2011 Chicago mayoral election facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Chicago mayoral election, 2011

← 2007 February 22, 2011 2015 →
Turnout	42.3% 9.22 pp
Candidate Rahm Emanuel Gery Chico Miguel del Valle Popular vote 326,331 141,228 54,689 Percentage 55.19% 23.89% 9.25%   Candidate Carol Moseley Braun Popular vote 53,062 Percentage 8.97%
Mayor before election Richard M. Daley Elected Mayor Rahm Emanuel

In 2011, the city of Chicago, Illinois held an election to choose its next mayor. This election was special because the current mayor, Richard M. Daley, decided not to run again. He had been the mayor since 1989.

To become a candidate, people needed to collect 12,500 signatures from citizens. These signatures had to be gathered by November 22, 2010. If no candidate won more than half of the votes, a second election, called a runoff, would have been held on April 5, 2011.

Rahm Emanuel won the election with over 55% of the votes. He became the new mayor of Chicago on May 16, 2011.

Who Ran for Mayor?

Six people were officially on the ballot for the election on February 22. They each had different backgrounds and experiences.

Meet the Candidates

• Gery Chico: He used to be a top assistant to Mayor Richard M. Daley. He also led the City Colleges of Chicago.
• Miguel del Valle: He was the City Clerk of Chicago, a job that handles city records. He also served as an Illinois State Senator.
• Rahm Emanuel: Before running for mayor, he was a very important person in the White House. He worked as the White House Chief of Staff for the President. He was also a U.S. Representative for Illinois.
• Carol Moseley Braun: She had been a U.S. Senator from Illinois. She also served as a U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand.
• Patricia Van Pelt Watkins: She was known for her work with non-profit groups and as an activist.
• William "Dock" Walls: He was a community activist and a businessman. He had also worked for a previous Chicago mayor, Harold Washington.

Images for kids

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  Chairman
  Gery Chico

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  City Clerk
  Miguel del Valle

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  Former Chief of Staff
  Rahm Emanuel

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  Former U.S. Senator
  Carol Moseley Braun

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  Activist
  Patricia Van Pelt Watkins

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  Businessman
  William Walls