Neal Runs For Mayor

Neal sits down with Wailin and Shaun to process the surprise announcement that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will not be running for reelection.

Show Notes

On September 4, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel unexpectedly announced he was not going to run for a third term. Not too long before that, Rahm and Neal met one-on-one for over an hour. What did they talk about, and what does Neal's campaign look like now that the race's incumbent and most well-funded candidate has dropped out? Neal stops by the studio to discuss.

Show Notes
  • Rahm's announcement coincided with the start of the murder trial of Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, who shot teenager Laquan McDonald in 2014. Follow the Chicago Tribune's updates on the trial. (4:07)


  • Bill Daley's father and brother have served as mayor of Chicago. He used to be Commerce Secretary and White House Chief of Staff, a position he took over from Rahm. Bill Daley has announced he's running for mayor. (4:42)

  • Kurt Summers is Chicago city treasurer. As of this episode, he has not announced a mayoral bid. (4:44)


  • In August, a 15-year-old boy was killed and a 14-year-old boy was injured during a shooting at a Chicago basketball tournament. (7:56)

  • Toni Preckwinkle is the president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and expected to announce a run for mayor. (10:57)





What is Neal Runs For Mayor?

Go behind the scenes of Neal Sáles-Griffin's quest to become mayor of Chicago. Follow along as a first-time candidate navigates the byzantine world of Chicago politics, and hear from Neal's colleagues, friends, family—and Neal himself.