling]], Rahm Emanuel had a lead over most of his potential challengers but it was "not enough to win the contest outright" and that in a head-to-head matchup with [[Paul Vallas]], Vallas actually had a polling lead over Emanuel with 39 percent to 33.<ref name=sept4 /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thirdcoastreview.com/2018/08/21/polling-shows-emanuel-isnt-invincible-activists-mark-68-dnc-third-coast-today-08-21-18/|title=Polling Shows Emanuel Isn't Invincible, Activists to Mark '68 DNC--Third Coast Today 08-21-18|first=Aaron|last=Cynic|date=August 21, 2018|access-date=September 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906014022/https://thirdcoastreview.com/2018/08/21/polling-shows-emanuel-isnt-invincible-activists-mark-68-dnc-third-coast-today-08-21-18/|archive-date=September 6, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2018/7/10/18463502/poll-for-challenger-lightfoot-shows-rahm-s-2019-re-election-bid-in-big-trouble|title=Poll for challenger Lightfoot shows Rahm's 2019 re-election bid in big trouble|first=Fran|last=Spielman|date=July 10, 2018|website=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=October 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029215634/https://chicago.suntimes.com/2018/7/10/18463502/poll-for-challenger-lightfoot-shows-rahm-s-2019-re-election-bid-in-big-trouble|archive-date=October 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-20 |title=New POLLING in Chicago mayor's race — Wife of tea partier JOE WALSH named to SAUER seat — KONKOL's back and writing |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2018/08/20/polling-heats-up-in-mayors-race-wife-of-tea-partys-joe-walsh-named-to-sauer-seat-konkols-back-and-writing-and-wedding-bells-for-two-culture-hounds-299390 |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref> In an interview with the ''Chicago Tribune'', Emanuel stated that he had been conferring with his wife and children for months before announcing the decision and that he felt it was time to "write the next chapter."<ref name="sept5">Bill Ruthhart, [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-wont-run-for-reelection-20180904-story.html Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel explains the surprise that shook the city and why he won't seek re-election] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905200051/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-wont-run-for-reelection-20180904-story.html |date=September 5, 2018 }}, ''Chicago Tribune'' (October 5, 2018).</ref>

===Tenure===
Emanuel assembled a transition team from varied backgrounds.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/us/24chicago.html|title=Chicago, City in Transition, Picks a Big Personality|first=Monica|last=Davey|date=February 23, 2011|access-date=December 7, 2012|work=[[New York Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106171706/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/us/24chicago.html|archive-date=November 6, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/24/rahm-emanuel-transition-t_n_827702.html|title=Rahm Emanuel Transition Team: Picks Two Daley Aides, South Side Minister|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|date=February 24, 2011|access-date=December 7, 2012|first=Jen|last=Sabella|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021154939/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/24/rahm-emanuel-transition-t_n_827702.html|archive-date=October 21, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 16, the city council voted unanimously to adopt the mayor's first budget, which decreased the budget by $34 million and increased spending by $46.2 million, supported by increasing fees and fines. Despite most Aldermen opposing cuts to library workers and the closure of mental health clinics, they ultimately supported it, calling it "honest".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/16/chicago-2012-budget-passe_n_1097183.html|title=Chicago 2012 Budget Passes Unanimously: Rahm Emanuel's First Budget Breezes Through City Council|date=November 16, 2011|access-date=December 11, 2012|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|first=Jen|last=Sabella|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906065639/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/16/chicago-2012-budget-passe_n_1097183.html|archive-date=September 6, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/11/16/city-council-set-for-vote-on-mayor-emanuels-first-budget/|title=City Council Approves Mayor Emanuel's First Budget|date=November 16, 2011|access-date=December 11, 2012|work=[[CBS]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005010323/http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/11/16/city-council-set-for-vote-on-mayor-emanuels-first-budget/|archive-date=October 5, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> At a news conference in November 2012, Emanuel listed his top three priorities for the state legislature as security and pension reform, adding a casino to Chicago, and equal marriage rights for same-sex couples.<ref name="Top 3">{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/16360691-418/gay-marriage-emanuels-no-3-priority-for-legislature.html|title=Gay marriage Emanuel's No. 3 priority for Legislature|date=November 13, 2012|access-date=December 6, 2012|work=Chicago Sun-Times|first=Fran|last=Spielman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119023241/http://www.suntimes.com/news/cityhall/16360691-418/gay-marriage-emanuels-no-3-priority-for-legislature.html|archive-date=November 19, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> At a press conference with then [[Governor of Illinois|Illinois Governor]] [[Pat Quinn (politician)|Pat Quinn]], who previously vetoed legislation to put a casino in Chicago, the two were "very close" to reaching a deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/11/30/mayor-governor-very-close-to-deal-for-chicago-casino/|title=Mayor, Governor "Very Close" To Deal For Chicago Casino|date=November 30, 2012|access-date=December 6, 2012|work=[[CBS]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204141327/http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/11/30/mayor-governor-very-close-to-deal-for-chicago-casino/|archive-date=December 4, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2018, Emanuel received an honorary [[Doctor of Law]]s degree from [[NUI Galway]], a university in Chicago's [[sister city]] of [[Galway]], Ireland, with the conferrers citing achievements in education reform while Mayor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/99557/mayor-of-chicago-to-be-conferred-with-honorary-doctorate-at-nuig|title=Mayor of Chicago to be conferred with Honorary Doctorate at NUIG|work=Galway Advertiser|access-date=April 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404134530/http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/99557/mayor-of-chicago-to-be-conferred-with-honorary-doctorate-at-nuig|archive-date=April 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://connachttribune.ie/chicago-mayor-outlines-strong-business-relationship-with-galway/|title=Chicago Mayor outlines strong business relationship with Galway - Connacht Tribune|date=April 3, 2018|work=Connacht Tribune|access-date=April 3, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403162540/http://connachttribune.ie/chicago-mayor-outlines-strong-business-relationship-with-galway/|archive-date=April 3, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>[[File:Bloomingdale Trail groundbreaking-HD.webmhd.webm|thumb|right|200px|Rahm Emanuel speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of the [[Bloomingdale Trail]] in August 2013]]

====Aldermanic appointments====
As mayor, Emanuel appointed several individuals to fill vacancies on the [[Chicago City Council]]. This included appointing [[Natashia Holmes]] as 7th Ward alderman in 2013,<ref>{{cite web |title=Natashia Holmes replaces Sandi Jackson as 7th Ward Alderman |url=https://wgntv.com/2013/02/11/natasha-holmes-to-be-named-7th-ward-alderman/ |publisher=WGN-TV |access-date=12 February 2020 |language=en |date=11 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212193000/https://wgntv.com/2013/02/11/natasha-holmes-to-be-named-7th-ward-alderman/ |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Deb Mell]] as 33rd Ward alderman in 2013,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wetli |first1=Patty |last2=Cox |first2=Ted |title=Deb Mell Named New 33rd Ward Alderman |url=https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130724/albany-park/deb-mell-named-new-33rd-ward-alderman/ |publisher=DNAinfo Chicago |access-date=12 February 2020 |date=24 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212193001/https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20130724/albany-park/deb-mell-named-new-33rd-ward-alderman/ |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Sophia King]] as [[4th ward, Chicago|4th ward]] alderman in 2016, and [[Silvana Tabares]] as 23rd Ward alderman in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Silvana Tabares appointed alderman of 23rd Ward by Mayor Rahm Emanuel |url=https://abc7chicago.com/politics/silvana-tabares-appointed-alderman-of-23rd-ward-by-mayor-emanuel/3612776/ |publisher=ABC7 Chicago |access-date=12 February 2020 |language=en |date=17 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212192959/https://abc7chicago.com/politics/silvana-tabares-appointed-alderman-of-23rd-ward-by-mayor-emanuel/3612776/ |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the resignation of [[Willie Cochran]] in March 2019, Emanuel had the opportunity to make a final aldermanic appointment, appointing an interim alderman to hold the seat until his successor (to be elected in [[2019 Chicago aldermanic election#20th ward|an April 2 runoff]]) would assume office on May 20.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Golden |first1=Jamie Nesbitt |last2=Cherone |first2=Heather |title=Denying Rumors, Rahm Says He Won't Appoint Interim 20th Ward Alderman To Replace Disgraced Cochran Before Election |url=https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/03/26/denying-rumors-rahm-says-he-wont-appoint-interim-20th-ward-alderman-to-replace-disgraced-cochran-before-election/ |publisher=Block Club Chicago |access-date=12 February 2020 |date=26 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212192959/https://blockclubchicago.org/2019/03/26/denying-rumors-rahm-says-he-wont-appoint-interim-20th-ward-alderman-to-replace-disgraced-cochran-before-election/ |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Emanuel did not make such an appointment, leaving the seat vacant until March 20.

