In 2009, Joe Biden became the Vice President.
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. ( [ ˈdʒoʊsᵻf_rɒbᵻˈnɛt_ˈbaɪdən ] born November 20 , 1942 ) is an American politician who was the 47th Vice President of the United States from 2009 to 2017 , having been jointly elected twice with President Barack Obama . He was re-elected to the Senate six times , and was the fourth most senior senator at the time of his resignation to assume the Vice Presidency in 2009 . In the 2008 U.S. presidential election , Barack Obama chose Biden to be his running mate in the race , which they won . Joe Biden presidential campaign, 2008 . Seven months after conclusion of his campaign , Biden was selected to be Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama 's vice presidential running mate . The pair won in the general election , and were sworn in on January 20 , 2009 .