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Barack Obama

Member of the Illinois Senate from the 13th district
In office
January 8, 1997 – November 4, 2004
Preceded by Alice J. Palmer
Succeeded by Kwame Raoul
Born August 4, 1961 (1961-08-04) (age 48)
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A.
Nationality American
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Michelle Obama (m. 1992)
Children Malia Ann (b. 1998),
Natasha ("Sasha") (b. 2001)
Residence (Kenwood), Chicago, Illinois
Alma mater Harvard Law School
Columbia University
Occidental College
Profession Attorney / Politician
Religion Christian: United Church of Christ
Signature
Website Barack Obama—U.S. Senator for Illinois
This article is part of a series about
Barack Obama
Background · Illinois Senate · US Senate
Political positions · Public image · Family
2008 primaries · Obama–Biden campaign
Transition · Inauguration · Electoral history
Presidency (Timeline '09 '10)  · First 100 days  ·
Nobel Peace Prize

The Illinois Senate career of Barack Obama stretched from 1997 (when Barack Obama was sworn in to his first term in the Illinois Senate) to 2004 (when he was elected to the United States Senate). Starting in 1993 and throughout his state senate career, Obama also taught constitutional law part-time at the University of Chicago Law School, as a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996 and as a Senior Lecturer from 1996-2004, when he was elected to the U.S. Senate.[1]

Contents

State elections

Main article: Illinois Senate elections of Barack Obama

First state Senate election, 1996

On November 21, 1994, state Sen. Alice Palmer (D-13) of South Shore announced she was launching a campaign committee to raise funds to run in 1996 for the 2nd Congressional District seat of indicted U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds, and suggested that 29-year-old Jesse Jackson, Jr. run for her state Senate seat in 1996 instead of running against her for Congress.[2]

On June 27, 1995, Palmer announced she was running for Congress and would be giving up her state Senate seat instead of running for re-election in 1996.[3] The following week newspapers reported that Palmer-supporter Barack Obama of Hyde Park—who had been announced as chairman of the $49.2 million Chicago Annenberg Challenge on June 22 and whose memoir Dreams from My Father would be published on July 18—would announce he was running and would be a front-runner for Palmer's state Senate seat.[4]

On September 11, 1995, Illinois Governor Jim Edgar set November 28 as the date for a special primary election to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mel Reynolds following his August 1995 conviction.[5] On September 19, 34-year-old Barack Obama announced his candidacy for Palmer's state Senate seat to an audience of 200 supporters at the Ramada Inn Lakeshore in Hyde Park-Kenwood.[6] Palmer introduced and endorsed Obama as her successor to supporters that included 4th Ward Ald. Toni Preckwinkle of Hyde Park, newly elected 5th Ward Ald. Barbara Holt of Hyde Park, state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-25) of Hyde Park, and many other politicians.[6]

On November 7, 1995, Obama's mother Ann died of metastatic uterine cancer at the age of 52 in Honolulu.[7] Obama arrived in Hawaii the following day, remained for his mother's memorial service and returned to Chicago soon after.[7] On November 28, after finishing a distant third in the 2nd Congressional District special primary election won by 30-year-old Jesse Jackson, Jr., a disappointed 56-year-old Alice Palmer told a small gathering that she wouldn't seek re-election to the state Senate and was undecided about entering the March 1996 primary for the 2nd Congressional District seat.[8]

On December 11, 1995—the first filing day for nominating petitions—Obama filed his nominating petitions with over 3,000 signatures; perennial unsuccessful candidate Ulmer Lynch, Jr. also filed nominating petitions to run for the 13th District state Senate seat.[9] On December 18—the last filing day for nominating petitions—Palmer held a press conference to announce she was running for re-election to the state Senate, accepting a draft by over 100 supporters.[10] Palmer then drove to Springfield to file her nominating petitions; also filing nominating petitions on the last filing day were first-time candidates Gha-is Askia and Marc Ewell.[10] On December 26, Obama campaign volunteer Ron Davis filed objections to the legitimacy of the nominating petitions of incumbent state Sen. Palmer, and to those of Askia, Ewell and Lynch.[11][12]

