Presidential transition of Barack Obama time of their election, President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Joseph Biden were incumbent U.S. Senators from Illinois and Delaware respectively. In accordance with Article I, Section 6 of the United States Constitution, both were required to resign their respective Senate seats on or before January 20, 2009, in order to become President and Vice President. Obama resigned from the Senate effective November 16, 2008. Initially, it was thought that his replacement would be named by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Since the term for the seat expired in January 2011, it would come up for its normal election in 2010 with
Electoral history of Barack Obama states, D.C. Guam, American Samoa and Democrats Abroad): 2008 New Hampshire Democratic Vice Presidential primary: Electoral vote: Electoral history of Barack Obama Barack Obama served as the 44th President of the United States (2009–2017) and as a United States Senator from Illinois (2005–2008). Illinois Senate, 13th district, 1996 Illinois Senate, 13th district, 1998 US House, Illinois's 1st district, 2000 (Democratic primary), 2000 Illinois Senate, 13th district, 2002 Democratic primary for the United States Senate from Illinois, 2004 United States Senate election in Illinois, 2004 2008 Democratic presidential primaries Excluding penalized contests, only primary and caucuses votes: Including penalized contests: 2008