Jay Obernolte

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Jay Obernolte
Official portrait, 2025
Jay Obernolte
BornJay Phillip Obernolte
18 8, 1970
BirthplaceChicago, Illinois, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician, businessman, video game developer
TitleChairman, House Subcommittee on Research and Technology
Known forU.S. Representative for California's 23rd congressional district; AI policy leadership in Congress
Children2
Website[https://obernolte.house.gov Official site]

Jay Phillip Obernolte (Template:IPAc-en; born August 18, 1970) is an American politician, businessman, and video game developer serving as the U.S. representative for California's 23rd congressional district since 2023, and previously for the state's 8th congressional district from 2021 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Obernolte has emerged as one of Congress's foremost voices on artificial intelligence policy and technology governance. Before his election to the U.S. House, he represented the 33rd district in the California State Assembly from 2014 to 2020. His path to elected office began in local government, where he served on the city council and as mayor of Big Bear Lake, California.[1] Obernolte is the owner, president, and technical director of FarSight Studios, an American video game development company, making him one of the few members of Congress with direct experience in the technology industry. He is the only Republican to represent a district that includes area in Los Angeles County.

Early Life

Jay Phillip Obernolte was born on August 18, 1970, in Chicago, Illinois.[1] He later relocated to California, where he settled in the San Bernardino Mountains community of Big Bear Lake. Obernolte developed interests in both technology and aviation from an early age. He became an accomplished pilot, participating in air racing and accumulating significant flight experience.[2] He was recognized by the Young Eagles program for completing over 100 missions as a volunteer pilot, introducing young people to aviation.[3]

Obernolte's aviation pursuits extended into competitive air racing, where he piloted aircraft in organized racing events.[4] His background in aviation has been referenced in connection with his interest in aerospace and technology policy during his political career.[5]

In the technology sector, Obernolte founded FarSight Studios, a video game development company based in Big Bear Lake. As owner, president, and technical director of the company, he gained hands-on experience in software development, business management, and the technology industry—experience that would later inform his legislative work on technology and artificial intelligence policy.

Career

Local Government

Obernolte's political career began at the municipal level in Big Bear Lake. He served as a member of the Big Bear Lake City Council before being elected mayor of the city.[1] His tenure in local government provided him with experience in municipal governance, land use, and the issues facing mountain communities in San Bernardino County. His involvement in Big Bear Lake's civic life established his political base in the high desert and mountain regions of Southern California.[6]

California State Assembly

In 2014, Obernolte ran for the California State Assembly seat in the 33rd district, which was being vacated by Tim Donnelly. He secured the endorsement of the California Republican Party during the primary election cycle.[7] He also received endorsements from the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC)[8] and the San Bernardino County Employees Benefits Association.[9]

In the June 2014 primary election, Obernolte advanced through the field of candidates in San Bernardino County.[10] His campaign emphasized his background as a businessman and technology entrepreneur, positioning himself as a candidate with private-sector experience.[11] He also received the endorsement of the California Republican Party for the general election.[12]

During the general election campaign, Obernolte participated in candidate forums and made statements on issues affecting the high desert and mountain communities of the 33rd district.[13] He was also endorsed by the Independent PAC.[14]

Obernolte won the general election and assumed office on December 1, 2014, succeeding Tim Donnelly.[15] He served in the Assembly until November 30, 2020, representing the 33rd district for three terms. During his time in the Assembly, Obernolte focused on issues related to technology, business, and the concerns of his largely rural and suburban district in the high desert and San Bernardino Mountains.[16][17]

His Assembly tenure also included engagement with local media and community forums in the Big Bear region.[18] He was succeeded in the Assembly by Thurston Smith.

