Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Rahm Emanuel

Discover the career path of Rahm Emanuel, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Rahm Emanuel is an American politician and diplomat. A Democrat, he served as a U.S. Representative for Illinois (2003-2009), White House Chief of Staff under President Obama (2009-2010), and Mayor of Chicago (2011-2019). Most recently, he served as the United States Ambassador to Japan (2022-2025).

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1984: Worked for Paul Simon's Election

In 1984, Rahm Emanuel worked for Democrat Paul Simon's election to the U.S. Senate.

1988: National Campaign Director

In 1988, Rahm Emanuel worked as the national campaign director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

1989: Senior Advisor for Daley's Mayoral Campaign

In 1989, Rahm Emanuel was a senior advisor and chief fund-raiser for Richard M. Daley's successful campaign for mayor of Chicago.

1990: Worked for Neil Hartigan

In 1990, Rahm Emanuel worked for Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan, conducting opposition research for his gubernatorial campaign.

1991: Volunteer Work During the Gulf War

In 1991, during the Gulf War, Rahm Emanuel participated in a two-week civilian volunteer program (Sar-El), assisting the Israel Defense Forces by repairing truck brakes.

1992: Director of Finance Committee for Clinton's Campaign

In 1992, Rahm Emanuel served as the director of the finance committee for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign.

1993: Joined Clinton Administration

In 1993, Rahm Emanuel joined the Clinton administration, serving as assistant to the president for political affairs and as Senior Advisor to the President for policy and strategy.

1993: Senior Advisor to Clinton

In 1993, Rahm Emanuel served as a senior advisor to Bill Clinton at the White House.

1994: Democratic Party lost control of the chamber

In 1994, the Democratic party lost control of the chamber.

1998: Joined Wasserstein Perella & Co.

In 1998, Rahm Emanuel began working at the investment bank Wasserstein Perella & Co.

1998: End of White House Service

In 1998, Rahm Emanuel concluded his service as a senior advisor to Bill Clinton at the White House.

1998: Resigned and joined Wasserstein Perella

In 1998, Rahm Emanuel resigned from his advisor position and joined the investment banking firm Wasserstein Perella.

1999: Became managing director at Wasserstein Perella

In 1999, Rahm Emanuel became a managing director at Wasserstein Perella's Chicago office.

2000: Named to Freddie Mac Board of Directors

In 2000, Rahm Emanuel was named to the Board of Directors of Freddie Mac by President Clinton.

2001: Resigned from Freddie Mac Board

In 2001, Rahm Emanuel resigned from the board of Freddie Mac before his first bid for Congress.

October 2002: Authorization of the Iraq War

In October 2002, Emanuel spoke out in support of the war.

2002: Support of Bush's Position on Iraq

During his 2002 campaign, Rahm Emanuel expressed support for President Bush's position on Iraq, while suggesting that Bush needed to better articulate his position to the American people.

2002: Support for Affordable Healthcare

During his 2002 campaign, Rahm Emanuel expressed support for making healthcare affordable and available to all Americans.

2002: Emanuel pursued the U.S. House seat

In 2002, Emanuel pursued the U.S. House seat in the 5th district of Illinois, previously held by Rod Blagojevich, who successfully ran for governor of Illinois. Edward Moskal, president of the Polish American Congress, called Emanuel a "millionaire carpetbagger".

2002: Ran for U.S. House of Representatives

In 2002, Rahm Emanuel ran for the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives vacated by Rod Blagojevich.

January 2003: Named to the House Financial Services Committee

In January 2003, Emanuel was named to the House Financial Services Committee and sat on the subcommittee that oversaw Freddie Mac. He skipped every hearing allegedly for reasons of avoiding any appearance of favoritism, impropriety, or conflict of interest.

December 2003: NRA Rating

In December 2003, Rahm Emanuel received an "F" rating from the NRA, demonstrating his strong support for gun control.

2003: Representing Illinois's 5th congressional district

From 2003, Rahm Emanuel held the seat representing Illinois's 5th congressional district.

