Election 2008 Thu Nov 06 2008

Illinois Congressional Delegation Musical Chairs

Senator Obama's victory Tuesday creates a senate vacancy; his request to Rahm Emanuel to be his chief of staff could create a Congressional vacancy; the appointment of a Senator to replace President-Elect Obama will likely create another Congressional vacancy; and the filling of those two Congressional seats will probably create two General Assembly vacancies. Who will go where? Political junkies love these games.

Greg Hinz at Crain's speculates on the larger question of Chicagoans going to DC. And who will be the new Senate President!? Could that factor in!?

UPDATE: Politico is reporting that Rahm Emanuel has accepted the job as President-Elect Obama's Chief of Staff.

Follow after the fold for more.

The leading candidate has to be Jesse Jackson Jr., one of Obama's national co-chairs, and the new generation South Side power broker. Jackson made the rounds on the cable news networks and said he wanted the job without saying he wanted the job, in that way politicians have of doing that. With Blagojevich telling reporters that Obama's choice would have a "great deal of weight" with him, you have to figured Jackson's in the lead.

If it is Jackson, it'd be safe to guess that his wife would take his place.

But what if it's Jan Schakowsky? Who would succeed her in the House? Any number of Lakefront aldermen and state legislators, not to mention her own considerable stable of progressive activist supporters and staffers, would likely crowd a field. Alderman Joe Moore (49th) has a head for national politics, and is a member of the Democratic National Committee. Harry Osterman seems happy where he is, but he's there.

More tantalizing is the potential of Emanuel's 5th District seat, where state Senator John J. Cullerton would have to be strongly considering a run if his shot at becoming Senate President dwindles, a story Zorn covers pitch-perfectly. The Daily Herald's reports that Forrest Claypool is uninterested, much to President Stroger's chagrin. Less so Quigley, who apparently jumped out of his chair. Other candidates in the 5th District would be state Representative John Fritchey and Alderman Tom Allen, and also Bill Daley Jr., the Mayor's nephew (you read that right, don't act surprised).

Of course, then those seats would become vacant, so...

Speculate on choices and replacements.

— Ramsin Canon / Comments (0)