A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was first elected to the Illinois Senate in 1997 representing the 13th district, which covered much of the Chicago South Side.
In 2000, Obama ran an unsuccessful campaign for Illinois's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives against four-term incumbent Bobby Rush.
Obama won the election, gaining a seat previously represented by Republican Peter Fitzgerald.
Numerous candidates entered initially, but over time the field narrowed down to Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton from New York.
[a] Excluding penalized contests,[b] only primary and caucuses votes: Including penalized contests: 2008 Democratic National Convention (Presidential tally) Unfinished roll call (13 states, D.C. Guam, American Samoa and Democrats Abroad):
Barack Obama (33)
Hillary Clinton (23)
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Barack Obama
Hillary Clinton
John Edwards
Tie
No results
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