Rahm Emanuel Elected Chicago Mayor, Defeats Jesus “Chuy” Garcia

*In the end Emanuel received 56% of the vote, to Garcia’s 44%. VL

By Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel won a historic runoff over challenger Jesus “Chuy” Garcia in a Tuesday election seen as a battle between the city’s Democratic establishment and its progressive grassroots.

Emanuel returns to a second term with the city facing serious financial and social issues – from significant pension debt to school budget problems and numerous shootings.

Emanuel’s win dashes hopes among some that the race would produce the city’s first Latino mayor and put a Mexican-born immigrant in charge of the nation’s third largest city.

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[Photo by Jamie Bernstein/Flickr]