Rahm Emanuel kicked off Chicago ballot

Former Obama White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has been kicked off the ballot in Chicago’s mayoral election, The Chicago Sun Times reports.

A Chicago appellate court ruled that Emanuel did not meet the residency requirement necessary to run for mayor.

Emanuel’s attorney Kevin Forde called the court’s decision a “surprise.” The former Congressman was leading both in the polls and in fund raising ahead of next month’s election.

Judge Thomas Hoffman wrote the court’s decision, stating “We … order that the candidate’s name be excluded (or if, necessary, be removed) from the ballot from Chicago’s Feb. 22, 2011.”

The case is now expected to go to the Illinois Supreme Court.