Chicago: Mayor Richard Daley to retire

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

IIRC the elder Daley did have a serious Republican opponent and kind of close race in his last election. A Jewish Republican who was very liberal and would probably no doubt be a Democrat today. Of course that doesn't apply to anything today.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Nah, he won his last election by miles (like 77 to 20). He had a relatively close election in 1963 (55.6% in a two way race), but his closest was his first, and that wasn't especially tight; 55% in a two-way in his first election (1955). The last Republican to come close was Bernard Epton in that nasty racialised election in 1983 (lost to Washington by 3.7pts).

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I remember reading it was in the 70s, so maybe the first election after his death?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Nah, that was a blowout for the laughably incompetent Michael Bilandic. Who was taken out in the 1979 D primary by Jane Byrne. Who lost in the 1983 D primary to Harold Washington. But Epton was Jewish and not especially right-wing.

[bgwah]

Perhaps you're thinking of the 1975 Democratic primary? Daley only win that with 58% against Bill Singer, who was Jewish IIRC.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Actually it sounds like I was thinking of Epton, so I just got the decade off.

[cinyc]

Oh god Rahm Emmanuel seriously? Republicans better get a decent candidate to run.

a) lol
b) Chicago municipal elections are 'non-partisan' these days.

Who was the last important Republican in Chicago? I can't think of anyone later than Fast Eddie Vrdolyak.

One-term Congressman Michael Flannigan, who defeated a corrupt Democrat (Rostenkowski), only to be replaced by a corrupt Democrat (Blagojevich).

Hard to call a fluke "important"

Flannigan wasn't a fluke - Rostenkowski was a crook.  And as the last elected federal official from Chicago, he becomes the most important recent Republican by default.

[Meeker]

Carol Moseley Braun is running

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2010/09/carol_moseley_braun_poised_to.html