On January 17, 1996, Palmer announced she was withdrawing her bid for re-election because she was a couple of hundred signatures short of the 757 needed to earn a place on the ballot after almost two-thirds of the 1,580 signatures on her nominating petitions were found to be invalid.[12][13] The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners had previously sustained an objection to the nominating petitions of Lynch because of insufficient valid signatures, and subsequently also sustained objections to the nominating petitions of Askia and Ewell because of insufficient valid signatures.[12][13]

In the March 19, 1996 primary election, Obama, running unopposed on the ballot, won the Democratic nomination for state Senator for the 13th District.[14] In the November 5 general election, Obama was elected state Senator for the 13th District, winning 82% of the vote; perennial unsuccessful Harold Washington Party candidate David Whitehead received 13% of the vote, and first-time Republican Party candidate Rosette Caldwell Peyton received 5% of the vote.[15]

On January 8, 1997, Obama was sworn in for a two-year term as state Senator for the 13th District, which was then a T-shaped district that spanned Chicago South Side neighborhoods from Hyde Park-Kenwood south through South Shore and from the lakefront west through Chicago Lawn.[16]

Second state Senate election, 1998

In the March 17, 1998 primary election, Obama, running unopposed on the ballot, won the Democratic nomination for state Senator for the 13th District, and Yesse Yehudah, running unopposed on the ballot, won the Republican nomination.[17] In the November 3 general election, Obama was re-elected to a four-year term as state Senator for the 13th District with 89% of the vote; first-time Republican Party candidate Yesse Yehudah received 11% of the vote.[18]

Third state Senate election, 2002

On September 5, 2001, Democrats won a lottery that added a tie-breaking ninth member to the bipartisan state Legislative Redistricting Commission, which on September 25, by a 5–4 party-line vote, approved the Democratic "Currie II as amended by the Bilandic Amendment" map.[19][20] After redistricting, the new 13th District spanned Chicago lakefront neighborhoods from the Gold Coast south through South Chicago; with a population that was 66% black versus 77% black in the old 13th District.[20][21]

In the March 19, 2002 primary election, Obama, running unopposed on the ballot, won the Democratic nomination for state Senator for the new 13th District.[22] In the November 5 general election, Obama, running unopposed on the ballot, was re-elected to a four-year term as state Senator for the new 13th District.[23]

Early Senate career

Early in his first term, the just-retired U.S. Senator Paul Simon called a longtime Obama mentor, judge and former congressman Abner Mikva. Simon suggested 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 pass a sweeping law that banned most gifts from lobbyists and personal use of campaign funds by state legislators.[24]

During his first years as a state senator, Obama was a co-sponsor of a bill which re-structured the Illinois welfare program into the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. He was also involved in various pieces of legislation which established a $100 million Earned Income Tax Credit for working families, increased child care subsidies for low-income families, and required advance notice before mass layoffs and plant closings.[25]

Campaign for Bobby Rush's congressional seat

In September 1999, Obama and fellow state Senator Donne Trotter both announced their candidacies for the March 2000 Democratic primary election for the U.S. House of Representatives seat held by four-term incumbent candidate Bobby Rush. Rush had been badly defeated in the February 1999 Chicago Mayoral election by Richard M. Daley—who won 45% of the African-American vote and even won Rush's own ward—and was thought to be vulnerable.[26] The support of some veteran Democratic fundraisers who saw Obama as a rising star, along with support of African-American entrepreneurs, helped him keep pace with Rush's fundraising in the district's most expensive race ever.[27]

During the campaign, Rush charged that Obama was not sufficiently rooted in Chicago's black neighborhoods to represent constituents' concerns, and also benefitted from an outpouring of sympathy when his son was shot to death shortly before the election.[26] Obama said Rush was a part of "a politics that is rooted in the past" and said he himself could build bridges with whites to get things done. But while Obama did well in his own Hyde Park base, he didn't get enough support from the surrounding black neighborhoods.[24] Starting with just 10 percent name recognition, Obama went on to get only 31 percent of the votes, losing by a more than 2-to-1 margin despite winning among white voters.[28][29] Despite losing the 2000 Congressional primary and not running for Illinois Senate as he had in 1996, 1998, and 2002, Obama did not lose his Illinois Senate seat because the Illinois Senate elections are on a 2-4-4 year cycle.[30]

