What's next for Rahm Emanuel?

WASHINGTON-He’s not done.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is in the mix for Democratic National Committee chair — and if there are vacancies — governor and senator. He told the Sun-Times he is weighing his options about the next “best way to serve.”

Emanuel texted me: “First come home second talk and listen to folks at home about best way to serve and build what we care about.”

Emanuel ponders his future from Tokyo as Democrats are at a low point, reeling from Donald Trump taking the White House again and bringing with him a Republican Senate and House.

I’ve talked to people who know about some of the conversations Emanuel is having, and what is clear is, I’m told, he is interested in another political role. Emanuel’s been a House member, White House chief of staff, mayor and is winding up a stint as an ambassador. Emanuel, who turns 65 on Nov. 29, is not about to retire.

He is exploring opportunities that may be available in the 2026 cycle. But it’s not all up to him.

Gov. JB Pritzker, 59, has to decide if running for a third term in 2026 makes him, if he wins reelection, a stronger contender in his expected entry into the 2028 Democratic presidential primary.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who turned 80 on Thursday, and was first elected to the Senate in 1997, has yet to announce whether he will be seeking a sixth term.

The 2022 elections were snoozers in Illinois. There were no statewide contests to fight over. The Illinois political landscape will likely be much different in 2026. There could be big primary brawls if Pritzker and Durbin don’t run again. There is a lot of pent-up demand among Democrats — and I’m talking about every statewide official and some members of Congress — wanting to move up.

Let’s break this down:

Emanuel and the race for Democratic National Committee chair

The race is already on for the next chair of the Democratic National Committee. Committee chair Jamie Harrison is not expected to seek a second term.

This is an inside election, where the chair is voted on by committee members. Announced candidates so far are Ken Martin, the Minnesota Democratic chairman, and Martin O’Malley, the former Maryland governor. Other names mentioned include Ben Wikler, the Wisconsin Democratic chairman and Michael Blake, a former committee vice chair and ex-New York State Assembly member. I got to know Blake in 2007 when he was in Iowa as an early volunteer for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.

Democratic strategist David Axelrod, Emanuel’s longtime friend, floated Emanuel’s name on his “Hacks on Tap” podcast this month.

“If they said, 'Well, what should we do? Who should lead the party?' I would take Ambassador Rahm Emanuel,” he said.

There is some interest in Emanuel, I’m told, among elements of the party who see him as a leader able to figure out how to revive the Democrats after the 2024 debacle. He’s a strong strategist, extraordinary fundraiser and an effective messenger.

But Emanuel has his detractors. As Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, posted on X about Emanuel running for DNC chair, “The DNC needs an organizer who gets people. Not someone who sends fish heads in the mail.”

That’s a reference to a famous story about Emanuel once sending a political enemy a dead fish.

Emanuel’s next step may depend on if Pritzker, Durbin seek reelection

It’s not clear where Emanuel’s interests lie. Seems senator or governor would fit better, in my analysis, than Democratic National Committee chair.

Pritzker is more likely to stay put than Durbin.

Durbin, I’m told, is getting annoyed with people asking him if he is going to retire. I get it. As he considers running again, he also has to reckon with a Senate under Republican control come January and Trump in the White House.

Durbin is the No. 2 leader in the Senate, elected to the “whip” post for every session since 2005. He’s also the Senate Judiciary Committee chair, busy these past days in getting judges confirmed before time runs out.

But he is 80. Durbin would be 86 at the end of this term. Voters just went through dealing with an aging President Joe Biden.

Before Durbin goes public with his decision about running again — he’s got another election coming up, an internal vote among the Democratic senators in December for their leadership spots. Durbin wants to stay as the Democratic whip. And as the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.

Emanuel is making calls. He’s talking about more than one thing. He’s exploring.

He’s not done.