CHICAGO—U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) issued the following statement today following the inauguration of Rahm Emanuel as Chicago’s new mayor:

“I congratulate Rahm and pledge to work with him, especially to expand Charter schools. I will miss Mayor Daley but I am confident the same spirit of cooperation will continue with my focus on expanding O'Hare airport. Rahm has all the potential to live up to Daniel Burnham's credo: “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood.”