Kate Obenshain Griffin
Encyclopedia
Kate Obenshain is a conservative political commentator and Vice President of Young America's Foundation
. She regularly appears as a guest on the Fox News Channel
.
where she was editor of the campus conservative newspaper, the Virginia Advocate.
and Jim Gilmore
on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
, implementing both governors' vision for budgetary reform and programmatic accountability.
Obenshain served as chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia
from 2003 to 2006 and is the first woman to serve as Chair. She stepped down from her post as Chair following the November 2006 midterm elections to serve as Senator George Allen
's Chief of Staff for the remainder of his term in the U.S. Senate following the Senator's loss.
As chairman, 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 earned the designation from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
as one of the rising stars in the GOP.
She has been speaking on college campuses for 18 years on topics such 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.
Her brother, Mark Obenshain
, is a member of the Virginia State Senate.
She is a Virginia native and currently resides in Winchester, Virginia
, with her four children.
She was formerly married to Phil Griffin, a lawyer, and the father of her four children. The marriage ended in divorce.
She is a co-founder of James 1:27 Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing assistance to widows and orphans in times of crisis.
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".
Young America's Foundation
Young America's Foundation is a conservative youth organization, founded in 1969, with a focus on sharing conservative ideas with students through conferences, campus lectures, seminars, posters, and activism initiatives.-History:...
. She regularly appears as a guest on the Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
.
Education/career
Obenshain is a graduate of the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
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 AllenGeorge Allen (U.S. politician)
George Felix Allen is a former United States Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the son of former NFL head coach George Allen. Allen served Virginia in the state legislature, as the 67th Governor, and in both bodies of the U.S. Congress, winning election to the Senate in 2000...
and Jim Gilmore
Jim Gilmore
James Stuart "Jim" Gilmore III is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Virginia, former 68th Governor of Virginia, and a member of the Republican Party. A native Virginian, Gilmore studied at the University of Virginia, and then served in the U.S. Army as a counterintelligence agent...
on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia is the Commonwealth's coordinating body for higher education. SCHEV was established by the Governor and General Assembly in 1956...
, implementing both governors' vision for budgetary reform and programmatic accountability.
Obenshain served as chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia
Republican Party of Virginia
The Republican Party of Virginia is the Virginia chapter of the Republican Party. It is based in the Richard D. Obenshain Center in Richmond in the Commonwealth of Virginia.- Organization and candidate selection :The State Party Plan...
from 2003 to 2006 and is the first woman to serve as Chair. She stepped down from her post as Chair following the November 2006 midterm elections to serve as Senator George Allen
George Allen (U.S. politician)
George Felix Allen is a former United States Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the son of former NFL head coach George Allen. Allen served Virginia in the state legislature, as the 67th Governor, and in both bodies of the U.S. Congress, winning election to the Senate in 2000...
's Chief of Staff for the remainder of his term in the U.S. Senate following the Senator's loss.
As chairman, 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 earned the designation from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the only major daily newspaper in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and its suburbs. The AJC, as it is called, is the flagship publication of Cox Enterprises. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the result of the merger between The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta...
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 been speaking on college campuses for 18 years on topics such 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 Dick Obenshain.Her brother, Mark Obenshain
Mark Obenshain
Mark D. Obenshain is a Republican member of the Senate of Virginia from Harrisonburg. Obenshain has accumulated a conservative voting record since his election to the Shenandoah Valley's 26th state senate district in 2003...
, is a member of the Virginia State Senate.
She is a Virginia native and currently resides in Winchester, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
, with her four children.
She was formerly married to Phil Griffin, a lawyer, and the father of her four children. The marriage ended in divorce.
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 non-profit organization dedicated to providing assistance to widows and orphans in times of crisis.
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".