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.[1][2]

Obenshain served as chairman of the UVA Chapter of the Federalist Society. He has also been involved in numerous the Montgomery County Republican Party, the Radford City Republican Party, the Richmond City Republican Party, and the Bridgewater College Republicans. He also chartered and served as chairman of the Roanoke/NRV Young Republicans.