Yesterday, Chance the Rapper tweeted a paraphrase of his line “they screaming Chano for mayor, I’m thinking maybe I should” before revealing that he was holding a press conference at Chicago’s City Hall. The announcement? He’s endorsing Amara Enyia for Mayor of Chicago, WLS-TV reports. (So no, Chance is not running for mayor.) It’s worth noting that Chance’s father Ken Bennett is supporting Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Ken Bennett is a former top aide for outgoing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. He also served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel in the Obama Administration. In addition, he was Illinois State Director when Obama was in the Senate. Watch Chance's press conference: Chance has been consistently working to give back to his hometown over the past few years. He’s raised millions of dollars for the city’s public schools and mental health services. In a new song, he revealed that he’s revived the previously defunct local news publication Chicagoist. He hosts regular Open Mike events, usually featuring huge guest stars, for the city’s high schoolers. He’s been praised by Barack and Michelle Obama. Recently, Chance has been teasing new music with Kanye West and Childish Gambino.<doc-sep>CHICAGO (CBS) — In a boost for one of the lesser-known candidates for mayor, Chicago’s own Chance the Rapper on Tuesday endorsed policy consultant Amara Enyia in the race to replace Rahm Emanuel in 2019. “I’d like to say, very narcissistically, if I back you, you have a chance, absolutely,” Chance said Tuesday morning at City Hall. Chance’s own popularity among Chicago youth indeed could provide a much-needed shot in the arm for Enyia’s campaign. Her name immediately became one of the top 10 trending terms on Twitter in Chicago after she and the rapper appeared together at City Hall to announce his endorsement. Chance said he believes in Enyia, because of her work as a community activist, an educator, and her governmental experience, as a onetime policy advisor for former Mayor Richard M. Daley. Enyia, who is the director of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, also briefly ran for mayor four years ago, before dropping out and endorsing Bob Fioretti. Chance and Enyia said his support would involve more than just an endorsement, and that he would continue supporting her campaign throughout the election. “This is not your typical flash-in-the-pan endorsement,” Enyia said. Chance suggested his support would also include making financial donations to Enyia’s campaign. “I haven’t yet, but we’ll see. I got a lot of money, so it would be scary,” he said. Claiming several candidates sought his endorsement, Chance said he wanted to support the candidate he felt would best do the job of mayor, not a candidate viewed as the most likely to win the race. “Everybody becomes a political analyst all of a sudden when it’s election time. Nobody wants to vote for who should be mayor. Everybody wants to vote for who could be mayor. It’s always about people’s chances of becoming mayor, rather than what they plan to change when they do become mayor,” he said. “We don’t talk about the issues at hand. We don’t talk about who needs to be in office, who needs to bring change, and that’s what this is about. So we’re not worried about the names that have the most recognition, or who would beat who in a runoff, we’re worried about our individual votes, and so we will see the largest 18-25 voter turnout in Chicago’s history this upcoming election.” Chance bristled when reporters repeatedly asked him why he wasn’t endorsing Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, given that his father, former Emanuel aide Ken Bennett, has backed Preckwinkle. “I believe that Amara Enyia is the correct candidate. I’ve had candidates that I supposedly had a good relationship with hit me up and let me know that they are the most likely person to win this seat, and that I’m throwing away an endorsement, and I just want to continue to push the point that there is no monolith in votes,” Chance said. “We are all individuals, and we will all individually say who we believe can run this city correctly, who can run City Hall correctly, and this is who I believe is the correct person.” Chance and Enyia said they plan to launch a major voter registration drive and voter education campaign. The mayoral election is still four months away, but a celebrity push for voter registration could make a big difference in just a few weeks when voters cast ballots in 2018 elections. The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners has said voters ages 18 to 34 already are up 59,000 compared to 2014. “Today is the beginning of Chicago’s next level. We’ve been in the trenches on the city’s behalf,” Enyia said. “We want to make sure that this campaign is not just about Chicago. This is actually national in scope. The influence that Chance brings to this is because this is part of a broader movement for people who are clamoring for a different kind of city.” Chance’s endorsement of Enyia comes on the same day City Treasurer Kurt Summers announced he would not be joining the crowded race for mayor. In addition to Enyia, at least 15 others have announced plans to run for mayor in 2019, including: • Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, • former White House chief of staff and Commerce Secretary Bill Daley, • Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown, • former Chicago Public Schools principal Troy LaRaviere, • former Chicago Board of Education President Gery Chico, • former Chicago Police Board president Lori Lightfoot, • former Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy, • former CPS Chief Executive Officer Paul Vallas, • millionaire businessman Willie Wilson, • community activist Ja’Mal Green, • attorney Jeremiah Joyce Jr., • former City Council candidate John Kozlar, • DePaul University student Matthew Roney, • tech entrepreneur Neal Sales-Griffin, • and perennial candidate William “Dock” Walls.