Democrat Obama US Senate

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In 2004 Barack Obama announced his bid for the Illinois Senate, following the announcement from incumbent Peter Fitzgerald that he would not run for a second term. Obama quickly rose to the top following endorsements from most major Illinois newspapers and several large unions. Initially the Republican frontrunner was Jack Ryan, but he dropped out following divorce court records were released in which his wife alleged he pressured her into public sex acts. His replacement, John Keyes suffered from a conservative voting record and his image as an outsider, having few ties to Illinois. Obama received 70% of the vote, with the race being one of the first to be called on Election Day. The race and subsequent victory brought Obama to the forefront of the Democratic Party and grew his popularity, which later led to his election as President in 2008.