U.S. House of Representatives

Election to Congress

In 2020, Obernolte ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in California's 8th congressional district, succeeding retiring incumbent Paul Cook. He won the seat and was sworn into office on January 3, 2021. Following redistricting after the 2020 census, his constituency was renumbered as California's 23rd congressional district beginning with the 2023 term. The district encompasses a large, geographically expansive area of Southern California, including portions of San Bernardino County, Inyo County, and Mono County, as well as parts of Los Angeles County. Obernolte's status as the sole Republican representing any portion of Los Angeles County has made him a notable figure in California Republican politics.

AI Policy and Technology Leadership

Obernolte has established himself as one of the most prominent voices in Congress on artificial intelligence policy and technology governance. As Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Research and Technology, a panel of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, he has led hearings and legislative efforts focused on the development of a federal AI regulatory framework.[19]

In January 2026, Obernolte chaired a hearing titled "Advancing America's AI Action Plan," during which he outlined his vision for federal AI governance and the role of Congress in shaping technology policy.[19] His approach has emphasized the development of a comprehensive federal framework that would address AI regulation at the national level, which has been viewed in the technology industry as a potential mechanism for preempting a patchwork of state-level AI laws.[20]

A February 2026 report in Politico described Obernolte's compromise approach to AI regulation as the technology industry's "best hope to block state AI laws," noting the tension between his willingness to engage in bipartisan negotiations on technology policy and the priorities of Republican leadership in the House.[20] The same month, Punchbowl News reported that Obernolte had engaged in detailed conversations with the administration regarding his proposed regulatory framework for artificial intelligence, indicating a level of executive-branch engagement on the issue.[21]

In December 2025, Obernolte participated in a discussion on AI governance hosted by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), alongside Representative Kevin Hern, Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. The event focused on the trajectory of AI policy in Congress and the role of legislative frameworks in governing emerging technologies.[22]

In February 2026, Obernolte co-sponsored the reintroduction of the bipartisan AI Grand Challenges Act, alongside Senators Cory Booker, Mike Rounds, and Martin Heinrich, and Representative Ted Lieu. The legislation sought to promote federal investment in artificial intelligence research through competitive grand challenge programs.[23]

His background as owner and technical director of FarSight Studios, a video game development company, has been cited as a distinguishing factor among members of Congress addressing technology policy, providing him with firsthand experience in software development and technology business operations.

Semiconductor and Manufacturing Policy

In November 2025, Obernolte joined with Representative Zoe Lofgren, the ranking member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, along with Senators Mark Kelly and Marsha Blackburn, in leading a bipartisan bill aimed at cementing the United States' position as a leader in microchip manufacturing. The legislation was intended to strengthen domestic semiconductor production capacity, a topic of significant policy focus following the passage of the CHIPS and Science Act.[24]

Healthcare Legislation

In February 2026, bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Obernolte and Representative Suzan DelBene was signed into law. The legislation increased the number of living organ donors eligible for federal assistance, expanding access to the organ donation system.[25] The signing of this legislation into law represented one of Obernolte's bipartisan legislative accomplishments.

District Engagement

Obernolte has maintained engagement with his geographically expansive district, which includes significant areas of desert and mountain terrain. In February 2026, he visited the King of the Hammers off-road race in Johnson Valley, California, one of the most prominent off-road racing events in the world. The event takes place within his congressional district, and his visit highlighted his engagement with the motorsports and outdoor recreation communities that are significant constituencies in the 23rd district.[26]

Business Career

Outside of politics, Obernolte is the owner, president, and technical director of FarSight Studios, an American video game development company headquartered in Big Bear Lake, California.[1] The company has developed titles across multiple gaming platforms. Obernolte's dual role as a technology entrepreneur and elected official has positioned him as a member of Congress with direct industry experience in software development and digital technology, a background that has informed his legislative work on artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, and broader technology policy.