====Police and community relations====
In August 2012, a federal lawsuit was filed by eleven Chicago police officers alleging they were removed from the mayoral security detail and replaced with officers who worked on Emanuel's mayoral campaign, in violation of the 1983 Shakman Decree, which bars city officials from making political considerations in the hiring process.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/14528066-418/story.html|work=Chicago Sun-Times|title=Cops file suit over demotion from Mayor Emanuel's security detail|date=August 16, 2012|access-date=August 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619131816/http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/14528066-418/story.html|archive-date=June 19, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Emanuel faced a great deal of criticism for his handling of the October 20, 2014, police [[murder of Laquan McDonald]]. The dash-cam video of the shooting was initially withheld, and only was released after a judge ordered it on November 24, 2015. After the video release, Emanuel was condemned for covering up the incident and allowing Chicago police to use excessive force against minorities.<ref>{{cite news|title=Rahm Emanuel ducks and dodges in Chicago|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ducking-and-dodging-in-chicago/2015/12/01/131ee90c-9877-11e5-8917-653b65c809eb_story.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=December 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151202185312/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ducking-and-dodging-in-chicago/2015/12/01/131ee90c-9877-11e5-8917-653b65c809eb_story.html|archive-date=December 2, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' columnist [[John Kass]] wrote that the Emanuel administration withheld from the public the police dashboard camera video of the shooting in order to secure the reelection.<ref>{{cite news|author-link=John Kass|first=John|last=Kass|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|title=If police shooting video had been released sooner, would Emanuel be mayor|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-laquan-mcdonald-emanuel-kass-met-1126-20151125-column.html|date=November 26, 2015|access-date=December 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151202223416/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-laquan-mcdonald-emanuel-kass-met-1126-20151125-column.html|archive-date=December 2, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Emanuel responded to criticism of the shooting and how it was handled by firing police Superintendent Garry McCarthy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-chicago-police-superintendent-garry-mccarthy-20151201-story.html|title=Emanuel dismisses top cop Garry McCarthy amid pressure for change|author=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=December 2, 2015|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=January 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103181928/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-chicago-police-superintendent-garry-mccarthy-20151201-story.html|archive-date=January 3, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In early December, the federal Justice Department announced an investigation into the Chicago Police Department, a move which Emanuel initially called "misguided".<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news|title=Justice Department will investigate practices of Chicago police|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/12/06/justice-department-will-launch-investigation-into-practices-of-chicago-police/|author=Sari Horwitz|date=December 6, 2015|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=January 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228232902/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2015/12/06/justice-department-will-launch-investigation-into-practices-of-chicago-police/|archive-date=December 28, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Illinois state legislator [[La Shawn Ford]] also introduced a bill to recall the mayor (an effort most pundits claim was more symbolic than practical).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/10/politics/rahm-emanuel-recall-bill-protests/|title=Illinois lawmaker Rep. La Shawn Ford introduces 'recall Rahm Emanuel' bill|author=Gregory Krieg|date=December 10, 2015|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=January 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305142533/http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/10/politics/rahm-emanuel-recall-bill-protests/|archive-date=March 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Protests erupted soon after the release of the video, and on [[Black Friday (shopping)|Black Friday]] protesters shut down part of the city's [[Magnificent Mile]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/27/us/chicago-protests-laquan-mcdonald/|title=Laquan McDonald's killing: Black leaders seek fed probe|author=Michael Martinez|date=November 27, 2015|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=January 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103050109/http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/27/us/chicago-protests-laquan-mcdonald|archive-date=January 3, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Rev-Jesse-Jackson-Calls-for-March-on-Michigan-Avenue-on-Black-Friday-353942231.html|title=Mag Mile Reopens After Protesters Block Traffic, Stores|work=NBC Chicago|date=November 25, 2015 |access-date=January 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101112833/http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Rev-Jesse-Jackson-Calls-for-March-on-Michigan-Avenue-on-Black-Friday-353942231.html|archive-date=January 1, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Public calls for resignation grew steadily over this period, including a well-circulated op-ed published in ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite web|title=Cover-Up in Chicago|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/30/opinion/cover-up-in-chicago.html|date=November 30, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=February 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218193128/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/30/opinion/cover-up-in-chicago.html|archive-date=February 18, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> By early December, Emanuel's approval rating had sunk to 18%, with 67% of Chicagoans disapproving of his job performance, and slightly more than half of those polled calling for his resignation.<ref name="abc7chicago.com">{{cite web|title=Rahm Emanuel's approval rating sinks to 18 percent, according to new poll|date=December 9, 2015|url=http://abc7chicago.com/politics/poll-rahm-emanuels-approval-rating-sinks-to-18-percent-/1114915/|publisher=[[ABC7 Chicago]]|access-date=January 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111160440/http://abc7chicago.com/politics/poll-rahm-emanuels-approval-rating-sinks-to-18-percent-/1114915/|archive-date=January 11, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> During the week of December 10, protestors blocked streets and continued to call for Emanuel to resign.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/protesters-block-downtown-chicago-streets-call-mayor-rahm-emanuel-resign-403158|title=Protesters Block Downtown Chicago Streets and Call on Mayor Rahm Emanuel to Resign|date=December 9, 2015|access-date=December 13, 2015|work=[[Newsweek]]|last=Gorman|first=Michele|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213092929/http://www.newsweek.com/protesters-block-downtown-chicago-streets-call-mayor-rahm-emanuel-resign-403158|archive-date=December 13, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Protesters In Chicago Call For Mayor Rahm Emanuel's Resignation|url=https://www.npr.org/2015/12/10/459250022/protesters-in-chicago-call-for-mayor-rahm-emanuels-resignation|publisher=[[NPR]]|date=December 9, 2015|access-date=December 13, 2015|first=David|last=Schaper|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212235424/http://www.npr.org/2015/12/10/459250022/protesters-in-chicago-call-for-mayor-rahm-emanuels-resignation|archive-date=December 12, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Additional protests against Emanuel and Chicago's Police Department were held on the city's busy Michigan Avenue shopping area on December 24, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|author-link=Kim Jansen|first=Kim|last=Kass|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|title=About 100 'Black Christmas' protestors block shoppers on Mag Mile|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-black-christmas-protests-1225-met-20151224-story.html|date=December 24, 2015|access-date=December 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227003436/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-black-christmas-protests-1225-met-20151224-story.html|archive-date=December 27, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

On December 26, 2015, a police officer killed two people in another shooting, including a woman whom the officer had shot by mistake. On December 28, Emanuel announced that he was cutting short his vacation in Cuba to deal with the crisis.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mayor Rahm Emanuel Cuts Trip to Cuba Short After Police Shooting in Chicago|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/29/us/mayor-rahm-emanuel-cuts-trip-to-cuba-short-after-police-shooting-in-chicago.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 28, 2015|access-date=January 2, 2016|issn=0362-4331|first=Alan|last=Blinder|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101131208/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/29/us/mayor-rahm-emanuel-cuts-trip-to-cuba-short-after-police-shooting-in-chicago.html|archive-date=January 1, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel curtails Cuba trip after police shooting kills 2|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/12/28/mayor-rahm-emanuel-cuts-cuba-trip-short-after-police-shooting-left-2-dead/77979002/|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=January 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102074758/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/12/28/mayor-rahm-emanuel-cuts-cuba-trip-short-after-police-shooting-left-2-dead/77979002/|archive-date=January 2, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Rahm Emanuel's Cuban Vacation|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/429173/rahm-emanuel-cuba-vacation-cut-short|website=National Review Online|date=January 2, 2016|publisher=National Review|access-date=January 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104064509/http://www.nationalreview.com/article/429173/rahm-emanuel-cuba-vacation-cut-short|archive-date=January 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Emanuel announced several changes to the Chicago police department on December 30, including doubling the number of Tasers issued to officers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/30/461518814/chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-announces-further-police-reforms|title=Chicago Mayor Announces More Tasers, Training For Police|date=December 30, 2015|work=NPR.org|access-date=April 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415124841/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/12/30/461518814/chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-announces-further-police-reforms|archive-date=April 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> On New Year's Eve, the Emanuel administration released e-mails revealing they had sought to coordinate with independent agencies such as the Independent Police Review Authority regarding public relations after the shooting.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-laquan-mcdonald-emails-met-0101-20151231-story.html|title=New emails show Emanuel City Hall scramble on McDonald shooting|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|department=Chicago Tribune Exclusive|date=December 31, 2015|access-date=January 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101202859/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-laquan-mcdonald-emails-met-0101-20151231-story.html|archive-date=January 1, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/chicago-releases-hundreds-emails-fatal-police-shooting-36030970|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101085903/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/chicago-releases-hundreds-emails-fatal-police-shooting-36030970|archive-date=January 1, 2016|title=Newly Released Emails Reveal Coordination After Teen's Death|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|first1=Michael|last1=Tarm|first2=Tammy|last2=Webber|first3=Sophia|last3=Tareen|agency=Associated Press }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/12/31/document-drop-reveals-damning-evidence-in-laquan-mcdonald-shooting/|title=Documents: Attorney For Laquan McDonald's Family Accused City Hall Of Cover-Up, Warned Of Controversy|publisher=CBS Chicago|date=December 31, 2015|access-date=January 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104171837/http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/12/31/document-drop-reveals-damning-evidence-in-laquan-mcdonald-shooting/|archive-date=January 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The same day ''[[The New Yorker]]'' added to the wave of negative media attention surrounding the mayor by publishing "The Sudden But Well-Deserved Fall of Rahm Emanuel," an article critically reevaluating Emanuel's legacy as a political operative since the early 1990s.<ref name="newyorker.com"/>

