After a 3-hour meeting behind closed doors Friday night with nearly two dozen key Latino political leaders — there is no consensus yet of who will run for mayor, but instead they’ve decided to poll Chicago voters. The focus is on which one of these three will run: Congressman Luis Gutierrez, Cook County Commissioner Chuy Garcia and Alderman Ricardo Munoz.
Gutierrez had announced he was leaving Congress and planned to help Puerto Rico as it recovers from two hurricanes last year. But Mayor Emanuel’s decision not to seek a third term, has Gutierrez saying “I am humbled” as he’s received calls to enter the race.
Hoping to replace Guttierez in Congress is Garcia — who had forced Emanuel into a runoff in 2015. Garcia tells NBC 5 “he’s keeping his options open.” If Garcia gets in, it would mean two campaigns within months, as he’s on the November ballot for Congress. Munoz, had already announced he would not run again as alderman, but is also weighing whether to run for mayor and notes he’s a proven vote getter after more than 20 years at City Hall.
State Comptroller Susanna Mendoza, who officially says she’s focusing on her statewide re-election is also believed to be weighing a mayoral run, but is not expected to make a decision until after the November 6 election. She is not part of the coalition that met Friday.
