Chicago's mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks to reporters during a news conference at his campaign office in Chicago. (AFP Photo)
Former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel won re-election Tuesday as Chicago's mayor in the city's first runoff vote, news reports said.
The notoriously feisty former chief aide to President Barack Obama defeated Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, who represented a more progressive wing of the Democratic Party in the third largest US city.
With 98 per cent of precincts reporting, Emanuel beat Garcia by 56 per cent to 44 per cent, the New York Times said.
Emanuel was forced into an embarrassing runoff after failing to win a majority against four other candidates in an election in February.
Garcia, a Mexican-American trying to become Chicago's first Latino mayor, conceded defeat.
Emanuel was criticized for having an abrasive management style and Garcia said he had neglected the city's poor and working class people.
Emanuel seemed to acknowledge that he had got the message from voters.
"I want to thank you for putting me through my paces. I will be a better mayor because of that," Emanuel said in his victory speech, CNN reported.