Key milestones in Barack Obama’s early political career include his election to the Illinois State Senate in 1996, where he served until 2004. Notably, he gained national attention during the 2004 Democratic National Convention while delivering a powerful keynote address. Following this, he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004, representing Illinois. His tenure focused on critical issues like health care and foreign policies. These experiences set the stage for his presidential campaign, culminating in his election as the first African American president in 2008.