Illinois Democratic Senate nominee?
$1.5M
MAR 18, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer Mayor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age66 years old (Nov 29, 1959)
GenderMale
Show moreShow less
BackgroundPolitician
EducationSarah Lawrence College (B.A.), 1981
Notable personal detailsRahm Israel Emanuel is an American Democratic politician and former White House official who represented Illinois’s 5th congressional district in the U.S. House (2003–2009) and served as White House Chief of Staff (2009–2010). He was Mayor of Chicago (2011–2019) and later served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan (2022–2025). He earned a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Northwestern University.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Rahm Emanuel has supported large federal stimulus spending and infrastructure investment while as Chicago mayor he framed budgets emphasizing no broad tax increases but also proposed targeted property-tax increases and pension-related revenue measures. His record contains both advocacy for government spending to stimulate the economy and instances of resisting some tax increases while endorsing or proposing specific local tax/revenue actions to address budget shortfalls and pensions.
Healthcare
Opposes Medicare-for-All and large-scale single-payer replacement of the ACA while supporting building on the Affordable Care Act, a public option/expanded buy-in (e.g., earlier Medicare buy-in for older Americans), and targeted expansions and cost-control measures; has also proposed stronger federal pandemic preparedness infrastructure.
Show moreShow less
Immigration & Border
Supports protections for DACA recipients and has promoted Chicago as a welcoming/sanctuary city with limits on local cooperation with federal immigration detainers; has urged federal immigration reform and protections for Dreamers while framing immigration as contributing to the economy and communities.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate holds a consistently pro-choice position and has a long record of supporting abortion access and reproductive rights. Voting records and ratings show strong pro-choice alignment and he has publicly criticized politicians who flip toward restricting abortion access.
Climate & Energy
Supports the Paris Agreement’s emissions goals and has advanced citywide clean-energy and emissions-reduction policies, including commitments to power municipal buildings with 100% renewable electricity (initially by 2025) and to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions consistent with Paris targets. Implemented city actions to close coal-fired plants, expand energy-efficiency and resilience planning, and pursue electrification of transit. These policies favor substantial clean-energy investment while allowing transitional approaches (RECs, utility contracts) to meet targets.
Public Safety & Guns
Rahm Emanuel has supported renewed federal restrictions on assault weapons and stronger background checks and has pursued local measures in Chicago to limit illegal gun sales and regulate gun retailers. As mayor he pushed for divestment from gun manufacturers, videotaping of gun sales to deter straw purchases, and national action on comprehensive background checks while emphasizing law-enforcement–focused crime reduction measures.
News
Rahm Emanuel is drawing attention for a series of moves that look like early positioning for a possible 2028 Democratic presidential run. He has been testing support in New Hampshire and using a high-profile speech in Tel Aviv to criticize Netanyahu and U.S. policy toward Israel, while still backing U.S. arms sales. He has also floated policy ideas such as banning federal employees from betting in prediction markets. The Israel remarks have become a major part of the speculation around his potential campaign.
Rahm Emanuel's uphill climb in New Hampshire tests a 2028 presidential bid
Emanuel kicks tires on a 2028 bid with a New Hampshire bike tour
Rahm Emanuel says federal workers shouldn't bet on politics
Rahm Emanuel proposes banning all federal employees from betting on prediction markets
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising