text: Previously elected three times to statewide office , Quinn was the sitting lieutenant governor and became governor on January 29 , 2009 , when the previous governor , Rod Blagojevich , was impeached and removed from office .
simplified: He was sitting Lieutenant Governor ; he became Governor on January 29 , 2009 when Rod Blagojevich , the state 's earlier Governor , was impeached and thrown out of office .