Field of potential candidates for mayor explodes after Rahm's surprise exit

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is out.

But Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza and Grosvenor Capital Management CEO Michael Sacks may be in. So might Cook County Clerk David Orr and U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez.

In consideration, that is, as potential mayoral candidates as the dust began to settle on Wednesday - a day after Mayor Rahm Emanuel set off a political earthquake with his surprise decision not to seek a third term.

While those figures either confirmed they were thinking about a run or didn't deny the possibility, they are among some 40 names being bandied about as potential candidates now that Emanuel and his huge campaign war chest are out of the 2019 race.

Already, there are a dozen people who have announced they are running or who are gathering signatures to get on the ballot. But most of them have little name identification and would have to wear a billboard around the city to be recognized. They could have difficulty mustering resources for a run.

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