Barack Obama is the Illinois State Senator for the 13th District on Chicago’s South Side. He was overwhelmingly elected to a third term in office in 2002. He serves on three State Senate committees: Health and Human Services, Judiciary and Local Government. He is the Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee.
Working with Senator Paul Simon in 1998, Obama was one of only four legislators who crafted and passed Illinois’ toughest-ever campaign finance reform law. He also played a key role in landmark welfare reform legislation in 1997 that empowers many Illinoisans to go into the workforce.
Obama received his BA in Political Science from Columbia University. He spent five years working as a community organizer, first in Harlem, then in Chicago.
In 1988, Obama enrolled in Harvard Law School. There he served as the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review, and was a member of the Executive Board of the Black Law Students Association. He graduated Magna Cum Laude.
In 1992, Obama served as Illinois Executive Director of PROJECT VOTE!, an effort that added over 100,000 newly registered voters in Illinois.
In 1993, Obama was named by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of “40 under 40” outstanding young leaders in the city of Chicago. He is the recipient of the 1995 Legal Eagle Award from IVI-IPO for his work in bringing Illinois into compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (Motor-Voter). His commentaries have been heard on National Public Radio and his memoir, Dreams of My Father, was published by Random House in August 1995.
Obama works as a civil rights attorney with the firm Davis, Miner, Barnhill and Galland. He specializes in employment discrimination, fair housing and voting rights litigation. He also lectures at the University of Chicago, where he teaches civil rights law and related subjects.
In addition, Obama serves on the boards of several organizations including: the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (Chairman), the Joyce Foundation, the Woods Fund of Chicago, the Center for Neighborhood Technology, the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, and Public Allies. He is a member of the Cook County Bar Association.
Senator Obama is married to Michelle Obama and they have two daughters, Malia Ann Obama and Natasha Obama.