A new survey commissioned by the Chicago Teachers Union shows Mayor Rahm Emanuel could be forced into a runoff election folllowing the February primary.
The data from the survey conducted by Lake Research Partners shows Jesus “Chuy” Garcia inching closer and possibly making the race for mayor tight.
The survey found that between Emanuel, Garcia, and Ald. Bob Fioretti, Emanuel leads with 33 percent of the vote. He is followed by Garcia with 18 percent and Fioretti with 13.
If the race is narrowed to a head-to-head contest between Emanuel and Garcia, it comes down to 5 points, with Emanuel taking 36 percent of the vote and 31 percent to Garcia.
In order to avoid a runoff election, Emanuel woudl need a vote total of 50 percent plus one.
At least 30 percent of those surveyed were undecided. The poll had an error margin of plus or minus 3.9 percent.
Garcia is being backed by the CTU after CTU President Karen Lewis decided not to run following health concerns.
Garcia, a former alderman, state senator and current Cook County Commission launched a mayoral run to fill the role that Lewis was heading toward: representing the progressive movement in the city election.
“Chuy is the right leader for the right time to move our city forward,” Lewis said.
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A spokesman for Fioretti told the Chicago Sun-Times the numbers show Emanuel is “unpopular and beatable,” noting that “Bob intends to give voters a choice: more of the same or a new direction.”
Emanuel’s office could not be reached for comment Monday.
