Emanuel special election slated for April 7

SPRINGFIELD -- A special election will be held April 7 to fill the congressional seat Rahm Emanuel is vacating to become incoming President Barack Obama's chief of staff.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich picked the date Monday after consulting with Chicago and Cook County election officials. The primary will be March 3.

Emanuel formally resigned Friday from his 5th Congressional District seat, which once was held by Blagojevich.

The April 7 election will coincide with local municipal and township elections. The primary for those offices is Feb. 24, but election officials say it's too late to get all the paperwork done for a Feb. 24 primary for Emanuel's seat.

Emanuel talked with Blagojevich about appointing a replacement for Obama, who left his U.S. Senate seat. But Emanuel hasn't been implicated in allegations Blagojevich tried to auction off that appointment.