Jay Obernolte

Jay Obernolte is a Republican politician and businessman currently serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 23rd congressional district. First elected to Congress in 2020 for the 8th district (later renumbered to the 23rd), Obernolte entered federal office following a career in both the private sector and local and state government. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Fresno, California, where he graduated as valedictorian from Edison High School in 1988. Obernolte's educational background is heavily focused on technology and administration; he earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering and applied science from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and a Master of Science in artificial intelligence from UCLA. In 1990, he founded FarSight Studios, an independent video game development company. Later in his career, he earned a Doctorate in Public Administration from California Baptist University in 2020. His professional experience as a business owner and software developer has shaped his legislative focus on technology and economic policy. Before his election to Congress, Obernolte served on the Big Bear City Airport Board and the Big Bear City Council, eventually serving as the Mayor of Big Bear Lake. He was then elected to the California State Assembly in 2014, representing the 33rd district for three terms. In the U.S. House of Representatives, he serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Notably, he is currently the only member of Congress with a graduate-level degree in artificial intelligence, a credential he utilizes in his work on tech-related legislation.

Obernolte's policy positions generally align with fiscally conservative and market-based principles. On the economy, he emphasizes reducing the national debt, balancing the federal budget, and lowering taxes to encourage job growth. In the realm of healthcare, he supports a 'patient-centered' approach that prioritizes telehealth services, lower costs, and rural access, while opposing a 'one-size-fits-all' federal system. He has also authored bipartisan legislation to support living organ donors through federal assistance. Regarding immigration, Obernolte advocates for increased border security and stricter enforcement of immigration laws to stop human trafficking and drug flow, while maintaining support for a robust legal immigration system. In energy policy, he supports a multimodal approach to strengthen the energy grid and opposes what he describes as 'onerous' government intervention in the industry. As a specialist in artificial intelligence, he focuses on balancing technological innovation with consumer privacy protections, addressing issues like cybersecurity and digital privacy through his committee assignments.