CHICAGO — Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s reelection coffers contained more than $8 million Tuesday morning when the Mayor surprised the entire city with the announcement he won’t seek a third term, leaving the top post up for grabs.
The $8,336,211 raised for Rahm far outpaces the $1,484,156 raised as of Tuesday by nine of Emanuel’s 11 challengers. Two of the 11 candidates hoping to unseat (and now succeed) the mayor have not raised any money yet, according to Illinois Sunshine, a nonprofit that tracks campaign funding.
Emanuel’s campaign fund, Citizens to Elect Rahm Emanuel, had $7,560,291 in it at the close of the last quarter on June 30, and has since raised more than $775,000, with $8,336,211 in the fund as of Tuesday, records show.
Emanuel doesn’t have to return that cash — although he can’t use it for personal expenses. He could sit on it for use in future runs for office. He could pay campaign bills. He could contribute it to other candidates. Or he could donate it to charity.
Among the 11 candidates vying for the job, the contender with the most money raised to support her campaign so far is Lori Lightfoot, former president of the Chicago Police Board.
Lightfoot’s campaign committee Lightfoot for Chicago had $458,903 in its war chest at the close of the last quarter ending June 30, and since then has amassed more than $93,000, for a total of $552,031 as of Tuesday.
Former CEO of Chicago Public Schools Paul Vallas’ campaign fund, Paul Vallas for All Chicago had $435,207 in it at the close of the last quarter ending June 30, and since then added $8,500, for a total of $443,707 as of Tuesday.
Former Chicago Police superintendent Garry McCarthy’s campaign committee, “GMFM-Garry McCarthy For Mayor,” had $173,023 at the close of the last quarter ending June 30, and since then has amassed more than $73,000, for a total of $246,699 as of Tuesday.
Over the weekend, McCarthy slammed Emanuel at Taste of Polonia, a Polish fest in Jefferson Park. “The only thing that’s gotten better in the last seven years in Chicago is the Cubs and the mayor will take credit for that,” McCarthy told the crowd.
Willie Wilson’s Willie Wilson for Mayor campaign fund had $54,494 in it at the close of the last quarter ending June 30, and since then has added more than $102,000 for a total of $156,494 as of Tuesday.
Neal Sales-Griffins’ campaign committee had $19,641 at the close of the quarter ending June 30, and has raised over $13,200 since then, for a total of $32,891 as of Tuesday.
Activist Ja’Mal Green’s Green for Chicago campaign committee had $4,657 at the close of the last quarter ending June 30, and has raised over $24,000 since then, for a total of $29,157.
Green credited activists for Emanuel’s decision, saying he thought organizing against politicians played “the biggest role.” Green led protests and campaigns against Emanuel and McCarthy, even getting arrested during one during a march at the Taste of Chicago in 2016.
Troy LaRaviere’s Troy for Chicago campaign committee had $3,212 at the close of the quarter ending June 30, and has brought in over $7,200 since then, for a total of $10,427 as of Tuesday.
Dorothy Brown’s campaign fund, Friends of Dorothy Brown, had $2,571 in it at the close of the last quarter ending June 30, and since then has raised more than $7,500, for a total of $10,071 as of Tuesday.
Amara Enyia’s Friends of Amara Enyia campaign committee had $2,674 at the close of the last quarter ending June 30, and has not raised any money since then.
Matthew Roney’s Roney for Chicago campaign committee, has not raised any money since its formation on June 10, records show.
John Kozlar’s campaign committee, Supporters of John K. Kozlar for a Better Chicago, also appears to have no money in its coffers. The nascent committee was launched on July 17, records show.