Later Senate career

After losing the primary for U.S. Congress to Bobby Rush, Obama worked to repair relations with black politicians and clergy members, telling them he bore no grudges against the victor. He also became more responsive to requests for state funding, getting money for churches and community groups in his district. State Senator Donne E. Trotter, then the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in 2008 that he knew Obama was responding more to funding requests "because the community groups in his district stopped coming to me".[24]

In September 2001, Democrats won a lottery to redraw legislative districts that had been drawn ten years earlier by Republicans and had helped ensure ten uninterrupted years of Republican control of the Illinois Senate.[19] In the November 2002 election, the Democratic remap helped them win control of the Illinois Senate and expand their majority in the Illinois House to work with the first Democratic Illinois governor in 26 years.[31] In January 2003, after six years on the committee and four years as its minority spokesman, Obama became chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee. The new Democratic majority allowed Obama to write and pass more legislation than in previous years. He sponsored successful efforts to expand children's health care, create a plan to provide equal health care access for all Illinois residents, and create a "Hospital Report Card" system, and worker's rights laws that protected whistleblowers, domestic violence victims, equal pay for women, and overtime pay.[32] His most public accomplishment was a bill requiring police to videotape interrogations and confessions in potential death penalty cases. Obama was willing to listen to Republicans and police organizations and negotiate compromises to get the law passed.[33] That helped him develop a reputation as a pragmatist able to work with various sides of an issue.[24] Obama also led the passage of a law to monitor racial profiling by requiring police to record the race of drivers they stopped.[34]

He resigned from the Illinois Senate in November 2004 following his election to the U.S. Senate.[35]

