Mark Obenshain

Mark Obenshain
Virginia Senate District 26
Incumbent
In office
2004 - Present
Term ends
January 11, 2016
Years in position	9
Party	Republican
Compensation
Base salary	$18,000/year
Per diem	$178/day
Elections and appointments
Last election	November 8, 2011
First elected	2003
Next election	November 3, 2015
Term limits	N/A
Personal
Birthday	06/11/1962
Place of birth	Richmond, VA
Profession	Attorney
Religion	Presbyterian
Websites
Office website
Campaign website

Mark Obenshain has been a Republican member of the Virginia State Senate since 2004, representing the 26th district. Obenshain is currently running for the office of Attorney General of Virginia. He won the Republican nomination at the party's statewide primary convention on May 18, 2013 and will advance to the general election taking place November 5, 2013.

Obenshain received a B.A. at Virginia Tech in 1984 and a J.D. at Lee University School of Law in 1987. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

In addition to serving as a senator Obenshain works as an attorney.

Committee assignments

2012-2013

In the 2012-2013 legislative session, Obenshain served on the following committees:

• Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
• Commerce and Labor Committee
• Courts of Justice
• Privileges and Elections, Chairman
• Rules

2010-2011

In the 2010-2011 legislative session, Obenshain served on the following committees:

• Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
• Courts of Justice
• Local Government
• Privileges and Elections

District 26

Obenshain represents Virginia Senate District 26. Senate District 26 includes Harrisonburg, Page County, Rappahannock County, Rockingham County(part), Shenandoah County, Warren County.

Elections

2013

See also: Virginia attorney general election, 2013

Obenshain won the Republican nomination for Attorney General of Virginia in 2013. The Republican Party of Virginia held a statewide primary convention to select its candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general on May 17-18. He will advance to the general election on November 5, 2013.

Campaign themes

2013

Obenshain's campaign platform for the 2013 attorney general election focuses on opposing "federal overreach", including, but not limited to, the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and coordinating with the state legislature on stricter statewide law enforcement policies targeting drug and sex-related crimes.

Race background

In March 2013, Governing magazine rated Virginia's open attorney general seat as "vulnerable" heading into the 2013-2014 elections because the incumbent party, the Republican party in this case, because of outgoing GOP attorney general Ken Cuccinelli, is at risk of losing control of the office.

The race to replace Cuccinelli began at the primary nomination stage; both Republican convention and Democratic election candidates drew primary contests. On May 18, two "strong fiscal and social conservatives" -- state Sen. Mark Obenshain and and state Rep. Rob Bell -- competed for delegate votes at the Republican Party of Virginia's closed nominating convention, which Obenshain won. The nominee's late father, GOP politician Richard Obenshain, died in a plane crash during his 1978 campaign for U.S. Senate. Obenshain will square off with the winner of the June 11 Democratic primary in the general election. The two Democrats seeking their party's nomination for AG this year are former assistant U.S. Attorney for Virginia Justin Fairfax and state Sen. Mark Herring.

2011

On November 8, 2011, Obenshain won re-election to District 26 of the Virginia State Senate. He was unchallenged in the August 23 primary election and ran unopposed in the November 8 general election.

2007

On Nov. 6, 2007, Obenshain won re-election to the 26th District Seat in the Virginia State Senate, defeating opponent Maxine Roles (D).

Obenshain raised $234,105 for his campaign while Roles raised $13,989.

Virginia State Senate, District 26 (2007)
Candidates		Votes	Percent
Mark Obenshain (R)		25,955	70.40%
Maxine Roles (D)		10,862	29.46%

Issues

Campaign themes

Obenshain's campaign website lists the following issues:

• Holding the Line on Taxes

Excerpt: "Our families already pay too much in taxes – on average, more than they spend on food, clothing, and shelter combined. In these economically trying times, higher taxes and fees would be particularly devastating."

• Better Schools for Virginia’s Children

Excerpt: "Education is one of the most basic responsibilities of government, and I will continue to make it one of my top priorities. I recognize that state government has an important role to play, but also know that the best decisions are made “on the ground” in our local school divisions and not by education bureaucrats in Richmond."

• Improving Transportation

Excerpt: "I have been a leading proponent of reforming the Virginia Department of Transportation. I took the lead in calling for an external performance audit of the Department, and I championed the reopening of the rest stops with my colleagues from the Shenandoah Valley."

• Government Reform

Excerpt: "Simply put, government needs to be run more like a business. Of course, there are distinctions, but , but the degree of inefficiency, duplication, and overhead would astound the most seasoned businessman, and many long-entrenched governmental functions would wither under public scrutiny."

• Strengthening Public Safety

Excerpt: "As a member of the Senate of Virginia, I have worked hard to provide law enforcement and judges with the tools they need to put criminals behind bars and to enhance penalties for gangs and drug felons."

• Protecting Private Property Rights

Excerpt: "As co-patron of successful legislation defending the property rights of all Virginians against the Kelo-era expansion of government’s eminent domain power to encompass such nebulous categories as economic development, I have been at the forefront of the property rights battle here in Virginia and will continue to work to enshrine eminent domain reform in the Constitution of Virginia."

• Defending Second Amendment Rights

Excerpt: "I believe strongly in the preservation of our gun rights in Virginia and have worked alongside the NRA to uphold these rights."

• Promoting Energy Independence

Excerpt: "I stand in strong support of Virginia’s efforts to tap the significant oil deposits along Virginia’s outer continental shelf in an environmentally sensitive manner, and I will work to ensure that Virginia continues to welcome these many and varied approaches to energy independence.

• Protecting Valley Values of Faith and Family

Excerpt: "I believe in the sanctity of innocent human life and will stand strong to protect the rights of Virginians from those who would drive all references to God and faith from the public square."

Campaign donors

2011

In 2011, Obenshain received $296,741 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.

Virginia State Senate 2011 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Mark Obenshain's campaign in 2011
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association	$13,000
Allen Allen Allen & Allen	$12,000
Virginia Senate Republican Caucus	$6,689
Massie For Delegate	$5,000
Silver Honaker Equity LLC	$5,000
Total Raised in 2011	$296,741

2007

Below are Obenshain's top 5 campaign contributors in the 2007 election:

Contributor	2007 total
David K. Rensin	$25,000
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association	$8,000
Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen (Lawyers)	$5,000
2007 Conservative Victory Committee	$5,000
Virginia Association of Realtors	$4,964

Personal

Obenshain was born in Richmond, Virginia on June 11, 1962. He is married to Suzanne Speas Obenshain.

External links

Suggest a link

• Mark Obenshain - Official Campaign Website
• Biography from the Virginia Legislature
• Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
• Biography from Project Vote Smart
• Campaign contributions:2003, 2005, 2007
• Mark Obenshain on Facebook

References

Political offices
Preceded by Kevin G. Miller	Virginia Senate District 26 2004-present	Succeeded by NA