Chicago’s next mayoral election won’t happen until February 26, 2019, but current Mayor Rahm Emanuel already seems to be settling back into campaign mode. On Monday, he landed on the front page of the Chicago Tribune with an interview that addressed his low approval ratings and the various controversies (the Laquan McDonald shooting, tax hikes and police reform) that have haunted his tenure. In spite of recent poll numbers, Emanuel seems confident about his chances (and his ability to fundraise), telling the Tribune, “Look, I’ve run six times… I’m six-for-six. I’ll have the resources.”
Last night, Emanuel appeared on Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show, sitting down with the host for a conversation that seemed designed to highlight Emanuel’s progressive agenda. Colbert asked him to clarify his recent claim that Chicago is a “Trump-free zone,” to which Emanuel replied, “Our motto: A city he’ll never sleep in. We don’t want him here.” He also highlighted the city’s community college scholarship program, the city’s lawsuit against U.S. Steel over a toxic spill in Lake Michigan and Chicago’s status as a “welcoming city” to immigrants.
The Chicago Stories podcast that Emanuel launched earlier this year was also a topic of conversation, though Colbert quickly declined an offer to be a guest on a future episode. Emulating the “fast round” segment that concludes every episode of Chicago Stories, Emanuel revealed his preference for thick-crust pizza and 16-inch softball.
Watch the full Late Show interview below and get used to seeing Emanuel’s face on your screen—campaign ad season will be here before you know it.