In February 2016, ''Chicago Tribune'' polls reported that Emanuel approval ratings had dropped to 27%, for his role as the Mayor of Chicago.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Emanuel job approval hits record low as Chicagoans reject McDonald video explanation |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-laquan-mcdonald-poll-20160131-story.html |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=February 2016 }}</ref> The ''Chicago Tribune'' stated that this all-time record low job approval confirms a "public crisis in confidence" for Emanuel who had been subjected to weeks of public protests, allegations of him covering up the [[Murder of Laquan McDonald|Laquan McDonald]] police shooting video, as well as federal civil rights investigation of his police department.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-02-01 |title=Emanuel job approval hits record low as Chicagoans reject McDonald video explanation |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-laquan-mcdonald-poll-20160131-story.html |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> For several months, Emanuel claimed that making the video public would jeopardize a federal investigation into the shooting and had refused to allow the video to be shown to the public, even though the Justice Department had not raised any issues with the public release of the footage. It wasn't until a judge forced its release that it was later seen that the contents in the video contradicted the police's narrative of what had occurred. Public backlash resulted from Emanuel's handling of the video, with a "steady barrage" of "Resign Rahm" protests since November".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lartey |first=Jamiles |date=2016-01-20 |title=Rahm Emanuel faces wrath of Chicago's black community over police violence |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jan/20/rahm-emanuel-faces-wrath-chicago-black-community-over-police-violence |access-date=2023-03-14 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

According to ''Chicago Tribunal'' polls, the majority didn't believe Emanuel to be honest nor trustworthy, and 83 percent of polled Chicagoans didn't believe Emanuel's statements on the video, and 68 percent felt that he was not justified in withholding the video from the public.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Phillips |first=Amber |date=2021-11-25 |title=This poll is very, very bad news for Rahm Emanuel |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/02/01/this-poll-is-very-very-bad-news-for-rahm-emanuel/ |access-date=2023-09-12 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In response to the public backlash, Emanuel forced the resignation of Chicago's police chief, Garry McCarthy, as well as generating a plan that promised to reform the city's police department.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pilkington |first=Ed |date=2015-12-03 |title=Laquan McDonald shooting puts Rahm Emanuel in battle over the truth |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/dec/03/laquan-mcdonald-shooting-rahm-emanuel-chicago-political-battle |access-date=2023-09-13 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

====Public education====
In 2012, during the contract negotiations between the city and the [[Chicago Teachers Union]] (CTU), compromise could not be reached over issues like health insurance increases, teacher evaluations, and seniority pay increases.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2012/0911/In-Chicago-strike-teachers-draw-a-line-on-education-reform-video|title=In Chicago strike, teachers draw a line on education reform|date=September 11, 2012|access-date=December 11, 2012|first=Amanda|last=Paulson|work=[[Christian Science Monitor]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208130028/http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2012/0911/In-Chicago-strike-teachers-draw-a-line-on-education-reform-video|archive-date=December 8, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 8, 2012, the CTU voted 90% to authorize a [[Chicago Teachers Union#2012 strike|strike]].<ref name="Moran - 28 Aug 2012">{{cite news|last=Moran|first=Theresa|title=Chicago Teachers Say They'll Strike for the Kids|url=http://labornotes.org/2012/08/chicago-teachers-say-theyll-strike-kids|access-date=September 11, 2012|newspaper=Labor Notes|date=August 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913053354/http://labornotes.org/2012/08/chicago-teachers-say-theyll-strike-kids|archive-date=September 13, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 10, the CTU began a strike<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timeoutchicagokids.com/things-to-do/hipsqueak-blog/180381/chicago-teachers-union-rally-photos|title=Chicago teachers union rally|publisher=Time Out Chicago Kids|access-date=September 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019085033/http://timeoutchicagokids.com/things-to-do/hipsqueak-blog/180381/chicago-teachers-union-rally-photos|archive-date=October 19, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> after CTU President Lewis declared that negotiations with the city were not succeeding.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/09/09/160855857/no-deal-chicago-teachers-to-strike-after-contract-talks-fail|title=No Deal: Chicago Teachers To Strike After Contract Talks Fail|publisher=[[NPR]]|date=September 9, 2012|access-date=September 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910051000/http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/09/09/160855857/no-deal-chicago-teachers-to-strike-after-contract-talks-fail|archive-date=September 10, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 14, the CTU reached a tentative agreement with the city which included preferences for teachers who have been laid off due to a school closing to be hired in another school and student test scores having less of a role in teacher evaluations than the city had originally planned.<ref name="striketentativeend">{{cite news|title=Chicago teachers reach tentative agreement to end strike|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/chicago-teachers-reach-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike/2012/09/14/b0d01452-feae-11e1-8adc-499661afe377_story.html|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Lyndsey|last=Layton|date=September 15, 2012|access-date=September 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212084439/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/chicago-teachers-reach-tentative-agreement-to-end-strike/2012/09/14/b0d01452-feae-11e1-8adc-499661afe377_story.html?hpid=z4|archive-date=December 12, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> This tentative agreement did not hold, and the strike continued, after which Emanuel announced his intention to seek a legal injunction, forcing teachers back to work.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-chicago-schools-idUSBRE88E0IV20120917|title=Emanuel's court bid to end strike stalls, teachers call it 'vindictive'|first1=James B.|last1=Kelleher|first2=Adam|last2=Kirby|work=[[Reuters]]|date=September 17, 2012|access-date=October 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004014737/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/17/us-usa-chicago-schools-idUSBRE88E0IV20120917|archive-date=October 4, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 17, Emanuel's efforts to end the strike stalled as the walkout went into the second week.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/17/13915011-judge-declines-to-expedite-hearing-in-chicago-teacher-strike|title=Judge declines to expedite hearing in Chicago teacher strike|work=[[NBC News]]|date=September 17, 2012|access-date=September 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919235611/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/17/13915011-judge-declines-to-expedite-hearing-in-chicago-teacher-strike|archive-date=September 19, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Delegates from the CTU voted to end the strike on September 18, 2012,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/18/chicago-teachers-vote-to-end-strike/|title=Chicago teachers vote to suspend strike|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=September 18, 2012|date=September 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921021314/http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/18/chicago-teachers-vote-to-end-strike/|archive-date=September 21, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Chicago teachers suspend seven-day strike|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012/09/18/chicago-teachers-are-suspending-seven-day-strike/57799352/1|access-date=September 18, 2012|date=September 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921061819/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012/09/18/chicago-teachers-are-suspending-seven-day-strike/57799352/1|archive-date=September 21, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> and students began their return to the schools the following day.<ref>{{cite news|title= School Days Resume in Chicago as the Lessons From a Strike Are Assessed|work= [[The New York Times]]|first1= Monica|last1= Davey|first2= Steven|last2= Greenhouse|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/20/us/chicago-strike-ends-and-schoolchildren-return-to-class.html|date= September 19, 2012|access-date= September 19, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120920063100/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/20/us/chicago-strike-ends-and-schoolchildren-return-to-class.html|archive-date= September 20, 2012|url-status= live}}</ref>

On September 17, 2013, Emanuel's appointed [[Chicago Board of Education]] announced the closing of 50 Chicago public schools, 49 elementary schools and a high school — the largest school closure in Chicago history.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/05/23/cps-approves-largest-school-closure-in-chicagos-history/|title=CPS approves largest school closure in Chicago's history|date=May 23, 2013|first1=Noreen S.|last1=Ahmed-Ullah|first2=John|last2=Chase|first3=Bob|last3=Secter|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=January 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202210325/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-05-23/news/chi-chicago-school-closings-20130522_1_chicago-teachers-union-byrd-bennett-one-high-school-program|archive-date=February 2, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The trends in dropout and graduation rates have shown considerable improvement in the five years following, but researchers point out the alternative school performance does not follow the general trend.<ref>Carp, Sarah. (19 March 2019). "Dissecting The Soaring Graduation Rate For Black Boys In Chicago." [https://interactive.wbez.org/2019/graduation-rates/ WBEZ News website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507182531/https://interactive.wbez.org/2019/graduation-rates/ |date=May 7, 2019 }} Retrieved 1 May 2019.</ref><ref>University of Nevada, Las Vegas; UNLV's MGM Resorts Public Policy Institute with Todd, Chuck, host. (April 23, 2019)."Conversation with Harry Reid and John Boehner. Also appearing Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, IL. 5:40 minutes in. [https://www.c-span.org/video/?459932-1/conversation-harry-reid-john-boehner C-Span website] Retrieved 1 May 2019.</ref>