2003: Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives

In 2003, Rahm Emanuel began serving as the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 5th congressional district, a position he held until 2009. He was a member of the Democratic Party.

2003: Pro-Israel Rally Speech

In 2003, at a pro-Israel rally in Chicago, Rahm Emanuel stated that Israel was "ready for peace" but would not achieve it until Palestinians "turn away from the path of terror".

April 2006: Support for Hillary Clinton's Presidential Ambitions

In April 2006, Rahm Emanuel declared his support for Hillary Clinton should she run for president in 2008.

2006: Democratic Caucus Chairman

After helping the Democrats win the 2006 elections, Nancy Pelosi persuaded Emanuel to become Democratic Caucus Chairman instead of challenging Jim Clyburn for Majority Whip.

2006: Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman

In 2006, Emanuel led the Democratic Party's effort to capture the majority in the House of Representatives as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman.

2006: Publication of "The Plan: Big Ideas for America"

In 2006, Rahm Emanuel co-authored the book "The Plan: Big Ideas for America" advocating for a three-month compulsory universal service program for Americans aged 18 to 25.

The Plan: Big Ideas for America

Check it on Amazon

2006: Oversaw Democratic Wins

In 2006, as chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Rahm Emanuel oversaw Democratic wins in the United States House of Representatives elections, allowing the party to gain control of the chamber for the first time since 1994.

2006: Support for Tammy Duckworth's Congressional Run

In the 2006 congressional primaries, Rahm Emanuel, then head of the Democratic congressional campaign committee, supported Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran, against Christine Cegelis in Illinois' 6th district.

2006: Democratic Party Gained Seats in the House

In the 2006 elections, the Democratic Party gained 30 seats in the House, and Emanuel received praise for his stewardship of the DCCC.

January 2007: Emanuel's Neutral Stance on Democratic Presidential Nomination

In January 2007, when asked about his stance on the Democratic presidential nomination with both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as potential candidates, Rahm Emanuel remained neutral.

June 2007: Condemnation of Palestinian Violence

In June 2007, Rahm Emanuel condemned Palestinian violence in the Gaza Strip and criticized Arab countries for not pressuring Palestinians as they have on Israel.

June 4, 2008: Endorsement of Barack Obama

On June 4, 2008, Rahm Emanuel endorsed Barack Obama for president, the day after the final primary contests.

November 6, 2008: Acceptance of White House Chief of Staff Position

On November 6, 2008, Rahm Emanuel accepted the position of White House Chief of Staff for President Barack Obama.

2008: Obama's Proposal of Universal Service Program

In 2008, Barack Obama proposed a similar, expanded version of the universal service initiative that was earlier advocated for by Rahm Emanuel in his 2006 book "The Plan: Big Ideas for America" during his presidential campaign.

The Plan: Big Ideas for America

Check it on Amazon

2008: Appointed White House Chief of Staff

In 2008, after the U.S. presidential election, President Barack Obama appointed Rahm Emanuel to serve as White House chief of staff.

January 2, 2009: Resignation from Congressional Seat

On January 2, 2009, Rahm Emanuel resigned from his congressional seat to become White House Chief of Staff.

March 3, 2009: Special Primary Election

On March 3, 2009, a special primary was held to fill Rahm Emanuel's vacated congressional seat.

2009: White House Chief of Staff

In 2009, Rahm Emanuel became the White House Chief of Staff under President Barack Obama, a role he held until 2010.

2009: End of term in U.S. House of Representatives

In 2009, Rahm Emanuel's time in the U.S. House of Representatives ended.

2009: Characterized as Influential Chief of Staff

In a 2009 article in The New York Times, Rahm Emanuel was described as "perhaps the most influential chief of staff of a generation".

September 2010: Anticipation of Departure as Chief of Staff

By September 2010, with Democrats anticipating heavy losses in mid-term elections, it was suggested that this would precipitate Rahm Emanuel's departure as chief of staff, after reports of conflicts with other senior members of the president's team and ideological clashes over policy.

