U.S.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Announces He Won't Seek Re-Election

Emanuel has been in the Chicago mayor's office since 2011.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Announces He Won't Seek Re-Election
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Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced he won't run for re-election in 2019.

Emanuel made the unexpected announcement at a last-minute press conference on Tuesday. 

The Chicago native has been in the mayor's office since 2011. 

"This has been the job of a lifetime, but it is not a job for a lifetime," Emanuel said during the conference. 

There are already multiple people vying to replace him, including the former Chicago police superintendent Emanuel fired after a controversial police shooting.

"From the bottom of my heart, thank you, and God bless you and God bless the people of Chicago," he said. 

Emanuel didn't take questions at the end of the short statement.