Rahm Emanuel hits the (bike) trail in New Hampshire, as he mulls potential 2028 presidential bid

EPPING, N.H. — About two dozen people greeted Rahm Emanuel with applause when he pulled into a residential driveway Friday afternoon and hopped off his bicycle for a water break and meet-and-greet with local Democrats.

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Emanuel, the former White House chief of staff and US ambassador to Japan who has made no secret of his interest in the 2028 presidential race, spent the weekend cycling across New Hampshire and peddling a vision of what American politics should look like after this year’s midterms, which Democrats are framing as a referendum on President Trump.

“Look, I’m not into a politics of retribution, contrary to my image,” Emanuel said, eliciting chuckles from those who gathered to hear him speak in Bruce and Maureen Couture’s living room. “But I am into totally airing out all of this corruption.”

Emanuel, who previously served six years as a US representative for Illinois and eight as mayor of Chicago, noted Trump has personally gained more than $4 billion in net worth since his 2024 victory and his administration has reportedly taken ethically dubious actions, such as accepting a jetliner from the Qatari government and pressuring the Pentagon to direct $620 million to a startup with ties to one of Trump’s sons.

“These guys are doing stuff that would make an alderman in Chicago blush,” he said.

Emanuel, 66, said he anticipates voters will elect more Democrats to Congress this fall to provide a meaningful check on an “out-of-control” presidency. His support for New Hampshire’s current candidates included events with Stefany Shaheen in the First Congressional District and Maggie Goodlander in the Second Congressional District.

His three-day bike tour — with stops in Portsmouth, Manchester, Concord, New London, Lebanon, Hanover, and elsewhere — paid further homage to New Hampshire political tradition as the state is expected to hold its first-in-the-nation presidential primary in early 2028 regardless of what the Democratic National Committee’s calendar may say.

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Emanuel said traversing the state by bike rather than by car makes more time to appreciate New Hampshire’s natural beauty and listen to the public.

“It’s gorgeous,” he said. “And you get to meet people and hear what’s on their mind.”

Emanuel is far from the only potential Democratic presidential candidate to make overtures to Granite Staters since the 2024 election. Several others who have visited in recent months are better known to New Hampshire voters, according to recent polling.

Mark Vallone, a Democratic state representative from Epping, said after Friday’s visit that Emanuel should “definitely” launch a presidential campaign to keep spreading a frank message that’s sorely needed in light of the current political environment.

“It’s a good antidote to what we’re seeing right now,” Vallone said.

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