As an expert in politics, I have always been fascinated by the state of Illinois and its role in national politics. With its bustling city of Chicago and diverse population, it's no surprise that many politicians from this state have set their sights on the highest office in the land - the presidency.
The Influence of Northeastern Illinois
Located in the northeastern corner of the state, northeastern Illinois is home to some of the most populous and politically active counties in Illinois. Cook County, which includes Chicago, is the most populous county in the state and has a long history of producing influential politicians. But just how many politicians from northeastern Illinois have run for president? Let's take a closer look at some of the notable candidates who have hailed from this region.Barack Obama
One of the most well-known politicians from northeastern Illinois is former President Barack Obama. Although he was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Obama moved to Chicago after college and began his political career as a community organizer on the city's South Side. In 1996, he was elected to the Illinois State Senate, representing a district on Chicago's South Side.He served in this position until 2004 when he was elected to the U. S. Senate. Just four years later, Obama announced his candidacy for president and went on to win the 2008 election, becoming the first African American to hold the office. While Obama may not have been born in northeastern Illinois, his political career was largely shaped by his time in Chicago and his ties to the city's political machine.
His victory in the 2008 election solidified northeastern Illinois as a major player in presidential politics.
Hillary Clinton
Another notable politician from northeastern Illinois is former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Born in Chicago, Clinton grew up in the suburb of Park Ridge and attended high school in the city. She went on to attend Wellesley College and Yale Law School before beginning her political career. In 2000, Clinton was elected to the U. Senate from New York, but her ties to northeastern Illinois remained strong.In 2008, she ran for the Democratic nomination for president, ultimately losing to Barack Obama. However, she went on to serve as Secretary of State under Obama's administration and ran for president again in 2016, winning the popular vote but ultimately losing the election to Donald Trump.
Jesse Jackson
Reverend Jesse Jackson is another prominent politician from northeastern Illinois. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson moved to Chicago in the 1960s and became involved in the civil rights movement. He founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a social justice organization based in Chicago, and ran for president twice - in 1984 and 1988. While Jackson did not win the Democratic nomination either time, he was a major force in politics and helped pave the way for future African American candidates like Barack Obama.The Impact of Northeastern Illinois on Presidential Politics
As we can see from these three examples, northeastern Illinois has had a significant impact on presidential politics.But these are not the only politicians from this region who have run for president. Other notable candidates include Adlai Stevenson II, who served as governor of Illinois and ran for president twice in the 1950s; Carol Moseley Braun, who was the first African American woman elected to the U. Senate and ran for president in 2004; and Harold Washington, who served as the first African American mayor of Chicago and was rumored to be considering a presidential run before his death in 1987. While not all of these candidates were successful in their bids for the presidency, their presence on the national stage helped put northeastern Illinois on the map as a major player in presidential politics.
