Monday, October 13, 2014
Rahm Opponent Has Cancerous Brain Tumor, Drops Bid For Chicago Mayor
Karen Lewis, the Chicago Teachers Union president who recent polls show beating incumbent Mayor Rahm Emanuel, has dropped out of the Democratic race for mayor next year. Lewis was hospitalized more than a week ago with a serious, mystery illness. The Sun-Times is reporting that doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital found a cancerous brain tumor. She had surgery this past week and is beginning a regimen of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
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A couple years ago, I heard Chicago's mayoral election was now non-partisan. I looked it up and found that they've been nonpartisan since 1999. Why would they be having a Democratic primary?
Technically speaking, you are correct; however, there is no other viable party other than the Democratic Party in Chicago. No Republican has been elected mayor since the Great Depression, and the days when a Republican would occasionally win a seat on the council are long gone. The Chicago municipal election is brokered entirely by Democratic Party operatives so whether it is deemed a partisan or nonpartisan election is of no practical relevance.
I should add that it is always discussed in partisan terms by both parties. See this press release from the Chicago GOP:
A new poll shows that a hypothetical Republican candidate for mayor of Chicago is only six points behind Karen Lewis while several incumbent Aldermen are struggling with low community support.
A poll conducted August 8-10 on behalf of the Chicago Republican Party tested the effect of adding a "qualified Republican" to the mix in the mayor's race and in a number of Aldemanic races.
In the Mayoral race, Rahm Emanuel took 33.9%, Chicago Teacher's Union President Karen Lewis took 20.6%, and a "Qualified Republican" took 14.3% with 31.3% undecided.
"This is an anti-incumbent year," said Cleveland. "A strong Republican could make the runoff, and then anything could happen." Republicans have been elected Mayor in recent memory in other major American cities, including New York and San Diego.
"It's amazing that an unnamed, hypothetical Republican is only 6 points behind Karen Lewis and 15 points behind Rahm Emanuel," said Cleveland. "It's a real opportunity for Republicans."
In some wards an unnamed, hypothetical Republican was a strong contender for Alderman as well.
http://www.chicagogop.com/
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