Personal Life

Obernolte resides in the Big Bear Lake area of San Bernardino County, California. He has two children.[1] An accomplished aviator, Obernolte has participated in air racing and was recognized by the Young Eagles program for his volunteer work introducing young people to flying.[27] His interest in aviation has included participation in organized racing events, and he has been associated with various aircraft and aviation publications.[28]

Obernolte's combination of interests in technology, aviation, and public service has defined his public profile. His residence in the mountain community of Big Bear Lake, where he also operates his video game company, has connected his personal, business, and political lives within the same region of Southern California.

Recognition

Obernolte's role as a leading congressional voice on artificial intelligence policy has drawn significant media attention and recognition from policy organizations. His chairmanship of the House Subcommittee on Research and Technology has positioned him at the center of congressional debates over the governance of emerging technologies.[19]

His invitation to speak at the American Enterprise Institute's December 2025 event on AI governance reflected his standing as a key figure in Republican technology policy circles.[29] Politico's February 2026 profile highlighted his unusual position as a Republican with deep technical expertise willing to pursue bipartisan compromise on AI regulation, describing the attention his framework had received from both the technology industry and the administration.[20]

His bipartisan legislative work—including the organ donation bill signed into law with Representative DelBene, the semiconductor manufacturing bill with Representative Lofgren and Senators Kelly and Blackburn, and the AI Grand Challenges Act with Senators Booker, Rounds, and Heinrich—has underscored his capacity to work across party lines on technology and healthcare policy.[23]

During his time in the California State Assembly, Obernolte received endorsements from multiple organizations, including the California Republican Party, PORAC, and Christian voter guides, reflecting his broad support within the Republican coalition in his district.[30]

Legacy

As of early 2026, Obernolte's congressional career has been defined by his focus on technology policy, particularly artificial intelligence governance. His background as a video game company executive has provided him with a level of technical fluency uncommon among members of Congress, and this expertise has been central to his legislative agenda. His proposed federal AI regulatory framework has been the subject of significant attention from both the technology industry and political observers, with Politico noting that his approach represents a potential path toward comprehensive federal AI legislation.[20]

His position as the only Republican representing a district with area in Los Angeles County marks him as a geographically and politically distinctive figure in the California congressional delegation. The 23rd district's vast territory—spanning desert, mountain, and rural communities—presents unique representational challenges, and Obernolte's engagement with events such as the King of the Hammers race reflects his connection to the outdoor recreation and motorsports industries that are economically significant in his district.

