[2] Earlier in her career, Oban worked for U.S. Representative Earl Pomeroy, 2012 gubernatorial candidate Ryan Taylor, and Tobacco Free North Dakota.

Oban defeated incumbent Republican State Senator Margaret Sitte in the 2014 elections by 58% to 41%, becoming the first Democrat to represent Bismarck since 2010.

She was inspired to run by Sitte's support of a Human Life Amendment to the North Dakota Constitution.

[4] In November 2021, Oban announced she would not run for re-election, citing a toxic environment in state politics.

On March 17, 2022, the White House announced her appointment as USDA Rural Development state director for North Dakota.