98 percent of the precincts have reported and Rahm Emanuel is the winner of the Chicago Mayoral Election with 55% percent of the vote. The campaign began with Rahm Emanuel behind the eight-ball as his residency was challenged. Petitioners Walter P. Maksym, Jr. and Thomas L. McMahon filed a lawsuit stating Emanuel did not meet the residency requirements, due to the fact he had lived in Washington D.C. for the year preceding the election.

This argument ended up before the Illinois Supreme Court before the matter was eventually decided in Emanuel’s favor.

Had Emanuel not won by more than 50% of the vote, a run-off election in April would have been necessary. As it stands, there is no doubt who Chicago wants as its next Mayor with Emanuel winning 55 percent, Gery Chico 24%, and City Clerk Miguel del Valle and former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (D-IL) each winning 9% of the vote.

This is a fairytale come true for Rahm Emanuel as he has always dreamed of being Mayor of Chicago.