Mark Obenshain: I’m running

I am pleased to announce that I am running for re-election to the Virginia Senate. For the past 12 years I have had the privilege of representing the Central Shenandoah Valley in the Virginia State Senate. Over that time I have fought for our shared conservative values, working to expand economic opportunities for all Virginians, to keep our communities and neighborhoods safe, to strengthen families and preserve family values and to see that our children receive a world class education without regard to their zip code.

Working together with friends across Virginia we have built coalitions that have achieved great things. We won passage of an amendment to Virginia’s Constitution protecting the rights of property owners to be free from eminent domain abuse. We secured important reforms aimed at protecting the integrity of our elections, including a real photo ID requirement for in person voting. We passed Virginia’s first ever, meaningful school choice legislation, the Educational Improvement Tax Credits. We have given law enforcement new tools to protect our children from predators and drug dealers.

I told myself and my family years ago that as soon as I began to complain about the job or as soon as I started to cast votes on the basis of the most recent public opinion poll it would be time for me to quit.

I love my job. I love working for the people of the Shenandoah Valley and fighting for our shared Virginia values of limited constitutional government, personal freedom and individual responsibility. I’m continuing to fight for education reform – fighting to reform our charter school laws to give new hope and opportunities to kids and families in those areas where we have public schools that are not delivering the opportunities that they should. I’m fighting to give law enforcement more tools to combat the proliferation of human trafficking and the sex trafficking of children in Virginia.

We can’t afford to walk away from this fight. There is too much at stake – in Virginia and across America. This year we need to hold our majority in the House of Delegates and our razor thin — one vote — majority in the Senate. Next year we need to work to make sure that the Republican presidential nominee wins Virginia. And in 2017, well, Virginia needs to elect a Republican Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General. I am committed to this fight – in the state house and across the Commonwealth.

I am grateful for the opportunities that have been afforded to me. I thank you for your support in the past and for your friendship. As I announce my candidacy for re-election, it is my hope that you will stand with me as I continue the fight for conservative governance.