====Public health====
On August 16, 2011, Emanuel unveiled "Healthy Chicago", the city's first public health blueprint with [[Chicago Department of Public Health]] Commissioner [[Bechara Choucair]].<ref name="Healthy Chicago">{{cite web|url=http://www.publichealthnewswire.org/?p=886|title=Chicago leaders unveil city's first-ever public health blueprint|access-date=October 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005032654/http://www.publichealthnewswire.org/?p=886|archive-date=October 5, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Emanuel initiated the consolidation of City Council committees from 19 to 16 in a cost control effort.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-258606696.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508153215/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-258606696.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 8, 2013|title=Mayor-Elect Emanuel Announces City Council Reorganization|date=May 11, 2011|access-date=December 7, 2012|work=HighBeam Research}}</ref> On October 30, 2012, Emanuel voiced his support for the demolition of the abandoned [[Old Prentice Women's Hospital Building|Prentice Women's Hospital Building]], in order for [[Northwestern University]], which owns the property, to build a new facility. [[Historic preservation|Preservationists]] supported historical landmark status.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/10/31/bell-tolls-for-old-prentice/|title=Bell tolls for old Prentice|date=October 31, 2012|access-date=December 8, 2012|first=Ron|last=Grossman|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101085940/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-10-31/news/ct-met-old-prentice-emanuel-20121031_1_chicago-architect-bertrand-goldberg-prentice-commission-on-chicago-landmarks|archive-date=November 1, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Days later, the Commission on Chicago Landmarks voted that the building met landmark status criteria then reversed their decision later in the same meeting. On November 15, a judge granted a temporary stay of the decision in order for a lawsuit filed by preservation coalitions against the landmark commission to be heard.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/11/15/prentice-womens-hospital-gets-a-temporary-reprieve/|title=Prentice Women's Hospital gets a temporary reprieve|date=November 15, 2012|access-date=December 8, 2012|first=Ron|last=Grossman|work=[[The Chicago Tribune]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118170248/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-11-15/news/chi-preservationists-sue-over-prentice-womens-hospital-20121115_1_landmark-status-temporary-reprieve-chicago-landmarks|archive-date=November 18, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Lack of transparency ====
During Emanuel's time as mayor of Chicago, two of Emanuel's appointees, [[Barbara Byrd-Bennett]] and Amer Ahmad, were convicted of corruption charges.<ref name="staff">{{Cite web |last=staff |first=Chicago Tribune |date=May 16, 2019 |title=That's a wrap. Here are Rahm Emanuel's top controversies and accomplishments as Chicago's mayor. |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-met-cb-rahm-emanuel-accomplishments-controversies-20190515-story.html |access-date=2021-07-16 |website=chicagotribune.com}}</ref> A third appointee, [[Forrest Claypool]], resigned after the inspector general accused him of a cover up. Emanuel received backlash for defending him against the accusations.<ref name="staff" />

Emanuel rejected requests under the [[Freedom of Information Act (Illinois)|Illinois Freedom of Information Act]] from the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' for various communication and information logs for himself and his staff as "unduly burdensome". After a second request by the ''Chicago Tribune'', they were informed that 90 percent of the emails had been deleted by Emanuel and his top aides.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/11/30/emanuel-denies-records-requests-on-fee-hikes-speed-cameras/|title=Emanuel denies records requests on fee hikes, speed cameras|date=November 30, 2008|access-date=December 11, 2012|work=[[The Chicago Tribune]]|first=David|last=Kidwell|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508154319/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-30/news/ct-met-emanuel-fees-records-20111130_1_speed-cameras-vehicle-sticker-rate-hikes|archive-date=May 8, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, Emanuel came under fire for going against his campaign promise to create "the most open, accountable, and transparent government that the City of Chicago has ever seen".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2011/12/01/the-most-transparent-government-chicago-has-ever-seen-part-1|title=The most transparent government Chicago has ever seen, part 1|date=December 1, 2011|access-date=December 11, 2012|work=[[Chicago Reader]]|first=Mick|last=Dumke|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509063437/http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2011/12/01/the-most-transparent-government-chicago-has-ever-seen-part-1|archive-date=May 9, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Emanuel and his office were found guilty of breaking state law by withholding government emails by transferring them onto his personal phone.<ref name="staff" /> In March 2017, the ''Chicago Tribune'' reported Emanuel released 2,696 emails he had previously withheld. In the emails there were found to be 26 possible violations of lobbying laws. On at least 26 occasions lobbyists, corporate executives, donors, and friends of Emanuel got access to Emanuel or other city officials without registering as a lobbyist or reporting their contact to the ethics board.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dardick|first=Bill Ruthhart, Hal|title=Emails to Emanuel raise questions about dozens of possible lobbying violations|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-emails-lobbyists-registration-met-20170321-story.html|access-date=2021-11-25|website=chicagotribune.com|date=March 21, 2017 }}</ref>

====Tax-exempt status of Lollapalooza====
[[Lollapalooza]], a local summer music festival in [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]], was exempt from taxation. Emanuel's brother [[Ari Emanuel|Ari]] is the co-CEO of [[William Morris Endeavor]], which co-owns the event. In 2011 Rahm Emanuel asked the City Council to appoint an independent third party negotiator, to avoid having the negotiation seen as biased. Although the deal was reached before Emanuel took office, tax breaks must be negotiated every year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/7087418-418/emanuel-wants-independent-look-at-lollapalooza-tax-break.html|title=Emanuel wants independent look at Lollapalooza tax break|date=August 16, 2011|access-date=December 8, 2012|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|first=Fran|last=Spielman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619061528/http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/7087418-418/emanuel-wants-independent-look-at-lollapalooza-tax-break.html|archive-date=June 19, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> It was later revealed that the festival received its tax exemption for 2011 in the final days of the [[Richard M. Daley|Daley]] administration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/County-Changes-Lollapalooza-Tax-Exemption-Rules-138558554.html|title=County Changes Lollapalooza Tax Exemption Rules|date=February 2, 2012|access-date=December 8, 2012|work=[[NBC Chicago]]|first=Lisa|last=Balde|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203102709/http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/County-Changes-Lollapalooza-Tax-Exemption-Rules-138558554.html|archive-date=February 3, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2012, Lollapalooza paid taxes for the first time in seven years and extended its contract to host in Grant Park through 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicagoist.com/2012/03/15/city_extends_lollapalooza_until_202.php|title=Chicago Extends Lollapalooza Deal Through 2021, Tax Breaks For Promoters Pulled|date=March 15, 2012|access-date=December 8, 2012|work=[[Chicagoist]]|first=Chuck|last=Sudo|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150727031428/http://chicagoist.com/2012/03/15/city_extends_lollapalooza_until_202.php|archive-date=July 27, 2015}}</ref>

====Hyperloop====
Rahm Emanuel announced preliminary plans to award [[Elon Musk]] a contract to build a [[Hyperloop]] between downtown Chicago and the city's [[O'Hare International Airport]], although it would receive no public subsidies under this plan. However, some criticized the fact that Elon Musk has in the past donated more than $55,000 to Rahm Emanuel's various election campaigns, suggesting a potential conflict of interest between the two.<ref>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musk-hyperloop-dreams-slam-into-cold-hard-reality Elon Musk Hyperloop Dreams Slam Into Cold Hard Reality] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401112753/https://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musk-hyperloop-dreams-slam-into-cold-hard-reality |date=April 1, 2019 }} Kelly Weill, 03.29.19, Daily Beast</ref>

====Immigration====
Chicago became a ''de jure'' [[sanctuary city]] in 2012 when Emanuel and the City Council passed the Welcoming City Ordinance.<ref>Chicago code [https://chicagocode.org/2/2-173/ Welcoming City Ordinance Chapter 2-173] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810113045/https://chicagocode.org/2/2-173/ |date=August 10, 2018 }}, ''chicagocode.org'' (January 25, 2017).</ref><ref>Welcoming City Ordinance [https://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/mayor/Office%20of%20New%20Americans/PDFs/WelcomeCityOrdinance.pdf Chapter 2-173 Welcoming City Ordinance] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810111213/https://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/mayor/Office%20of%20New%20Americans/PDFs/WelcomeCityOrdinance.pdf |date=August 10, 2018 }}, ''City of Chicago'' (January 25, 2017).</ref>

