Polls close in Chicago and Emanuel waits to learn fate

CHICAGO - Voters in Chicago went to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to give Rahm Emanuel another four years as mayor of the Windy City, or if he will face another six weeks of campaigning.

Polls closed at 7 p.m., and election officials projected that voter turnout would be lower than it was four years ago when 42% of registered voters turned out.

Emanuel held a big lead going into Election Day, but the mayor was a bit short of the 50% plus one vote that he'll need to avoid an April 7 runoff, according to a Chicago Tribune poll. The five-candidate field also includes Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, Alderman Bob Fioretti, businessman Willie Wilson and community activist William "Dock" Walls.

Emanuel, who won his first term in 2011, spent much of election eve courting senior citizens and encouraged supporters in an e-mail to turn up for him.

"Four years ago, this was a very different city," wrote Emanuel. "You gave me a chance to make the tough decisions this city needed, and we've improved our schools, our infrastructure, and our public safety. We've made Chicago a better place to live and thrive."

Chicago ceased holding partisan primaries in 1995, when it switched to the current election format. If Emanuel or his four rivals fail to win a majority of the vote on Tuesday, it would mark the first time that the city will hold a runoff mayoral election.

Heading into the last lap of the campaign, Emanuel had spent much time trying to win support in the African-American community, which makes up about a third of Chicago's population.

The mayor, a former U.S. congressman and President Obama's first chief of staff, has faced scathing criticism for his decision to close 50 city schools with low enrollment and the scorn of Chicago teachers, who staged their first strike in 25 years early in Emanuel's term. The mayor's reputation also took a hit when the city recorded more than 500 murders in 2012.

"We need to upgrade our communities by building more and better schools," said Tracy McGrady, a college student and part-time construction worker. "Instead, Rahm is closing them."

In Chicago's Bronzville neighborhood, a predominantly African-American neighborhood, Emanuel supporters appeared to be a rare breed.

"I don't like Rahm," said Henry Ray, who said he voted for Wilson. "He is doing nothing for my people."

For his part, Emanuel has noted that he worked to raise the minimum wage, expanded full-day kindergarten programs for children in the city, and made big improvements in Chicago's sprawling rapid transit system during his term. He's also leaned on his old boss, Obama, who recorded a radio advertisement last month endorsing Emanuel.

"I like what [Emanuel] is doing for the city," said Barb Boronski, who cast her ballot for the mayor at St. Wenceslaus Church on the city's Northwest Side. "He does what the other candidates are afraid to do."

Obama also flew to his adopted hometown last week to announce the designation of the Pullman historic district, which manufactured cars at the turn of the 20th Century and was at the center of the black labor movement. The neighborhoods surrounding Pullman on Chicago's far South Side are among those where Obama worked as a young community organizer.

Emanuel sprinted down to the South Side early Tuesday morning to greet commuters and search for undecided voters. He later visited with campaign volunteers in a predominantly African-American neighborhood, joining them as they made last-minute calls to turn out voters.

In Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, a historically Latino area of the city, Cook County Commissioner John Daley sang Emanuel's praises not far from a polling station.

"Rahm has been an effective mayor and a strong leader in difficult times," said Daley, whose brother and father spent a combined 43 years as mayors of Chicago. "He loves his job and he shows it."

The mayor, who raised about $15 million for the campaign, has spent about $7 million on television advertising in his effort to avoid a runoff.

His latest advertisement featured a clip of Obama wrapping Emanuel in a hug at the Pullman event and a sound bite of the president touting the mayor as "making sure that every Chicagoan in every neighborhood gets the fair shot at success that they deserve."

Polls show Garcia is Emanuel's closest rival. The Garcia campaign said that their candidate will continue to campaign through Tuesday. Garcia told USA TODAY he believes the polls understate his support in the African-American and Latino communities.

"We're upbeat and I predict we're going into a runoff," Garcia said.