11 ms·Obama was a senator for 13 years before being elected president.by cgmg 9y agoObama was a senator for 13 years before being elected president.jazzyk 9y ago10 years, to be precise: - IL Senator 1997–2004 - US Senator 2005-2008 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obamacgmg 9y agoI stand corrected.