===Approval ratings===
{{#chart:Rahm Emanuel approval ratings.chart}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Pollster
!Date
!Approve
!Disapprove
!Unsure
!Margin of error
!Sample size
!Polling segment
!Polling method
!Source
|-
|Crain's Chicago Business / Ipsos
|September 2012
|37%
|36%
|27%
|± 4.7%
|Less than 600
|Chicago adults
|Online
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-10-04|title=Rahm's ratings mixed after long, hot summer: Crain's/Ipsos Poll|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20121004/BLOGS02/121009873/voters-split-on-chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-s-performance|access-date=2020-06-07|website=Crain's Chicago Business|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Crain's Chicago Business / Ipsos
|February 2013
|19%
|35%
|45%{{Refn|Includes 30% of respondents who said they had "mixed feelings."|group=note}}
|± 4.7%
|Less than 600
|Chicago adults
|Online
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-02-21|title=Emanuel's poll rating turns negative|url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20130221/BLOGS02/130229963/chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-s-job-approval-rating-drops-significantly-crain-s-ipsos-poll|access-date=2020-06-07|website=Crain's Chicago Business|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Chicago Tribune / WGN-TV
|April 30–April 6, 2013
|50%
|40%
|–
|± 3.2%
|800
|Chicago voters
|Telephone
|<ref>{{Cite web|last=reporter|first=Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune|title=Emanuel's approval slips, especially among black voters|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2013-05-09-ct-met-rahm-emanuel-0509-20130509-story.html|access-date=2020-06-07|website=chicagotribune.com|date=May 9, 2013 |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|APC Research / Chicago Tribune
|August 6–12, 2014
|35%
|–
|–
|± 3.5%
|800
|Chicago registered voters
|Telephone
|<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Pearson|first1=Rick|last2=Ruthhart|first2=Bill|date=August 14, 2014|title=Chicago Tribune poll: Support for Mayor Rahm Emanuel falling fast in Chicago|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/ct-rahm-emanuel-karen-lewis-met-0814-20140814-story.html|access-date=2020-06-07|website=chicagotribune.com}}</ref>
|-
|Illinois Observer
|December 2015
|18%
|67%
|–
|–
|739
|Chicago likely voters
|–
|<ref>{{Cite web|last=WLS|date=2015-12-09|title=Poll: Rahm Emanuel's approval rating sinks to 18 percent|url=https://abc7chicago.com/1114915/|access-date=2020-06-07|website=ABC7 Chicago|language=en}}</ref>
|-
|Research America Inc. / Chicago Tribune
|January 20–28, 2016
|27%
|63%
|–
|±3.2%
|985
|Chicago registered voters
|Telephone
|<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ruthhart|first=Rick Pearson, Bill|title=Emanuel job approval hits record low as Chicagoans reject McDonald video explanation|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-laquan-mcdonald-poll-20160131-story.html|access-date=2020-06-07|website=chicagotribune.com|date=February 2016 }}</ref>
|-
|Kaiser Family Foundation / New York Times
|April 21–May 3, 2016
|25%
|62%
|12%
|± 4%
|1123
|Chicago adults
|Telephone
|<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 2016|title=Kaiser Family Foundation/New York Times Survey of Chicago Residents|url=http://files.kff.org/attachment/Topline-Kaiser-Family-Foundation-New-York-Times-Survey-of-Chicago-Residents|access-date=June 7, 2020}}</ref>
|}

===End of tenure===
Emanuel planned to arrange for a smooth transition between his mayoral administration and that of his elected successor [[Lori Lightfoot]]. Reports were that he intended to model the transition between their administrations upon the [[Presidential transition of Barack Obama|U.S. presidential transition between]] the [[George W. Bush]] and [[Barack Obama]] administrations. Emanuel had been part of that transition as Obama's Chief of Staff designate.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sneed|first=Michael|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/mayor-rahm-emanuel-transition-smooth-bush-obama-bolten-election/|title=SNEED: Mayor Rahm Emanuel is modeling his mayoral transition after the seamless handover George W. Bush made to Barack Obama|publisher=Chicago.suntimes.com|date=March 30, 2019|access-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403012455/https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/mayor-rahm-emanuel-transition-smooth-bush-obama-bolten-election/|archive-date=April 3, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Post-mayoral career ==
[[File:Secretary Blinken Meets with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Emanuel (51803332532).jpg|thumb|Emanuel (left) with US Secretary of State [[Antony Blinken]] in 2022]]
[[File:Kishida Rahm 01.jpg|thumb|Emanuel with Japan's Prime Minister [[Fumio Kishida]] in 2022]]
[[File:20220522 Joe Biden and Rahm Emanuel 01.jpg|thumb|Emanuel and his wife with President Joe Biden in May 2022]]
[[File:Rahm Emanuel on Tokyo Metro Ginza Line 2023-01-04.jpg|thumb|upright|Emanuel riding a [[Tokyo Metro]] train in January 2023]]
Hours after Emanuel left office, the magazine ''[[The Atlantic]]'', where he had written a dozen essays in prior months, made him a [[contributing editor]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-met-rahm-emanuel-contributing-editor-the-atlantic-20190521-story.html|title=Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has a new gig: Journalist|first=Lisa|last=Donovan|website=chicagotribune.com|date=May 21, 2019 |access-date=June 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606002154/https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-met-rahm-emanuel-contributing-editor-the-atlantic-20190521-story.html|archive-date=June 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> however, this honorary title was withdrawn after black staff members objected.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/01/30/atlantic-made-rahm-emanuel-contributing-editor-then-suddenly-he-wasnt/
|title=The Atlantic made Rahm Emanuel a contributing editor. Then, suddenly, he wasn't.
|publisher=[[The Washington Post]] (opinions)
|date=January 30, 2019
|first=Erik
|last=Wemple
|author-link=Erik Wemple
|access-date=February 1, 2020
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201125812/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/01/30/atlantic-made-rahm-emanuel-contributing-editor-then-suddenly-he-wasnt/
|archive-date=February 1, 2020
|url-status=live
}}</ref> In May 2019, he was named founding executive chair of the National BAM Advisory Council of the Becoming A Man youth program.<ref name="1:b">{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2019/05/28/pritzkers-big-win-brady-munoz-stake-in-video-gambling-abortion-bill-fate-uncertain-440275 |title=PRITZKER's BIG WIN — BRADY, MUNOZ stake in video gambling — ABORTION BILL fate uncertain |last=Kapos |first=Shia |date=May 28, 2019 |website=www.politico.com |publisher=[[Politico]] |access-date=May 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530233349/https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2019/05/28/pritzkers-big-win-brady-munoz-stake-in-video-gambling-abortion-bill-fate-uncertain-440275 |archive-date=May 30, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2019, Emanuel joined [[Centerview Partners]] as a senior counselor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-met-rahm-hired-by-wall-street-firm-boutique-firm-20190605-story.html|title=Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to join Wall Street investment firm|first=Gregory Pratt, Lisa|last=Donovan|website=chicagotribune.com|date=June 5, 2019 |access-date=June 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606002230/https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-met-rahm-hired-by-wall-street-firm-boutique-firm-20190605-story.html|archive-date=June 6, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Since July 2019, Emanuel has also served as a political analyst for [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-japan-ambassador-biden-20210511-v7mhkpq7l5gvnkfbzib34k5fcm-story.html|title=Ambassador Rahm Emanuel: Former Chicago mayor reportedly President Joe Biden's pick for Japan|first=Bill|last=Ruthhart|publisher=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=May 11, 2021|access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/rahm-emanuel-abc-news-chicago-mayor-1203267162/|title=Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Joins ABC News as Contributor|first1=Nate|last1=Nickolai|date=July 14, 2019|access-date=October 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215123844/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/rahm-emanuel-abc-news-chicago-mayor-1203267162/|archive-date=December 15, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/fran-spielman-show/2021/1/7/22219317/capitol-riot-rahm-emanuel-trump-republicans-fran-spielman-show|title=Plenty of blame to go around for Capitol chaos, Emanuel says|first=Fran|last=Spielman|publisher=Chicago Sun Times|date=January 7, 2021|access-date=May 30, 2021}}</ref>

=== Potential cabinet position in Biden administration ===
Progressive politicians nationally, including [[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]] and [[Matt Martin (Chicago politician)|Matt Martin]], opposed his potential inclusion in [[Joe Biden]]'s Cabinet, citing his handling of the [[murder of Laquan McDonald]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Byrne|first=John|date=November 14, 2020|title=Secretary Rahm Emanuel? Former Chicago mayor floated for Biden Cabinet spot, but his handling of Laquan McDonald case and 'Mayor 1%' rep remain a drag with progressives|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-chicago-rahm-emanuel-biden-cabinet-20201114-k3sdltxozjbmjeby6mkoeic67u-story.html|access-date=2020-11-17|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Moran|first=Max|date=June 8, 2020|title=Rahm Emanuel, the Worst Man for the Moment|url=https://prospect.org/api/content/dbbf631c-a783-11ea-8902-1244d5f7c7c6/|access-date=November 17, 2020|website=[[The American Prospect]]|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Dillard |first1=Jarrell |title=Ocasio-Cortez Urges Senate to Reject Emanuel's Nomination |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-01/ocasio-cortez-urges-senate-to-reject-emanuel-for-ambassadorship?sref=CIpmV6x8 |access-date=2 September 2021 |work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|date=1 September 2021}}</ref> Initially, Emanuel was considered for [[United States Secretary of Transportation|transportation secretary]] in the Biden administration.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bowden|first=John|date=November 9, 2020|title=Ocasio-Cortez says Rahm Emanuel would be a 'divisive pick' for Biden Cabinet|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/525185-ocasio-cortez-says-rahm-emanuel-would-be-divisive-pick-for-biden-cabinet|access-date=November 17, 2020|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Greenfield|first=John|date=2020-11-11|title=Rahm was good for transportation, but McDonald coverup disqualifies him for USDOT post|url=https://chi.streetsblog.org/2020/11/11/rahm-was-good-for-transportation-but-mcdonald-coverup-disqualifies-him-for-usdot-post/|access-date=November 17, 2020|website=Streetsblog Chicago|language=en-US}}</ref>