Notes

  1. ^ "Statement Regarding Barack Obama". University of Chicago Law School. http://www.law.uchicago.edu/media/index.html. Retrieved March 29, 2008.  See also: Sweet, Lynn (March 30, 2008). "No 'Professor' Obama at U. of C.". Chicago Sun-Times. http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/867973,CST-NWS-sweet30.article. Retrieved April 2, 2008.  See also: Pallasch, Abdon M (February 12, 2007). "Professor Obama was a Listener, Students Say". Chicago Sun-Times. http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/253391,CST-NWS-prof12.article. Retrieved January 4, 2008. 
  2. ^ Kuczka, Susan (November 22, 1994). "State Sen. Palmer ponders a bid for Reynolds' 2nd District post". Chicago Tribune: p. 2. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/752805581.html?dids=752805581:752805581&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
    Neal, Steve (November 25, 1994). "Palmer beats Jackson Jr. to punch". Chicago Sun-Times: p. 49. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Palmer%20Beats%20Jackson%20Jr.%20to%20Punch)%20AND%20date(11/25/1994%20to%2011/25/1994)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=11/25/1994%20to%2011/25/1994)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Palmer%20Beats%20Jackson%20Jr.%20to%20Punch)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
  3. ^ Hardy, Thomas (June 28, 1995). "Palmer seeks to replace Reynolds; 'Pray for him, vote for me,' legislator says". Chicago Tribune: p. 3. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/20587340.html?dids=20587340:20587340&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
  4. ^ Knapp, Kevin (July 5, 1995). "Alice Palmer to run for Reynolds' seat". Hyde Park Herald: p. 1. 
    Hevrdejs, Judy; Conklin, Mike (July 7, 1995). "Hevrdejs & Conklin INC.". Chicago Tribune: p. 20. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/20634287.html?dids=20634287:20634287&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
  5. ^ Possley, Maurice; Kendall, Peter (August 23, 1995). "Reynolds guilty on all counts; Mandatory prison term will be at least 4 years". Chicago Tribune: p. 1. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/21101175.html?dids=21101175:21101175&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
    Hardy, Thomas (September 9, 1995). "Reynolds gets around to making resignation official". Chicago Tribune: p. 5. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/21323591.html?dids=21323591:21323591&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
    Pearson, Rick; Locin, Mitchell (September 12, 1995). "Voting set on successor to Reynolds; Nov. 28 primary OKd; filing to begin Oct. 2". Chicago Tribune: p. 1. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/21335819.html?dids=21335819:21335819&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
    Knapp, Kevin (September 13, 1995). "Politicians scramble in wake of Reynolds resignation". Hyde Park Herald: p. 1. 
  6. ^ a b Strausberg, Chinta (September 19, 1995). "Harvard lawyer eyes Palmer seat". Chicago Defender: p. 3. 
    Mitchell, Monica (October 4, 1995). "Hyde Parker announces run for state senate seat". Hyde Park Herald: p. 3. 
  7. ^ a b Maraniss, David (August 22, 2008). "Though Obama had to leave it to find himself, it is Hawaii that made his rise possible". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/22/AR2008082201679_pf.html. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
    Fornek, Scott (March 1, 2004). "Barack Obama". Chicago Sun-Times: p. 6. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=headline(Barack%20Obama)%20AND%20date(3/1/2004%20to%203/1/2004)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=3/1/2004%20to%203/1/2004)&p_field_advanced-0=title&p_text_advanced-0=(Barack%20Obama)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
  8. ^ Hardy, Thomas; Rubin, Bonnie Miller (November 29, 1995). "Jesse Jackson Jr. rolls over veteran opponents". Chicago Tribune: p. 1. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/20655637.html?dids=20655637:20655637&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
    De Zutter, Hank (December 8, 1995). "What makes Obama run?". Chicago Reader: p. 1. https://securesite.chireader.com/cgi-bin/Archive/abridged2.bat?path=1995/951208/OBAMA. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
  9. ^ Knapp, Kevin (December 13, 1995). "List of next year's candidates is sparse". Hyde Park Herald: p. 1. 
  10. ^ a b Hardy, Thomas (December 19, 1995). "Jackson foe now wants old job back; Palmer must now battle own endorsee". Chicago Tribune: p. 3 (Metro). http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/20691604.html?dids=20691604:20691604&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
    . (December 19, 1995). 19, 1995.pdf "State Senator Alice J. Palmer announces run for re-election". South Street Journal: p. 9. http://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/broadcast/hs/journalism/southside_archive/1995/SSJ-December 19, 1995.pdf. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
    Knapp, Kevin (December 20, 1995). "Palmer caught in campaign draft". Hyde Park Herald: p. 1. 
    Strausberg, Chinta (December 19, 1995). "Palmer OKs draft to run for re-election". Chicago Defender: p. 3. 
    Strausberg, Chinta (December 21, 1995). "Palmer challenger says he won't step aside in race". Chicago Defender: p. 3. 
    Hevrdejs, Judy; Conklin, Mike (December 25, 1995). "Hevrdejs & Conklin INC.". Chicago Tribune: p. 2. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/20701874.html?dids=20701874:20701874&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
    Walls, Sunya (December 25, 1995). "Alice Palmer decides to run for re-election". Chicago Weekend: p. 2. 
