Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is laying the groundwork for a potential presidential run in 2028, leveraging his extensive political experience and a newly sharpened focus on education to position himself as a centrist Democrat ready to take on Trumpism, according to an in-depth profile by Politico Magazine published Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Since returning from his role as US ambassador to Japan in January, Emanuel has wasted no time re-entering the domestic political fray, appearing on podcasts, securing a CNN contract, and penning regular columns for The Washington Post, all while testing a campaign message centered on America's educational crisis.
Emanuel was born to Israeli parents who had moved to Chicago. His father fought in the Irgun, an Israeli paramilitary organization in pre-state Israel that helped fight the British to gain independence.
Emanuel's recent moves suggest a deliberate strategy to remain in the public eye, despite not holding elected office for over a decade, Politico Magazine reports. "I've only been back two months, I have no idea what I'm doing," Emanuel told the outlet, before adding, "I'm not done with public service and I'm hoping public service is not done with me." Yet his actions speak louder than his words: he's hitting the lecture circuit, from the Realtors to the Chicago Economic Club, and plans to address West Point later this month, signaling an intent to connect with diverse audiences while avoiding liberal strongholds like Ivy League campuses.
Israel has not been a focal point of Emanuel's early messaging, but his diplomatic tenure in Japan - where he broadened his role to encompass all of Asia - underscores his global perspective, a trait that could appeal to Democrats seeking a seasoned leader, notes Politico Magazine. High-level Democrats who know Emanuel view his candidacy as almost inevitable. "20 years ago it would have been an article in The Onion," said Doug Sosnik, a former Clinton White House colleague, who now sees Emanuel as uniquely qualified. David Axelrod, a longtime friend, agreed, asking, "Who has more relevant experience?" and highlighting Emanuel's blunt style and winning instincts.
Emanuel's emerging platform took shape at a Democracy Forward conference last month, where he decried cultural debates overshadowing substantive issues, per Politico Magazine. "I am done with the discussion of locker rooms, I am done with the discussion of bathrooms and we better start having a conversation about the classroom," he said, citing a study showing over two-thirds of eighth graders can't read at grade level. He later amplified this on Real Time with Bill Maher, quipping, "In seventh grade, if I had known I could've said the word 'they' and gotten in the girls' bathroom, I would've done it," before tying education to national competitiveness against China.
Emanuel's diplomatic stint in Japan showcased his ability to project American influence across Asia, a skillset that could bolster his case to lead a nation navigating complex global ties, including with Israel
The Politico Magazine profile paints Emanuel as a tactician with a knack for spotlighting overlooked issues, blending policy with politics in a way that could resonate beyond elite circles. "We can lead a discussion and force a topic onto the agenda of this country that's worthy of having a debate about," he said of the education crisis, contrasting it with what he sees as misplaced Democratic focus, like the fate of USAID. Yet his brusque style and centrist leanings could alienate progressives and Black voters, key primary constituencies. "I'm not sure people in South Carolina know or care who Rahm Emanuel is," South Carolina Democratic lawmaker Gilda Cobb-Hunter told Politico Magazine.
Emanuel's resume is unmatched: chief of staff to Barack Obama in his first term as a senior aide in the Bill Clinton administration, three terms in Congress, eight years as Chicago mayor, and nearly four as a diplomat, all by age 65. Allies like Axelrod argue he could be "the remedy, not the replica" to Trump's governance chaos, while Rep. Tom Cole, an Oklahoma Republican, called him "the best all-around player for the Democratic Party." But his past - including clashes with Chicago teachers' unions and criticism over the Laquan McDonald killing - looms large. Progressives still bristle at his 1990s DLC roots, and one Democracy Forward attendee sarcastically muttered, "Bring back the DLC, yay, I feel like I'm in high school again," per Politico Magazine.
Despite these hurdles, Emanuel's relentlessness and media savvy could make him a formidable contender in a party craving a fighter, Politico Magazine suggests. He's already gauging rivals like Illinois Gov JB Pritzker, reportedly asking about Pritzker's reception at the same conference. Whether he runs to win or to elevate his stature for a future role - say, at the State Department or Pentagon - remains unclear. "Nobody looks at a presidential campaign and does it to say, 'Well, we'll see what this feels like,'" Emanuel told Politico Magazine, hinting at his all-in mentality.
Emanuel's diplomatic stint in Japan showcased his ability to project American influence across Asia, a skillset that could bolster his case to lead a nation navigating complex global ties, including with Israel.