===United States ambassador to Japan===
It was reported in February 2021 that Emanuel was being considered by the [[Presidency of Joe Biden|Biden administration]] as an ambassador to either China or Japan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Biden eyes Rahm Emanuel for ambassadorship|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-administration-eyes-rahm-emanuel-ambassadorship-n1256428|access-date=2021-02-02|website=[[NBC News]]|date=February 2, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> In April 2021 it was reported that Biden had chosen him as ambassador to Japan;<ref>{{Cite news|title=Biden chooses Rahm Emanuel for ambassadorship to Japan|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-donors-friends-and-former-aides-expected-on-first-slate-of-high-profile-ambassadors/2021/04/27/4810d3c2-a6c8-11eb-8d25-7b30e74923ea_story.html|access-date=2021-04-27|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|language=en}}</ref> Emanuel was formally nominated to serve as ambassador in August 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=President Biden Announces His Intent to Nominate Three Individuals to Serve as Ambassadors |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/08/20/president-biden-announces-his-intent-to-nominate-three-individuals-to-serve-as-ambassadors/ |website=The White House |date=August 20, 2021 |access-date=16 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last1=Pager | first1=Tyler | last2=Gearan | first2=Anne | title=Biden to nominate Rahm Emanuel to serve as ambassador to Japan | date=August 20, 2021 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/20/biden-nominate-rahm-emanuel-serve-ambassador-japan/ | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | archive-url=https://archive.today/20210820205919/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/20/biden-nominate-rahm-emanuel-serve-ambassador-japan/ | archive-date=August 20, 2021 | url-status=live }}</ref> Hearings were held on Emanuel's nomination in the [[Senate Foreign Relations Committee]] on October 20, 2021. The committee favorably reported Emanuel's nomination to the Senate floor on November 3, 2021. On December 18, 2021, [[United States Senate]] confirmed Emanuel's nomination in a 48–21 vote; senators [[Ed Markey]], [[Jeff Merkley]] and [[Elizabeth Warren]] were the only Democrats to vote against his confirmation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 18, 2021 |title=PN1058 - Nomination of Rahm Emanuel for Department of State, 117th Congress (2021-2022) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/1058 |access-date=January 8, 2022 |website=www.congress.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Rahm Emanuel, of Illinois, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Japan) |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1171/vote_117_1_00526.htm |website=US Senate |access-date=16 March 2022}}</ref> He presented his credentials to Japanese Emperor [[Naruhito]] on March 25, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/U.S.-Ambassador-Emanuel-presents-credentials-to-Japanese-Emperor#:~:text=TOKYO%20%2D%2D%20Rahm%20Emanuel%2C%20the,envoy%20to%20Washington's%20Asian%20ally|title=U.S. Ambassador Emanuel presents credentials to Japanese Emperor|website=www.asia.nikkei.com|date=March 25, 2022|access-date=March 27, 2022}}</ref>

Emanuel gained popularity with the Japanese public, in part by using the [[Rail transport in Japan|local rail transport system]] to get around Tokyo and across the country, frequently posting photographs of himself using the rail systems on Twitter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Steger |first1=Isabella|last2=Tamura |first2=Yasutaka|last3=Reynolds |first3=Isabel |title=Rahm Emanuel's 'Train Geek' Diplomacy Is a Hit in Japan|work=City Lab |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-14/rahm-emanuel-can-t-stop-talking-about-japanese-trains |access-date=May 1, 2023 |date=June 14, 2022}}</ref> However, he drew criticism from some Japanese politicians with his public statements on gay and transgender rights, released while Japanese lawmakers debated an [[LGBT Understanding Promotion Act|anti-discrimination bill]]. [[Masamune Wada]], a [[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democratic]] member of the [[House of Councillors]] responded, saying Emanuel should keep out of domestic politics or risk expulsion.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rich |first1=Motoko |title=As Rahm Emanuel Pushes Japan on Gay Rights, Conservatives Bristle |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/21/world/asia/rahm-emanuel-japan-gay-rights.html |access-date=21 May 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=21 May 2023}}</ref>

In 2024, he became the first U.S. ambassador to visit [[Yonaguni]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-17 |title=US ambassador to Japan visits southern islands at the forefront of China tension |url=https://apnews.com/article/japan-us-ambassador-taiwan-china-disputed-islands-02b5a7c3a8f27afcc59a41f869cb09eb |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> On August 7, 2024, it was announced that he would skip attending a memorial ceremony to the [[Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki|atomic bombing of Nagasaki]] because Israel was not invited to the ceremony.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yamaguchi |first=Mari |date=August 7, 2024 |title=US ambassador to Japan to skip A-bomb memorial service in Nagasaki because Israel was not invited |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-ambassador-japan-skip-bomb-memorial-service-nagasaki-112634902 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807123726/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/us-ambassador-japan-skip-bomb-memorial-service-nagasaki-112634902 |archive-date=August 7, 2024 |access-date=December 18, 2024 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |language=en}}</ref>

=== Post-ambassadorship ===
Following his resignation as ambassador, Emanuel joined the New York-based [[investment banking]] firm [[Centerview Partners]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-01 |title=Rahm Emanuel is coming to Wall Street |url=https://www.semafor.com/article/04/01/2025/former-chicago-mayor-and-democratic-leader-will-rejoin-centerview-partners-to-advise-on-corporate-dealsb |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Semafor |language=en}}</ref>

He also joined [[CNN]] as a commentator and began writing a column for ''[[The Washington Post]]'', as well as appearing on many political [[podcast]]s and the [[lecture circuit]], leading many observers to believe that he is planning to [[2028 United States presidential election|run for president in 2028]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |date=March 12, 2025 |title=Rahm Emanuel Is Gearing Up to Run for President |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/rahm-wants-run-yes-presidency-095500721.html |website=Yahoo!News |location= |publisher=Politico |access-date=2025-05-31}}</ref>

==Political positions==
[[File:Blagojevich medicare.jpg|thumb|Emanuel joins Illinois governor [[Rod Blagojevich]] to advocate changes to [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] legislation, September 24, 2003]]

===Social issues===
Emanuel was described as generally [[Liberalism in the United States|liberal]] on [[social issues]] in 2008. He has maintained a 100-percent [[pro-choice]] voting record and is a strong supporter of gun control, rated "F" by the NRA in December 2003.<ref name="on the issues">[http://www.ontheissues.org/IL/Rahm_Emanuel.htm Rahm Emanuel on the Issues] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081115215316/http://ontheissues.org/IL/Rahm_Emanuel.htm |date=November 15, 2008 }}, [[On the Issues]], November 14, 2008</ref> He strongly supported the banning of numerous rifles based upon "sporting purposes" criteria in 1998.<ref name="NewsHour_19980405">{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/jan-june98/guns_4-6.html|title=Online Focus: Taking Aim|date=April 6, 1998|work=[[The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119084624/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/jan-june98/guns_4-6.html|archive-date=January 19, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During Emanuel's mayoral tenure and congressional term, he was supportive of LGBTQ rights. As mayor, he introducing an ordinance that prohibited public places from denying restroom access based on a person's gender identity, which was passed by the city council, as well as taking steps to remove the exclusion of [[Transgender health care|gender reassignment services]] from city health care benefits, saying, "With this change, Chicago will ensure that transgender city employees are able to receive the medical care that they need."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-08-05 |title=City Announces Transgender Health Care Policy Change {{!}} ACLU of Illinois |url=https://www.aclu-il.org/en/press-releases/city-announces-transgender-health-care-policy-change |access-date=2025-07-22 |website=www.aclu-il.org |language=en}}</ref> While serving in Congress, he was supportive of gay marriage, and he received an endorsement from the [[Human Rights Campaign]], which gave him a score of 100 percent on issues of [[LGBTQ equality]].<ref name="on the issues" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-22 |title=Chicago City Council overturns discriminatory bathroom provision {{!}} ACLU of Illinois |url=https://www.aclu-il.org/en/press-releases/chicago-city-council-overturns-discriminatory-bathroom-provision |access-date=2025-07-22 |website=www.aclu-il.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Debate on Transgender Access to Public Restrooms Heats Up |url=https://news.wttw.com/2016/05/18/debate-transgender-access-public-restrooms-heats |access-date=2025-07-22 |website=WTTW News}}</ref> Since the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 presidential election]], Emanuel has expressed opposition to [[transgender rights]], stating in a 2025 interview that he supports the [[LGBTQ people in prison#V-coding|incarceration of transgender women in men's prisons]] and that he does not believe [[trans women|a man could become a woman]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5412545-rahm-emanuel-transgender-controversy/|title= Rahm Emanuel tells Megyn Kelly a man can't become a woman|first=Tara|last=Suter|date=21 July 2025|access-date=22 July 2025|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/rahm-emanuel-says-hes-going-into-witness-protection-after-trans-rights-diss/|title= Rahm Emanuel Says He's Going Into 'Witness Protection' After Trans Rights Diss|first=Kenneal|last=Patterson|date=22 July 2025|access-date=22 July 2025|work=The Daily Beast}}</ref> He further argued in another interview that Democrats lost the election because they became distracted by defunding the police, climate change and "transgenderism".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/thehonestlypod/status/1948026968110235809|title=How did things go so wrong for the Democrat party? Honestly with Bari Weiss @thehonestlypod}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=July 2025}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Bari |date=2025-07-23 |title=Could Rahm Emanuel Be Our Next President? |url=https://www.thefp.com/p/could-rahm-emanuel-be-our-next-president |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=www.thefp.com |language=en}}</ref> 