Obernolte's career trajectory—from Big Bear Lake city council member to mayor, state assemblymember, and U.S. representative—illustrates a path from local governance to national policymaking. His simultaneous career as a technology entrepreneur has given him a distinctive profile in Congress, and his work on AI policy, semiconductor manufacturing, and bipartisan healthcare legislation has positioned him as a participant in several of the most consequential policy debates of the 2020s.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Jay P. Obernolte Biography".City of Big Bear Lake.http://www.citybigbearlake.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=302:jay-p-obernolte-biography&catid=45&Itemid=57.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ "Race Pilot: Jay Obernolte".Racing Jets.http://racingjets.com/race_pilot/Jay%20Obernolte.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ "Young Eagles Volunteers Recognition".Young Eagles.http://www.youngeagles.org/volunteers/recognition/100mission.asp?start=150&end=199.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ "Twin Commander 1000: The Ultimate Turbine Commander".Plane & Pilot Magazine.http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/aircraft/pilot-reports/twin-commander/twin-commander-1000-the-ultimate-turbine-commander.html?tmpl=component&print=1#.VE2vFUs7uao.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "Aviation Week".Aviation Week.http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/BC_06_01_2013_p34-576081.xml.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "Big Bear Joins".Victor Valley Daily Press.http://www.vvdailypress.com/articles/bear-44979-big-joins.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "2014 Primary Election Endorsements".California Republican Assembly.http://cragop.org/2014-primary-election-endorsements/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Assembly Endorsement Chart".PORAC.http://porac.org/wp-content/uploads/Assembly-Endorsement-Chart.pdf?054b1e&054b1e.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Endorsements".SEBA.http://www.seba.biz/Endorsements.aspx.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "June 3, 2014 Election Results".San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters.http://www.sbcounty.gov/rov/elections/results/20140603/default.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Obernolte for State Assembly".Big Bear Lake News.http://www.bigbearlake.net/ETNews/Obernolte-for-State-Assembly-.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "Party Endorsements".California Republican Party.http://cagop.org/about/party-endorsements/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "Candidates War Statements".Victor Valley Daily Press.http://www.vvdailypress.com/articles/candidates-45887-war-statements.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "Jay Obernolte".Independent PAC.http://www.independentpac.org/jay_obernolte.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "Business, Mayes, Steinorth".The Press-Enterprise.http://www.pe.com/articles/business-698921-mayes-steinorth.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "Obernolte News".Victor Valley Daily Press.2014-09-18.http://www.vvdailypress.com/article/20140918/News/140919748.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "News".Victor Valley Daily Press.2014-10-22.http://www.vvdailypress.com/article/20141022/NEWS/141029930.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Elections News".Big Bear Grizzly.http://www.bigbeargrizzly.net/elections/news/article_0346679c-4389-11e4-9a2a-5b275f87c3d9.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Opening Statement of Chairman Jay Obernolte at Advancing America's AI Action Plan".U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.January 2026.https://science.house.gov/2026/1/opening-statement-of-chairman-jay-obernolte-at.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 "The Hill Republican who could get a deal on AI — if his leadership lets him".Politico.2026-02-05.https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/05/obernolte-ai-framework-congress-00764601.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "Tech: Obernolte gets into AI weeds with administration".Punchbowl News.January 2026.https://punchbowl.news/article/tech/obernolte-ai-weeds/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "AI Governance: A Discussion with Representative Jay Obernolte, Featuring Representative Kevin Hern".American Enterprise Institute.2025-12-05.https://www.aei.org/events/ai-governance-a-discussion-with-representative-jay-obernolte-featuring-representative-kevin-hern/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Booker, Rounds, Heinrich, Lieu, and Obernolte Reintroduce Bipartisan AI Grand Challenges Act".Office of U.S. Senator Cory Booker.February 2026.https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-rounds-heinrich-lieu-and-obernolte-reintroduce-bipartisan-ai-grand-challenges-act.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Lofgren, Obernolte, Kelly, Blackburn Lead Bipartisan Bill to Cement U.S. as Leader in Microchip Manufacturing".House Democrats — Science, Space, and Technology Committee.2025-11-20.https://democrats-science.house.gov/news/press-releases/lofgren-obernolte-kelly-blackburn-lead-bipartisan-bill-to-cement-us-as-leader-in-microchip-manufacturing.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "DelBene, Obernolte Bill to Increase Organ Donations, Save Lives Signed into Law".Office of Congresswoman Suzan DelBene.February 2026.https://delbene.house.gov/news/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=4255.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "Lawmaker Spotlight: U.S. Rep. Jay Obernolte Visits King of the Hammers".Performance Racing Industry.2026-02-04.https://www.performanceracing.com/magazine/industry-news/02-04-2026/lawmaker-spotlight-us-rep-jay-obernolte-visits-king-hammers.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  27. ↑ "Young Eagles Volunteers Recognition".Young Eagles.http://www.youngeagles.org/volunteers/recognition/100mission.asp?start=150&end=199.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  28. ↑ "Race Pilot: Jay Obernolte".Racing Jets.http://racingjets.com/race_pilot/Jay%20Obernolte.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  29. ↑ "AI Governance: A Discussion with Representative Jay Obernolte, Featuring Representative Kevin Hern".American Enterprise Institute.2025-12-05.https://www.aei.org/events/ai-governance-a-discussion-with-representative-jay-obernolte-featuring-representative-kevin-hern/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  30. ↑ "The Christian Voter Guides".Christian Citizens.http://christiancitizens.org/the-christian-voter-guides.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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