September 30, 2010: Announcement of Departure as Chief of Staff

On September 30, 2010, it was announced that Rahm Emanuel would leave his post as White House Chief of Staff to run for Mayor of Chicago.

October 2, 2010: Pete Rouse Replaced Emanuel

On October 2, 2010, Pete Rouse replaced Rahm Emanuel as White House Chief of Staff.

October 2010: Resigned as Chief of Staff

In October 2010, Rahm Emanuel resigned as Chief of Staff to run in the 2011 Chicago mayoral election.

2010: Resigned as White House Chief of Staff

In 2010, Rahm Emanuel resigned from his position as White House Chief of Staff to run in the 2011 Chicago mayoral election.

2010: Democrats Lost Control of the House

In 2010, the Democrats lost control of the House in the mid-term elections.

December 31, 2010: Fundraising Success

By December 31, 2010, Rahm Emanuel had raised more than $10.5 million in additional funds for his campaign.

January 1, 2011: Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act Takes Effect

On January 1, 2011, the Illinois Campaign Disclosure Act took effect, limiting individual personal contributions to candidates to $5,000.

January 24, 2011: Court of Appeals Ruling on Residency

On January 24, 2011, the Court of Appeals reversed the Circuit Court, holding that residency for candidacy differs from residency for voting, challenging Rahm Emanuel's eligibility for office.

February 22, 2011: Election as Mayor of Chicago

On February 22, 2011, Rahm Emanuel was elected as the 55th Mayor of Chicago with 55% of the vote.

May 16, 2011: Inauguration as Mayor of Chicago

On May 16, 2011, Rahm Emanuel was sworn in as the 55th Mayor of Chicago at the Pritzker Pavilion.

August 16, 2011: Unveiling of "Healthy Chicago"

On August 16, 2011, Rahm Emanuel unveiled "Healthy Chicago", which was the city's first public health blueprint, in collaboration with Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Bechara Choucair.

2011: Elected Mayor of Chicago

In 2011, Rahm Emanuel won the Chicago mayoral election with 55% of the vote, defeating five other candidates.

2011: Won Chicago Mayoral Election

In 2011, Rahm Emanuel won the Chicago mayoral election with 55% of the vote.

November 2012: City Council Adopts Mayor's First Budget

In November 2012, the Chicago City Council voted to adopt Mayor Emanuel's first budget, which decreased the budget by $34 million and increased spending by $46.2 million.

2012: Chicago Becomes a Sanctuary City

In 2012, Chicago became a "de jure" sanctuary city when Rahm Emanuel and the City Council passed the Welcoming City Ordinance.

2012: Lollapalooza Pays Taxes and Extends Contract

In 2012, Lollapalooza paid taxes for the first time in seven years and extended its contract to be hosted in Grant Park through 2021.

2012: Supreme Court Upheld "ObamaCare"

In 2012, the Supreme Court upheld "ObamaCare", after which Rahm Emanuel apologized for his role in scaling back the healthcare initiative, stating, "Thank God for the country, he didn't listen to me".

2013: Appointment of Aldermen

In 2013, as mayor, Emanuel appointed Natashia Holmes as 7th Ward alderman and Deb Mell as 33rd Ward alderman.

August 2014: Approval Rating as Mayor of Chicago

In August 2014, a Chicago Tribune poll reported Rahm Emanuel had a 35% approval rating as mayor of Chicago.

April 7, 2015: Emanuel Won 56 percent of the Vote

On April 7, 2015, Rahm Emanuel won the run-off election against Jesús "Chuy" García with 56 percent of the vote despite criticism of school closures and gun violence.

2015: Chicago Mayoral Election and Approval Rating Decline

In 2015, Rahm Emanuel won the Chicago mayoral election after a run-off. Later in 2015, his approval rating declined due to a series of scandals.

