Electoral history of Barack Obama 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 Democratic delegate counts: Pledged delegates Including superdelegates 2008 Democratic National Convention (Presidential tally) Unfinished roll call (13
Illinois Senate career of Barack Obama congressman Abner Mikva suggesting that Mikva recommend Obama to Emil Jones, Jr., the powerful Democratic leader of the state Senate. "Say, our friend Barack Obama has a chance to push this campaign finance bill through," Simon said in a telephone conversation, as recounted by Mikva in a 2008 interview, "Why don’t you call your friend Emil Jones and tell him how good he is." With Jones' support, Obama helped shepherd through a sweeping law that banned most gifts from lobbyists and personal use of campaign funds by state legislators. During his first years as a state senator, Obama was a