  11. ^ Morales, Carlos (December 24, 1995). "Candidates prepare to wage battles over nominating petitions". Chicago Tribune: p. 2 (Metro). http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/20705110.html?dids=20705110:20705110&FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:FT. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
    Knapp, Kevin (January 3, 1996). "Candidates face petition challenges". Hyde Park Herald: p. 3. 
    Knapp, Kevin (January 10, 1996). "Petition challenges shape political ballot". Hyde Park Herald: p. 1. 
  12. ^ a b c Castillo, Ruben (U.S. District Judge) (March 4, 1996), Marc Ewell, Plaintiff, v. Board of Election Commissioners, Michael J. Hamblet, Chairman, Defendants. v. Barack Obama and Ronald Davis, Intervening Defendants. No. 96 C 823, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division 
  13. ^ a b Ryan, Nancy; Hardy, Thomas (January 18, 1996). "Sen. Palmer ends bid for re-election". Chicago Tribune: p. 6 (Metro). http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/17170536.html?dids=17170536:17170536&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
    . (January 18, 1996). "Area Briefs". Chicago Sun-Times: p. 14. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=(Area%20Briefs)%20AND%20date(1/18/1996%20to%201/18/1996)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=1/18/1996%20to%201/18/1996)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Area%20Briefs)&xcal_numdocs=20&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
    Strausberg, Chinta (January 18, 1996). "Palmer throws in the towel; Lack of signatures forcing State Senator not to seek re-election". Chicago Defender: p. 3. 
    Walls, Sunya (January 21, 1996). "Alice Palmer withdraws from race for re-election". Chicago Weekend: p. 3. 
    Knapp, Kevin (January 24, 1996). "Final primary ballot takes shape". Hyde Park Herald: p. 1. 
    Jackson, David; Long, Ray (April 3, 2007). "Obama knows his way around a ballot". Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-070403obama-ballot-archive,0,5297304,full.story. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
  14. ^ Chicago Democracy Project (2005). "Election Results for 1996 Primary Election, Illinois Senate, District 13 (Democratic Party)". Chicago Democracy Project. http://chicagodemocracy.org/ElectionResults.jsp?election=crdd_primary,gis_entity_crdd_1996_Primary_Election,il_sen_13_dem. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
  15. ^ Chicago Democracy Project (2005). "Election Results for 1996 General Election, Illinois Senate, District 13". Chicago Democracy Project. http://chicagodemocracy.org/ElectionResults.jsp?election=crdd_general,gis_entity_crdd_1996_General_Election,il_sen_13. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
  16. ^ Finke, Doug; Bush, Bill (January 9, 1997). "Power sharing begins; Madigan urges school reform as Democrats take over House". The State Journal-Register: p. 1. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=JR&p_theme=jr&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=POWER%20AND%20SHARING%20AND%20BEGINS%20AND%20MADIGAN%20AND%20URGES%20AND%20SCHOOL%20AND%20REFORM%20AND%20AS%20AND%20DEMOCRATS%20AND%20TAKE%20AND%20OVER%20AND%20HOUSE&s_dispstring=POWER%20SHARING%20BEGINS%20MADIGAN%20URGES%20SCHOOL%20REFORM%20AS%20DEMOCRATS%20TAKE%20OVER%20HOUSE%20AND%20date(1/9/1997%20to%201/9/1997)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=1/9/1997%20to%201/9/1997)&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
    White, Jesse (2001). "Legislative Districts of Cook County, 1991 Reapportionment". Illinois Blue Book 2001–2002. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State. p. 65. http://www.sos.state.il.us/publications/02bluebook/legislative_branch/legdistrictmaps.pdf. Retrieved January 23, 2009.  State Sen. District 13 = State Rep. Districts 25 & 26.
  17. ^ Illinois State Board of Elections (1998). "Ballots Cast - General Primary - 3/17/1998". Illinois State Board of Elections. http://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionInformation/GetVoteTotals.aspx. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
  18. ^ Illinois State Board of Elections (1998). "Ballots Cast - General Election - 11/3/1998". Illinois State Board of Elections. http://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionInformation/GetVoteTotals.aspx. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
  19. ^ a b Pearson, Rick (September 6, 2001). "Democrats win lottery for remap; Bilandic to break deadlock on state redistricting". Chicago Tribune: p. 1. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/79770808.html?dids=79770808:79770808&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. Retrieved January 18, 2009. 
    Pearson, Rick (September 26, 2001). "Democrat remap clears panel over GOP protests". Chicago Tribune: p. 1 (Metro). http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/82099899.html?dids=82099899:82099899&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
    White, Jesse (2003). "Congressional apportionment and redistricting in Illinois". Illinois Handbook of Government 2003-2004. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State. p. 3. http://www.sos.state.il.us/publications/handbook/apportionment_redistricting.pdf. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
  20. ^ a b Illinois Speaker of the House (2002). "Illinois Redistricting Web Site". Illinois Speaker of the House. http://clients.ecampaigning.com/ilr/main.htm. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
  21. ^ White, Jesse (2005). "Legislative Districts of Northeastern Illinois, 2001 Reapportionment". Illinois Blue Book 2005–2006. Springfield: Illinois Secretary of State. p. 64. http://www.sos.state.il.us/publications/illinois_bluebook/2005_2006/legislative_branch/legdistrictmaps.pdf. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
