Illinois is considered the home state to the 44th President of the United States. President Barack Obama was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1996. He succeeded State Senator Alice Palmer as senator from Illinois’ 13th District.

Obama represented a number of Chicago South Side neighborhoods. At the time, the 13th District spanned from Hyde Park-Kenwood south to South Shore and west to Chicago Lawn. He represented this area until 2004.

Obama went on to serve as U.S. Senator from Illinois beginning in 2005. He resigned from his U.S. Senate seat after being elected President of the United States in 2008.

Today, the President returned to the place his legislative career began: Springfield, Illinois. Nine years ago, he announced his candidacy for President of the United States in front of the Old State Capitol. The announcement was made at the same place Abraham Lincoln delivered his historic “House Divided” speech in 1858.