=== Healthcare ===
During his original 2002 campaign, Emanuel spoke in support of the goal of "to help make health care affordable and available for all Americans".{{clarify|date=July 2025}}<ref name="newest" /> Emanuel promoted the Obama administration's push for health care reform in 2010 publicly but he privately urged President Obama to narrow his goals. Concerned by [[Bill Clinton]]'s failed attempt at health care reform, he advised Obama early on to pursue a smaller, incremental approach. He pushed for what he believed could be achieved in the short term and making gradual progress instead of aiming for a comprehensive plan. Obama rejected this approach and moved forward with the [[Affordable Care Act]]. When the legislative process stalled in the summer, Emanuel returned to his original position of "playing it safe," repeatedly raising it with the president during the first week of August, advocating for a scaled-down plan focused on expanding coverage for lower-income families and children, and targeting a few specific insurance industry practices. Emanuel argued that the history of health care reform was proof that only incremental progress had succeeded in the past. Obama again declined, telling advisers he was not ready to give up on the comprehensive plan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Peter |date=2010-03-08 |title=The Limits of Rahmism |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/magazine/14emanuel-t.html |access-date=2025-07-22 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> According to reports, Emanuel aggressively pushed and himself admitted that he "begged" Obama for an entire week in the summer of 2009 to not pursue the ACA.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tomasky |first=Michael |date=2010-05-14 |title=Rahm begged Barack, don't do it |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2010/may/14/obama-administration-healthcare-rahm-dontdoit |access-date=2025-08-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-05-14 |title=Rahm Emanuel "Begged" Obama Not to Push Health Care - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rahm-emanuel-begged-obama-not-to-push-health-care/ |access-date=2025-08-22 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

In his 2006 book, co-authored with [[Bruce Reed (political operative)|Bruce Reed]], ''The Plan: Big Ideas for America'', Emanuel advocated a three-month compulsory universal service program for Americans between the ages of 18 and 25.<ref name="Emanuel-Reed2006">{{cite book|url=http://www.readtheplan.com/|title=The Plan: Big Ideas for Change in America|last1=Emanuel|first1=Rahm|first2=Bruce|last2=Reed|publisher=PublicAffairs Books|year=2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128011544/http://www.readtheplan.com/|archive-date=November 28, 2006|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Economic policy===

Emanuel is a strong proponent of [[free trade]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-19 |title=Who could be in Kamala Harris' Cabinet? Here are the leading contenders. |url=https://www.politico.com/interactives/2024/potential-cabinets/harris-who-could-be-in-cabinet/ |access-date=2025-07-22 |website=www.politico.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Foreign policy===
During his original 2002 campaign, Emanuel "indicated his support of [[George W. Bush|President Bush]]'s position on [[Iraq]], but said he believed the President needed to better articulate his position to the American people".<ref name="newest"/> In the 2006 congressional primaries, Emanuel, then head of the Democratic congressional campaign committee, helped organize a run by [[Tammy Duckworth]], an Iraq war veteran with no political experience, against grassroots candidate Christine Cegelis in Illinois' 6th district. Expedited withdrawal from Iraq was a central point of Cegelis' campaign and Duckworth opposed a withdrawal timetable.<ref name="Truthout_Renner_20070906">{{cite web|title=Democratic House Officials Recruited Wealthy Conservatives|first=Matt|last=Renner|date=September 6, 2007|work=[[truthout.org]]|url=http://www.truthout.org/article/special-report-democratic-house-officials-recruited-wealthy-conservatives|access-date=November 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114202744/http://www.truthout.org/article/special-report-democratic-house-officials-recruited-wealthy-conservatives|archive-date=November 14, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Emanuel has been described as a "vocal [[Zionist]]".<ref name=algemeiner2025 /> In June 2007, Emanuel condemned an outbreak of Palestinian violence in the [[Gaza Strip]] and criticized Arab countries for not applying the same kind of pressure on the Palestinians as they have on Israel. At a 2003 pro-Israel rally in Chicago, Emanuel told the marchers that Israel was "ready for peace" but would not get there until Palestinians "turn away from the path of terror".<ref name="FoxNews_Ninan_20081105">{{cite news|last1= Ninan|first1= Reena|first2= Judson|last2= Berger|url= http://article.wn.com/view-travelagents/2008/11/06/With_Emanuel_Obama_Could_Be_Sending_Signal_to_Israel/|access-date= August 31, 2015|title= With Emanuel, Obama Could Be Sending Signal to Israel|agency= Fox News|website= WN.com|publisher= World News Network|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151018235758/http://article.wn.com/view-travelagents/2008/11/06/With_Emanuel_Obama_Could_Be_Sending_Signal_to_Israel/|archive-date= October 18, 2015|url-status= live}}</ref> In 2025, Emanuel said he "support[s] the state of Israel", but that if he were elected president he would be willing to publicly disagree with Israeli policies.<ref name=algemeiner2025 >{{cite news|url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/07/22/rahm-emanuel-defends-support-israel-ahead-potential-us-presidential-run/|title=Rahm Emanuel Defends Support for Israel Ahead of Potential US Presidential Run|first=Corey|last=Walker|work=[[Algemeiner Journal]]|date=22 July 2025|access-date=22 July 2025}}</ref>

== Electoral history ==
;Mayor of Chicago

{{Election box begin no change |title=Chicago mayoral election, 2015: Run-off<ref>{{cite web|title=2015 election results|url=http://elections.chicagotribune.com/results/|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=June 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105084024/http://elections.chicagotribune.com/results/|archive-date=November 5, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Non-partisan
  |candidate  = Rahm Emanuel (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 319,543
  |percentage = 55.7
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Non-partisan
  |candidate  = [[Jesús "Chuy" García]]
  |votes      = 253,981
  |percentage = 44.3
  }}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 573,524
  | percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=Chicago mayoral election, 2015: Primary<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chicagoelections.com/en/wdlevel3.asp?elec_code=10 |title=2015 Municipal General - 2/24/15 -- Mayor |publisher=Chicago Board of Elections Commissioners |access-date=June 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304074043/http://www.chicagoelections.com/en/wdlevel3.asp?elec_code=10 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Non-partisan
  |candidate  = Rahm Emanuel (Incumbent)
  |votes      = 218,217
  |percentage = 45.63
  }}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Non-partisan
  |candidate  = [[Jesús "Chuy" García]]
  |votes      = 160,414
  |percentage = 33.55
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Non-partisan
  |candidate  = [[Willie Wilson (businessman)|Willie Wilson]]
  |votes      = 50,960
  |percentage = 10.66
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Non-partisan
  |candidate  = [[Robert Fioretti]]
  |votes      = 35,363
  |percentage = 7.39
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  |party      = Non-partisan
  |candidate  = William "Dock" Wallis III
  |votes      = 13,250
  |percentage = 2.77
  }}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 478,204
  | percentage = 100
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=[[Chicago mayoral election, 2011|Chicago Mayoral Election, 2011]]<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/22/illinois.elections/index.html?hpt=T2 | work=[[CNN]]| title=Rahm Emanuel wins Chicago mayoral vote | date=February 23, 2011 | access-date=February 23, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223064040/http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/22/illinois.elections/index.html?hpt=T2 | archive-date=February 23, 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref> (General Election)}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party = Non-partisan
|candidate = Rahm Emanuel
|votes = 323,546
|percentage = 55.25
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Non-partisan
|candidate = [[Gery Chico]]
|votes = 140,362
|percentage = 23.97
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Non-partisan
|candidate = [[Miguel del Valle]]
|votes = 54,342
|percentage = 9.28
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Non-partisan
|candidate = [[Carol Moseley Braun]]
|votes = 52,483
|percentage = 8.96
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Non-partisan
|candidate = Patricia Van Pelt Watkins
|votes = 9,604
|percentage = 1.64
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party = Non-partisan
|candidate = William "Dock" Walls III
|votes = 5,291
|percentage = 0.90
}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 585,628
  | percentage = 100
}}