February 2016: Approval Ratings Drop

In February 2016, Chicago Tribune polls reported that Rahm Emanuel's approval ratings had dropped to 27% for his role as the Mayor of Chicago.

2016: Appointment of Sophia King

In 2016, Rahm Emanuel appointed Sophia King as 4th ward alderman.

October 2017: Announced Plans to Run for Third Term

In October 2017, Rahm Emanuel announced his plan to run for a third term as mayor of Chicago.

October 2017: Announcement of Reelection Campaign

In October 2017, Rahm Emanuel announced that he was running for reelection in 2019, despite low approval ratings.

September 4, 2018: Reversed Decision to Run for Third Term

On September 4, 2018, Rahm Emanuel reversed his decision to run for a third term as mayor of Chicago.

September 2018: Decision Not to Run for Reelection

In September 2018, Rahm Emanuel decided not to run for reelection in 2019, citing uncertainty about his devotion to a third term.

2018: Appointment of Silvana Tabares

In 2018, Rahm Emanuel appointed Silvana Tabares as 23rd Ward alderman.

March 2019: Decision Not to Appoint Interim Alderman

Following Willie Cochran's resignation in March 2019, Rahm Emanuel chose not to appoint an interim alderman to fill the seat until the successor was elected.

May 2019: Left Office as Mayor

In May 2019, Rahm Emanuel left office as mayor of Chicago, and was succeeded by Lori Lightfoot.

May 2019: Named Founding Executive Chair of National BAM Advisory Council

In May 2019, Rahm Emanuel was named the founding executive chair of the National BAM Advisory Council of the Becoming A Man youth program.

June 2019: Joins Centerview Partners

In June 2019, Rahm Emanuel joined Centerview Partners as a senior counselor.

July 2019: Serves as Political Analyst for ABC News

Since July 2019, Rahm Emanuel has served as a political analyst for ABC News.

2019: Left office as Mayor of Chicago

In May 2019, Rahm Emanuel left office as the Mayor of Chicago, and was succeeded by Lori Lightfoot.

2019: Intention to Run Reelection Announced in 2017

In October 2017 Rahm Emanuel announced his intention to run for reelection in 2019, but in September 2018, decided not to run for reelection.

February 2021: Considered for Ambassadorship

In February 2021, it was reported that the Biden administration was considering Rahm Emanuel as an ambassador to either China or Japan.

April 2021: Nominated as Ambassador to Japan

In April 2021, it was reported that President Biden had chosen Rahm Emanuel as the ambassador to Japan.

August 2021: Nominated as United States Ambassador to Japan

In August 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Rahm Emanuel to be the United States Ambassador to Japan.

August 2021: Formal Nomination as Ambassador

In August 2021, Rahm Emanuel was formally nominated to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Japan.

October 20, 2021: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearings

On October 20, 2021, hearings were held on Rahm Emanuel's nomination in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

November 3, 2021: Committee Favors Nomination

On November 3, 2021, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee favorably reported Rahm Emanuel's nomination to the Senate floor.

December 18, 2021: Senate Confirms Nomination

On December 18, 2021, the United States Senate confirmed Rahm Emanuel's nomination as ambassador to Japan with a 48-21 vote.

March 25, 2022: Presents Credentials to Japanese Emperor

On March 25, 2022, Rahm Emanuel presented his credentials to Japanese Emperor Naruhito, officially assuming his role as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan.

2022: Appointed United States Ambassador to Japan

In 2022, Rahm Emanuel was appointed as the United States Ambassador to Japan.

January 2025: Departed Job in Japan

In January 2025, Rahm Emanuel departed his job in Japan upon the conclusion of the Biden administration.

March 12, 2025: Expressed Interest in Running for President

On March 12, 2025, Rahm Emanuel expressed interest in running for president in the 2028 United States presidential election.

2025: Departure from ambassadorship and expressed presidential interest

In January 2025, Rahm Emanuel departed from his job as United States Ambassador to Japan. Later, on March 12, 2025, he expressed interest in running for president in the 2028 United States presidential election.