In that same year, he ran for the House of Representatives in Virginia's 3rd congressional district based in Richmond, facing Democratic State Delegate David E. Satterfield III.

Under Obenshain's leadership, however, a record number of Republicans were elected to the General Assembly, the first such major gains since Reconstruction in the late 19th century following the American Civil War.

In the summer of 1978, Obenshain won his party's nomination to run for the U.S. Senate to replace retiring William L. Scott.

On the night of August 2, at approximately 11:00 pm the small twin-engine Piper PA-34 Seneca airplane carrying him home from a campaign appearance crashed in trees while attempting a night-time landing at the Chesterfield County Airport, a general aviation facility near Richmond.

[5][6] Former U.S. Secretary of the Navy John Warner was selected to replace Richard Obenshain as the party's nominee for the U.S. Senate race.