Rod Blagojevich

Who / What

Rod R. Blagojevich is an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party. He is best known for serving as the 40th governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009.

Background & History

Blagojevich was born on December 10, 1956. His political career began in the Illinois state legislature, where he served as a state representative from 1993 to 1997. He then served as the U.S. representative from Illinois's 5th district from 1997 until 2003, when he assumed the governorship.

Why Notable

He is notable for being the governor of Illinois for six years. His tenure ended in 2009 when he was removed from office following his impeachment and conviction by the Illinois Senate. His case drew significant national attention due to the criminal charges related to his conduct in office.

In the News

Blagojevich remains a figure of public interest due to the high-profile nature of his corruption case and his subsequent imprisonment. His sentencing and later commutation of his prison term by President Donald Trump in 2020 have kept him in recent news cycles.

Key Facts

Type: person

Also known as: Blago

Founded / Born: December 10, 1956

Key dates: Served as Governor of Illinois (2003–2009); Impeached and removed from office (2009)

Geography: United States, Illinois

Affiliation: Democratic Party

Links

[Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Blagojevich)

Sources

• 🔗 Wikipedia

Rod R. Blagojevich ( blə-GOY-ə-vitch; born December 10, 1956), often referred to by his nickname "Blago", is an American politician who served as the 40th governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A member of the Democratic Party, Blagojevich previously worked in both the state and federal legislatures. He served as an Illinois state representative from 1993 to 1997, and the U.S. representative from Illinois's 5th district from 1997 to 2003.