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Mark has a bachelor's degree in economics and history from Virginia Tech and a law degree from Washington and Lee University. He lives with his wife and two children. They attend Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church.

Mark is a lawyer. He is the managing partner of Obenshain Law Group. He used to be a partner and co-founder of Lenhart Pettit and a partner at Wharton Aldhizer & Weaver.

Mark Obenshain is currently the state senator representing district 26. He was first elected in 2003 and has been in office for five terms.

Legiscan, SB 1323

Legiscan, SB 1333

Supports tapping into oil deposits along Virginia's outer continental shelf in an "environmentally sensitive manner."

Wants more advances in coal, wind energy, and offshore drilling.

As a state senator, voted for a bill that will lower energy bills for Virginian’s by $6-$7 per month by changing the way Virginia’s monopoly energy provider, Dominion Energy, can set prices.

As a state senator, voted against a bill that would have given lowand middle-income Virginians loans and funding to install solar panels or make their homes more energy efficient.

- Supports tapping into oil deposits along Virginia's outer continental shelf in an "environmentally sensitive manner."
- Wants more advances in coal, wind energy, and offshore drilling.
- As a state senator, voted for a bill that will lower energy bills for Virginian’s by $6-$7 per month by changing the way Virginia’s monopoly energy provider, Dominion Energy, can set prices. 
- As a state senator, voted against a bill that would have given low- and middle-income Virginians loans and funding to install solar panels or make their homes more energy efficient.

Energy & the Environment

Virginia's Legislative Information System, SB 0451

Legiscan, HB 2294

Wants to change the rules around eminent domain, which is the power of the government to take private land for public use.

Supports dedicating portion of future revenue growth to Transportation Trust Fund.

As a state senator, voted for a bill that lowered taxes on groceries from 2.5% to 1%, except for alcohol, tobacco, and prepared hot foods. Diapers and feminine hygiene products were included in the tax decrease.

As a state senator, voted for a bill that limits the amount of THC in hemp products to 0.3% of the product and 2 milligrams total. Possession of marijuana is decriminalized in Virginia but there is no legal market for sales of THC products.

- Wants to change the rules around eminent domain, which is the power of the government to take private land for public use. 
- Supports dedicating portion of future revenue growth to Transportation Trust Fund. 
- Opposes higher taxes.
- As a state senator, voted for a bill that lowered taxes on groceries from 2.5% to 1%, except for alcohol, tobacco, and prepared hot foods. Diapers and feminine hygiene products were included in the tax decrease.  
- As a state senator, voted for a bill that limits the amount of THC in hemp products to 0.3% of the product and 2 milligrams total. Possession of marijuana is decriminalized in Virginia but there is no legal market for sales of THC products.

Economy

Virginia's Legislative Informtion System, SJ 255

Legiscan, HB 2374

As a state senator, voted against a bill that would have put a fundamental right to reproductive freedom in Virginia’s constitution, which would have made abortion constitutionally protected in the state.

As a state senator, voted for a bill that prevents pharmacists from refusing to fill prescriptions because they were prescribed via telemedicine.

- As a state senator, voted against a bill that would have put a fundamental right to reproductive freedom in Virginia’s constitution, which would have made abortion constitutionally protected in the state. 
- As a state senator, voted for a bill that prevents pharmacists from refusing to fill prescriptions because they were prescribed via telemedicine.

Healthcare

Legiscan, HB 319

Legiscan, SB 1515

Opposes decisions about education at local schools being made by the state or federal government.

Advocates for more funding for local school districts.

As a state senator, voted for a bill that requires schools to improve reading skills in students from kindergarten through third grade to address learning loss from the pandemic.

As a state senator, voted for a bill that lets companies be sued for publishing or distributing online content that is “harmful to minors” without checking the age of the internet users accessing the content.

- Opposes decisions about education at local schools being made by the state or federal government.
- Advocates for more funding for local school districts. 
- As a state senator, voted for a bill that requires schools to improve reading skills in students from kindergarten through third grade to address learning loss from the pandemic. 
- As a state senator, voted for a bill that lets companies be sued for publishing or distributing online content that is “harmful to minors” without checking the age of the internet users accessing the content.

Education

Virginia's Legislative Information System, HB 2387

Virginia's Legislative Information System, SB 0951

Wants to pass stricter criminal laws for human trafficking.

As a state senator, voted for a bill that gives people $300 off their taxes if they buy a gun safe or lock box. The credit expires in 2027.

As a state senator, voted for a bill that gets rid of the option for drivers without insurance to pay a $500 fee when registering their car and be allowed to drive without insurance.

- Supports more funding for the police. 
- Wants to pass stricter criminal laws for human trafficking. 
- As a state senator, voted for a bill that gives people $300 off their taxes if they buy a gun safe or lock box. The credit expires in 2027. 
- As a state senator, voted for a bill that gets rid of the option for drivers without insurance to pay a $500 fee when registering their car and be allowed to drive without insurance.

Public Safety

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Mark Obenshain

- Your state representative represents the interests of your district in the Virginia State Senate.
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process.
- The state Senate, along with the House of Delegates, makes up our state lawmaking body: the Virginia General Assembly.
- General Assembly members work together with the Governor to create the state budget. 
- There are 40 Virginia senators, each representing a single district.
- State Senators are elected to four-year terms. They are paid a yearly salary of $18,000.


Virginia State Senator, District 2, Republican Primary

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