Kate Obenshain (born November 14, 1968) is an American journalist and politician. She is a
conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...
political commentator, who formerly served as Vice President of the
Young America's Foundation
Young America's Foundation (YAF) is a conservative youth organization founded in 1969. In 2018, the ''Los Angeles Times'' called YAF "one of the most preeminent, influential and controversial forces in the nation's conservative youth movement. ...
. She regularly appears as a guest on the
Fox News Channel.
Education/career
Obenshain is a graduate of the
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia (UVA) is a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United States, with highly selective ad ...
where she was editor of the campus conservative newspaper, ''The Virginia Advocate''.
Political experience
From 1995 to 2000, Obenshain served as an appointee of Governors
George Allen George Allen may refer to:
Politics and law
* George E. Allen (1896–1973), American political operative and one-time head coach of the Cumberland University football team
* George Allen (Australian politician) (1800–1877), Mayor of Sydney and ...
and
Jim Gilmore on the
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) is the Commonwealth's coordinating body for higher education. SCHEV was established by the Governor and General Assembly in 1956. Its mission, which is outlined in the Code of Virginia§2 ...
, implementing each governor's vision for budgetary reform and program accountability.
She also served as the first woman chairman of the
Republican Party of Virginia
The Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) is the Virginia chapter of the Republican Party. It is based at the Richard D. Obenshain Center in Richmond.
History
The party was established in 1854 by opponents of slavery and secession in the commonwe ...
from 2004 to 2006. She stepped down from that post on November 15, 2006, following the
2006 midterm elections to serve as Senator George Allen's
Chief of Staff for the remainder of his term in the
U.S. Senate
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and pow ...
following the Senator's loss
As state GOP chair, she garnered national attention for her active opposition against tax increases and the expanding role of government at the state and national levels. During her tenure, she was referred to by ''
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' is the only major daily newspaper in the metropolitan area of Atlanta, Georgia. It is the flagship publication of Cox Enterprises. The ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' is the result of the merger between ...
'' as one of the rising stars in the GOP.
Speaking on college campuses
Obenshain is a campus speaker for both the
Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute and Young America's Foundation.
She has spoken on college campuses for eighteen years on such topics as "The New Face of Feminism: It’s Wearing Lipstick," "Our Descent into Liberalism," and "America’s Noble Heritage: Hope from the Founding Fathers." Kate speaks across the nation on a wide variety of issues including life, national security, education, economic policy, political correctness on campus, and the changing role of women in public policy.
Family and personal life
Obenshain is the daughter of former party chair and 1978 U.S. Senate candidate
Richard D. Obenshain
Richard Dudley Obenshain (October 31, 1935 – August 2, 1978) was an American politician and attorney. Obenshain had served as the chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, and was nominated in 1978 to run as the Republican nominee for the U ...
.
Her brother,
Mark Obenshain
Mark Dudley Obenshain (born June 11, 1962) is an American Attorney at law, attorney and politician. He is currently serving as a member of the Senate of Virginia from Harrisonburg, Virginia, Harrisonburg. He is a member of the Republican Party of ...
, is a member of the
Virginia State Senate
The Senate of Virginia is the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate is composed of 40 senators representing an equal number of single-member constituent districts. The Senate is presided over by the lieutenant governor of Virg ...
.
She is a Virginia native and currently resides in
Charlottesville, Virginia.
She filed for divorce from her former husband Phillip in 2006.
Other achievements
Obenshain serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute.
She is a co-founder of James 1:27 Foundation, a conservative non-profit organization.
[
Obenshain has been featured in the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 Great American Conservative Women Calendars.
Her work is featured in the book ''Great American Conservative Women''.]
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Obenshain, Kate
1969 births
Living people
21st-century American women
American women journalists
Politicians from Richmond, Virginia
Politicians from Winchester, Virginia
Republican Party of Virginia chairs
University of Virginia alumni
Virginia Republicans
Women in Virginia politics
Journalists from Virginia
Political chiefs of staff
United States congressional aides