Rahm Emanuel elected mayor of Chicago by wide margin

February 22, 2011 at 9:51p.m.

CHICAGO (AP)

Former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel was elected mayor of Chicago on today, easily overwhelming five rivals to take the helm of the nation's third-largest city as it prepares to chart a new course without the retiring Richard M. Daley.

With 89 percent of the precincts reporting, Emanuel was trouncing five opponents with 55 percent of the vote — a margin that allowed him to avoid an April run.