{{Election box end}}

;US House of Representatives
{{s-start}}
|-
| colspan=10 |{{center|'''[[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House]], [[Illinois's 5th congressional district|5th District of Illinois]]''' (General Election)}}
|-
!Year
!Winning candidate
!Party
!Pct
!Opponent
!Party
!Pct
!Opponent
!Party
!Pct
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2002|2002]]
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Rahm Emanuel'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |67%
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Mark Augusti
|{{party shading/Republican}} |[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|{{party shading/Republican}} |29%
|{{party shading/Libertarian}} |Frank Gonzalez
|{{party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{party shading/Libertarian}} |4%
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2004|2004]]
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Rahm Emanuel''' (inc.)
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |76%
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Bruce Best
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Republican
|{{party shading/Republican}} |24%
|
|
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2006|2006]]
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Rahm Emanuel''' (inc.)
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |78%
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Kevin White
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Republican
|{{party shading/Republican}} |22%
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2008|2008]]
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Rahm Emanuel''' (inc.)
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Democratic
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |74%
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Tom Hanson
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Republican
|{{party shading/Republican}} |22%
|{{party shading/Green}} |Alan Augustson
|{{party shading/Green}} |[[Green Party (United States)|Green]]
|{{party shading/Green}} |4%
{{s-end}}

==Personal life==
[[File:Rahm Emanuel and Amy Rule FhCNl3YacAEajMX (1).jpg|thumb|Emanuel and his wife, Amy Rule, in 2022]]
Emanuel and his wife, Amy Merritt Rule, have a son and two daughters. As of 2011, their family lived in the [[Ravenswood, Chicago|Ravenswood]] neighborhood on Chicago's north side.<ref>{{cite news|title=Emanuel's wife prefers life outside spotlight|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/02/23/emanuels-wife-prefers-life-outside-spotlight/|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=February 23, 2011|access-date=March 1, 2013|first1=Jeff|last1=Coen|first2=Rex W.|last2=Huppke|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508140730/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-02-23/news/ct-met-emanuel-wife-amy-rule-20110223_1_emanuel-campaign-rahm-emanuel-antonia-contro|archive-date=May 8, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Rule [[Conversion to Judaism|converted]] to Judaism shortly before their wedding.<ref name="Azoulay">{{cite news|first=Orly|last=Azoulay|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3616306,00.html|title=Obama's Israeli adviser: Next White House chief of staff?|work=[[Ynet]]|date=November 2, 2008|access-date=November 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106101811/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3616306,00.html|archive-date=November 6, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Emanuel is a close friend of fellow Chicagoan [[David Axelrod (political consultant)|David Axelrod]], chief strategist for Obama's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaign, and Axelrod signed the [[ketuba]], the Jewish marriage contract, at Emanuel's wedding.<ref name="Newsweek_Smalley_20080414">{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/130605|title=Come, O Come, Emanuel|first1=Suzanne|last1=Smalley|first2=Evan|last2=Thomas|newspaper=[[Newsweek]]|date=April 14, 2008|access-date=November 9, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081108034621/http://www.newsweek.com/id/130605|archive-date=November 8, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> The Emanuels are members of the Chicago synagogue [[Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel]].<ref name="newest"/> Rabbi [[Asher Lopatin]] of the congregation described Emanuel's family as "a very involved Jewish family", adding that "Amy was one of the teachers for a class for children during the High Holidays two years ago".<ref name="newest"/> Emanuel has said of his Judaism: "I am proud of my heritage and treasure the values it has taught me."<ref name="newest"/> Emanuel's children attended the private [[University of Chicago Laboratory Schools]] in the [[Hyde Park, Chicago|Hyde Park]] neighborhood on the [[South Side (Chicago)|South Side]] of Chicago.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-chooses-private-school-for-kids/2011/07/21/gIQAzES7RI_blog.html|title=Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel chooses private school for kids|first=Valerie|access-date=January 22, 2013|last=Strauss|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=July 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616184802/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/chicago-mayor-rahm-emanuel-chooses-private-school-for-kids/2011/07/21/gIQAzES7RI_blog.html|archive-date=June 16, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Each year during the [[Christmas and holiday season|winter holidays]], Emanuel takes a family trip on which his children can be exposed to other cultures and parts of the world. Prior family trips have been to [[Vietnam]], [[India]], [[Kenya]], [[Zambia]], and South America. His 2015 holiday trip was scheduled for the island of [[Cuba]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Byrne|first=John|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-cuba-family-vacation-20151202-story.html|title=After police shake-up, Emanuel cancels Paris trip, keeps family vacation to Cuba|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=December 2, 2015|access-date=December 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151202220906/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-rahm-emanuel-cuba-family-vacation-20151202-story.html|archive-date=December 2, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Emanuel is a longtime [[JoJo (singer)|JoJo]] fan and attended her concert in Chicago in November 2016. He trains for and participates in [[triathlons]].<ref name="Fortune_Easton_20061002" /> In 2011, he scored 9th out of 80 competitors in his age group. A passionate cyclist, he rides a custom-built, state-of-the-art Parlee road bike.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/14740206-418/rahm-sets-pace-for-some-tri-athletes.html|title=Rahm sets pace for some tri-athletes|last=Dudek|first=Mitch|date=August 26, 2012|newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|access-date=May 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828040936/http://www.suntimes.com/news/14740206-418/rahm-sets-pace-for-some-tri-athletes.html|archive-date=August 28, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Publications==
=== Books ===
* ''The Plan: Big Ideas for America'', [[PublicAffairs]], August 2006 (co-authored with [[Bruce Reed (political operative)|Bruce Reed]])<ref>{{Cite book |editor-last=Emanuel |editor-first=Rahm |editor-last2=Reed |editor-first2=Bruce |editor2-link=Bruce Reed (political operative) |date=2008 |title=The Plan: Big Ideas for Change in America |edition=1st [pbk.] |location=New York |publisher=Public Affairs |isbn=978-1-58648-412-5}}</ref>

=== Articles ===
* "Why Chicago Leads on Police Reform", ''[[The New York Times]]'', May 8, 2019<ref>{{Cite web |last=Emanuel |first=Rahm |date=May 8, 2019 |title=Why Chicago Leads on Police Reform |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/08/opinion/rahm-emanuel-chicago-police-reform.html |department=Opinion |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=April 10, 2024}}</ref>
* "How Not to Lose to Donald Trump", ''[[The Atlantic]]'', March 10, 2019<ref>{{Cite web |last=Emanuel |first=Rahm |date=2019-03-10 |title=How Not to Lose to Donald Trump |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/03/how-democrats-can-beat-trump-2020/584512/ |website=[[The Atlantic]] |access-date=2024-04-10 |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[History of the Jews in Chicago]]
* [[List of Jewish members of the United States Congress]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
;Biography
* {{cite book |last=Bendavid |first=Naftali |title=The Thumpin': How Rahm Emanuel and the Democrats Learned to Be Ruthless and Ended the Republican Revolution |location=New York |publisher=Doubleday |date=May 8, 2007 |isbn=978-0-385-52328-8 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/thumpinhowrahmem0000bend}}

;Articles
* {{cite news |last=Bendavid |first=Naftali |title=The House that Rahm Built |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=November 12, 2006 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-0611120215nov12,1,2323509.story}}
* {{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,,1944305,00.html |title=Profile: Rahm Emanuel |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=November 10, 2006 |location=London}}
* {{cite web |last=Frankel |first=Rebecca |url=http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/10236/ |title=The five most infamous Rahm Emanuel moments |work=[[Foreign Policy]] |date=November 6, 2008 |access-date=March 4, 2010}}
* {{cite interview |last=Emanuel |first=Rahm |interviewer=Terry Gross |title=Democratic Caucus Chair Rahm Emanuel |work=[[Fresh Air]] |publisher=[[National Public Radio]]/[[WHYY-FM]] |location=Philadelphia |date=January 11, 2007 |access-date=March 3, 2010 |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6808381}} Twenty minute interview.
* {{cite news |last=Hendrix |first=Steve |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/21/AR2006102101049.html |url-access=subscription |title=Fighting for the Spoils |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 22, 2006}}
* {{cite news |last=Kampeas |first=Ron |title=Rahm Emanuel: attack dog, policy wonk, committed Jew |publisher=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] |date=November 9, 2008 |url=http://jta.org/news/article/2008/11/09/1000859/rahm-emanuel-attack-dog-policy-wonk-committed-jew |access-date=March 4, 2010}}
* In April 2011, the VOA [[Special English]] service of the [[Voice of America]] broadcast a 15-minute program on Rahm Emanuel. A transcript and MP3 of the program, intended for English learners, can be found at [https://web.archive.org/web/20110427090426/http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/Rahm-Emanuel-Gets-Ready-for-New-Job-as-Mayor-of-Chicago-120570424.html Rahm Emanuel Gets Ready for New Job as Mayor of Chicago.]
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|wikt=no|commons=Category:Rahm Emanuel|b=no|n=no|q=Rahm Emanuel|s=Rahm Israel Emanuel|v=no|species=no|author=yes}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=e000287 | votesmart=33530 | fec=H2IL05092 | congress= }}
* {{C-SPAN|26079}}
* [http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/ArticleArchives?tag=Rahm%20Emanuel Rahm Emanuel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204092152/http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/ArticleArchives?tag=Rahm%20Emanuel |date=February 4, 2014 }} archive at the ''[[Chicago Reader]]''
* [http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/politics/government/rahm-emanuel-PEPLT000007532.topic Rahm Emanuel news, photos and video] at the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
* {{IMDb name|0256043}}

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