<doc-sep>While many speculated Chance The Rapper may run for Chicago Mayor himself, the local rapper used a scheduled announcement at Chicago's City Hall Tuesday to endorse Amara Enyia for the position. "I am proud to announce I am not running for Mayor," the rapper joked at the press conference, according to WGN Morning News. "I probably won't ever be running for mayor of this city but I believe in me and Amara Enyia's shared vision." Enyia is a lawyer, Ph.D. holder and Ironman competitor. She's running on a platform of equal opportunities and support for all communities in Chicago. The South Side activist crafted a plan to bring new ideas to every corner of the city. "This people-centered plan prioritizes innovative ideas that move us forward, a commitment to equitable economic investment, a robust small business environment, quality education for all, an end to corruption, and an emphasis on strategies that build generational wealth," her website reads. One of her leading ideas is to create a public bank for the city, which would reduce city funding of private banks. She's also proposed to model smaller scale police posts in neighborhoods across the city to act as community safe spaces and put eyes and ears in each area at all times. Listed as one of her top priorities is funding Chicago Public Schools, a topic which Chance is vocally passionate about. Enyia ran for the position in 2015 but revoked her candidacy to support Bob Fioretti's campaign. Chance's endorsement of Enyia means he is on the opposite side of the mayoral race from his father, Ken Bennett, who served as an aide to current Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel. Bennett has endorsed Toni Preckwinkle for the position, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Preckwinkle, who is the current Cook County board president, has also been endorsed by former Obama Aide Valerie Jarrett. Enyia and Preckwinkle are just two figures in a heated and tight Chicago mayoral race. As of October 1, there were 15 candidates who had officially announced their bid for the position, according to a report by the Chicago Tribune. Chance The Rapper is an activist in the Chicago community who advocates for funding of Chicago Public Schools and mental health services reform. The musician brings his musical talent to the city by hosting high school open mic nights and led a March to the polls in November 2016 after his hometown concert.<doc-sep>
EMBED >More News Videos Chance the Rapper has made an endorsement in the upcoming Chicago mayoral election. EMBED >More News Videos Chance the Rapper partnered with Lyft to raise money for Chicago Public Schools, and filmed a video of him driving unsuspecting residents around the city. EMBED >More News Videos Chicago native Chance the Rapper has been using his voice and personal earnings to improve Chicago Public Schools. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chance the Rapper became Chance the Endorser in Chicago's crowded race for mayor TuesdayThe musician announced his support for a lesser-known candidate, Amara Enyia, who is director of the Austin Chamber of Commerce.The two exchanged a big hug as he introduced her during a press conference announced just one day before. "I would like to say, very narcissistically, if I back you, you have a chance, absolutely," Chance said. "I want to work with somebody that's about change...the one person, in my research, of this wide open race that's views align with me would obviously be candidate Amara Enyia. "Chance said too many people don't vote for who they think they should, but instead who they think could win. "Chance and I, as evidenced by his work, and my work in the city of Chicago, have a shared vision for this city," Enyia said. "Today's announcement is just the beginning. This is not your typical flash of the pan endorsement. Today represents a commitment. "Chance set off rampant speculation that he might run himself after tweeting he has an event planned Tuesday at City Hall dealing with the race.Chance the Rapper has been openly critical about current mayor Rahm Emanuel. In 2017, some fans even created a website calling on Chance to run for mayor Chance says he'll campaign with Enyia, but was coy about helping finance her race. "I haven't yet, but we'll see. I got a lot of money, so," he said drawing laughter from those gathered at City Hall for the press conference, "It will be scary.Enyia's campaign will need a financial boost. The quarterly report she filed earlier this week with the Illinois State Board of Elections listed $67.54 cash on hand.So while her campaign is certainly a longshot, the publicity she got is certainly priceless and something any of the other candidates would love to have.Ironically, Chance's father Ken Bennett is co-chairman of Toni Preckwinkle's campaign for mayor.Preckinkle said Tuesday in a statement, ". "More than a dozen people have said they plan to run for mayor of Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced last month that he does not plan to run for a third term.The election is in February.