  22. ^ Illinois State Board of Elections (2002). "Ballots Cast - General Primary - 3/19/2002". Illinois State Board of Elections. http://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionInformation/GetVoteTotals.aspx. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
  23. ^ Illinois State Board of Elections (2002). "Ballots Cast - General Election - 11/5/2002". Illinois State Board of Elections. http://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionInformation/GetVoteTotals.aspx. Retrieved January 23, 2009. 
  24. ^ a b c d Becker, Jo and Drew, Christopher, "Pragmatic Politics, Forged on the South Side", The New York Times, May 11, 2008, retrieved July 28, 2008
  25. ^ "Highlights of Obama's Strong Record of Accomplishment in the U.S. and Illinois Senate". Know the Facts. http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2008/01/14/obamas_strong_record_of_accomp.php. Retrieved September 11, 2008. 
  26. ^ a b "Is Bobby Rush in Trouble?". The Chicago Reader. March 17, 2000. http://www.chicagoreader.com/obama/000317. Retrieved July 26, 2008. 
  27. ^ Osnos, Evan (February 20, 2000). "Rush could face his toughest test; 2 key state senators among primary foes". Chicago Tribune: p. 1 (Metro). http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/49867226.html?dids=49867226:49867226&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. Retrieved November 2, 2008. 
  28. ^ Federal Election Commission, 2000 U.S. House of Representatives Results. See also: "Obama's Loss May Have Aided White House Bid". http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14502364.  and Scott, Janny (September 9, 2007). "A Streetwise Veteran Schooled Young Obama". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/us/politics/09obama.html. Retrieved April 20, 2008. 
  29. ^ McClelland, Edward (February 12, 2007). "How Obama Learned to Be a Natural". Salon. http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/02/12/obama_natural/. Retrieved April 20, 2008.  See also: Wolffe, Richard; Daren Briscoe (July 16, 2007). "Across the Divide". Newsweek (MSNBC). http://www.newsweek.com/id/33156. Retrieved April 20, 2008.  Helman, Scott (October 12, 2007). "Early Defeat Launched a Rapid Political Climb". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2007/10/12/early_defeat_launched_a_rapid_political_climb/. Retrieved April 20, 2008.  and 24, 2007-3157940059_x.htm "Obama learned from failed Congress run". http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/October 24, 2007-3157940059_x.htm. 
  30. ^ Illinois Constitution Article IV, Section 2(a) http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con4.htm
  31. ^ Finke, Doug (October 21, 2002). "Democrats try to sweep state elections; Legislative control comes down to just a few contests". The State Journal-Register: p. 1. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=JR&p_theme=jr&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=Democrats%20AND%20try%20AND%20to%20AND%20sweep%20AND%20state%20AND%20elections&s_dispstring=Democrats%20try%20to%20sweep%20state%20elections%20AND%20date(10/21/2002%20to%2010/21/2002)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=10/21/2002%20to%2010/21/2002)&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no. Retrieved October 17, 2008. 
    Finke, Doug (November 6, 2002). "Democrats take charge of General Assembly". The State Journal-Register: p. 5. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=JR&p_theme=jr&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=Democrats%20AND%20take%20AND%20charge%20AND%20of%20AND%20General%20AND%20Assembly&s_dispstring=Democrats%20take%20charge%20of%20General%20Assembly%20AND%20date(11/6/2002%20to%2011/6/2002)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=11/6/2002%20to%2011/6/2002)&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no. Retrieved October 17, 2008. 
  32. ^ "Highlights of Obama's Strong Record of Accomplishment in the U.S. and Illinois Senate". Know the Facts. http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2008/01/14/obamas_strong_record_of_accomp.php. Retrieved September 11, 2008. 
  33. ^ Peters, Charles (January 4, 2008). "Judge Him By His Laws". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/03/AR2008010303303.html. Retrieved September 11, 2008. 
  34. ^ Scott, Janny (July 30, 2007). "In Illinois, Obama Proved Pragmatic and Shrewd". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html. Retrieved January 14, 2008.  See also: Pearson, Rick; Ray Long (May 3, 2007). "Careful Steps, Looking Ahead". Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-0705030101may03,1,7439904.story. Retrieved January 14, 2008. 
  35. ^ "13th District: Barack Obama" (archive). Illinois State Senate Democrats. August 24, 2000. Archived from the original on August 24, 2000. http://web.archive.org/web/20000824102110/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html. Retrieved January 14, 2008.  "13th District: Barack Obama" (archive). Illinois State Senate Democrats. October 9, 2004. Archived from the original on October 9, 2004. http://web.archive.org/web/20041009213335/http://www.senatedem.state.il.us/obama/index.html. Retrieved January 14, 2008.  Cohen, Jodi S (November 7, 2004). "Obama's Springfield Seat Goes to Lawyer" (paid archive). Chicago Tribune. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/731233451.html?dids=731233451:731233451&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT. Retrieved January 14, 2008. 

Further reading

External links

Illinois Senate
Preceded by
Alice J. Palmer		 Illinois State Senator from 13th district
January 8, 1997 - November 4, 2004		 Succeeded by
Kwame Raoul







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