Chris Obenshain - Ballotpedia

Chris Obenshain was born in Virginia and lives in Blacksburg. Obenshain graduated from Cave Spring High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Bridgewater College and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Chris previously served as a prosecutor in Radford and Montgomery County. He also worked as the assistant attorney general in the criminal appeals section for the state of Virginia. Before law school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and served as a Humvee mechanic with the 299th Engineering Company. After law school, he commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army JAG Corps.

Chris is currently a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, representing District 41. He assumed office in 2024 and is currently serving his first term. 

Supports permanently eliminating the grocery tax.

Supports reducing taxes and regulations on small businesses, farms, and local job creators.

Opposes the repeal of Virginia's Right to Work law, which prohibits mandatory union membership and fees.

- Supports permanently eliminating the grocery tax.
- Supports reducing taxes and regulations on small businesses, farms, and local job creators.
- Opposes the repeal of Virginia's Right to Work law, which prohibits mandatory union membership and fees.

Economy

Supports an "all-of-the-above energy policy" to reduce electricity rates.

- Supports an "all-of-the-above energy policy" to reduce electricity rates.

Energy & the Environment

Supports fully funding law enforcement and Governor Youngkin's mental health system overhaul.

Supports requiring violent felons to serve their entire sentences.

Supports harsh measures against drug offenses and eliminating gang-related crime.

- Supports fully funding law enforcement and Governor Youngkin's mental health system overhaul.
- Supports requiring violent felons to serve their entire sentences.
- Supports harsh measures against drug offenses and eliminating gang-related crime.

Public Safety

Supports funding for a school resource officer in every school.

Supports "true school choice" to ensure access to quality education.

Supports returning to "traditional academics and classroom discipline."

- Supports funding for a school resource officer in every school.
- Supports "true school choice" to ensure access to quality education.
- Supports returning to "traditional academics and classroom discipline."

Education

As of September 10, 2025, J. Christian "Chris" Obenshain’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Healthcare

Voting & Elections

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J. Christian "Chris" Obenshain

Wants to hold schools accountable for "learning loss."

Supports strict measures against "hard drugs."

Chris Obenshain was born in Virginia and lives in Blacksburg. Obenshain graduated from Cave Spring High School. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve, first as an enlisted soldier, and then as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve JAG Corps. Obenshain earned a B.A. in political science from Bridgewater College in 2000 and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2006. His professional experience includes working as an attorney.

Chris is an attorney at Obenshain Law, PLLC. He previously served as a prosecutor in Radford and Montgomery County. He also worked as an Assistant Attorney General in Richmond under Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. Before law school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and served as a Humvee mechanic with the 299th Engineering Company. After law school, he commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army JAG Corps.

As of September 10, 2025, J. Christian "Chris" Obenshain did not have a website or any information online.

Buket Urgen

Lily Franklin has a bachelor's degree in political science from Longwood University and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Virginia. She lives in Blacksburg.

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Lily is currently the operations assistant for the town of Christianburg and the deputy campaign manager for Josh for Virginia. She previously served as chief of staff for Delegate Sam Rasoul. She has also worked as a math teacher for Teach for America and as a lifeguard and swim instructor.

Virginia House of Delegates District 41 - Ballotpedia

Obenshain, Franklin take the hot 41st District race to the airwaves ...

Lily previously ran for Virginia House of Delegates District 41 in 2023 but did not win. 

Meet the candidate: Lily Franklin | The Virginia Independent

Supports investing in infrastructure, supporting small businesses, and strengthening regional connections to create good-paying jobs in Southwest Virginia.

Supports making homeownership attainable for Virginians by stopping hedge funds from driving up prices and advocating for innovative housing solutions.

Supports capping rent and offering incentives to make housing more affordable.

- Supports investing in infrastructure, supporting small businesses, and strengthening regional connections to create good-paying jobs in Southwest Virginia.
- Supports making homeownership attainable for Virginians by stopping hedge funds from driving up prices and advocating for innovative housing solutions.
- Supports capping rent and offering incentives to make housing more affordable.

Advocates for investment in clean water infrastructure.

Plans to continue addressing environmental issues, including limiting toxic PFAS "forever chemicals" in water.

Supports limiting PFAS chemicals in drinking water.

Intends to lower electric rates through utility reform.

- Advocates for investment in clean water infrastructure.
- Supports limiting PFAS chemicals in drinking water.
- Plans to hold polluters accountable.
- Intends to lower electric rates through utility reform.

Supports housing protections for domestic violence survivors.

Supports the Second Amendment but favors restrictions on assault-style weapons.

- Supports housing protections for domestic violence survivors.
- Supports the Second Amendment but favors restrictions on assault-style weapons.

Supports increasing funding for public schools to ensure "every child gets a world-class education, teachers receive fair pay, and every school has the resources to prepare students for the future."

Opposes school voucher programs that divert money from public schools.

- Supports increasing funding for public schools to ensure "every child gets a world-class education, teachers receive fair pay, and every school has the resources to prepare students for the future."
- Opposes school voucher programs that divert money from public schools.

Supports abortion access and expanding access to OB-GYNs and contraception.

Supports protecting Medicaid in Virginia.

Wants to ensure access to health insurance across the state.

- Supports abortion access and expanding access to OB-GYNs and contraception.
- Supports protecting Medicaid in Virginia.
- Wants to ensure access to health insurance across the state.

Opposes corporate influence from utility companies.

- Opposes corporate influence from utility companies.

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Lily V. Franklin

Lily Franklin is from Blacksburg, Virginia. She has a bachelor's degree in political science from Longwood University and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Virginia. She lives with her family in Blacksburg.

As of September 10, 2025, Lily V. Franklin did not have a website or any information online.

Supports abortion and plans to "fight to protect reproductive rights, expand access to OB-GYNs and contraception, and ensure women can get the care they need, when they need it."

- The Virginia General Assembly, made up of the House of Delegates and the State Senate, is responsible for creating state laws.  
- Your state delegate serves your local district in the Virginia House of Delegates, advocating for your community's needs and interests.  
- Delegates have the power to write, sponsor, and vote on proposed legislation, including all bills related to the state budget, which begin in the House of Delegates.  
- The House of Delegates consists of 100 members, each elected to represent one district.  
- Delegates serve two-year terms and receive an annual salary of $17,640.