Jay Obernolte Bio
Jay Phillip Obernolte (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 2021. A member of the Republican Party, he previously represented California’s 33rd State Assembly district from 2014 to 2020 and earlier served on the Big Bear Lake city council, including a term as mayor. Obernolte is the only Republican to represent a congressional district that includes portions of Los Angeles County.
Outside of politics, Obernolte is the founder, owner, president, and technical director of FarSight Studios, an independent video game company he launched in 1990. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the California Institute of Technology, a Master of Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Doctorate in Public Administration from California Baptist University. Obernolte lives in Big Bear Lake, California, with his wife Heather and their two sons.
Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Jay Phillip Obernolte was born on August 18, 1970, in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised in Fresno, California. He graduated as valedictorian of Edison/Computech High School in 1988, an early sign of his strong academic record. His upbringing in California’s Central Valley shaped his interest in technology and public service.
Obernolte went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering and applied science from the California Institute of Technology in 1992. He later obtained a Master of Science in artificial intelligence from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1997. In 2020, he completed a Doctorate in Public Administration from California Baptist University, writing his dissertation on managing budgetary conflict between the executive and legislative branches of government.
Path to US Politics
Before entering public office, Obernolte built a career in the private sector as the founder of FarSight Studios, a video game developer that has produced titles for platforms including PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and mobile devices. His success as a business owner gave him the financial independence and name recognition needed to step into local government in the early 2000s.
In 2005, Obernolte was elected to the Big Bear City Airport Board, where he served for five years, including terms as president and vice president. In 2010, he won a seat on the Big Bear City Council and was elevated to mayor. He also served on the Big Bear Lake Fire Protection Board and on regional boards dealing with waste, transit, and municipal issues, building the local political record that led him to the California State Assembly in 2014.
Jay Obernolte Career
Early Career (2014–2020)
Obernolte announced his candidacy for the California State Assembly on February 10, 2014, seeking to succeed Tim Donnelly in the 33rd district. He earned endorsements from the California Republican Party, the San Bernardino County Republican Party, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and several law enforcement and conservative groups. In the June 2014 primary, he finished second with 18.89 percent of the vote before defeating Democrat John Coffey in the November general election with 65.9 percent of the vote.
He was reelected in 2016 with 60.6 percent of the vote and served in the Assembly through 2020. During his tenure, he chaired and served on committees covering budget, appropriations, utilities, arts, and technology, and he authored legislation on rural courts, fire fees, and bicycle traffic rules. In January 2016, he joined the California Legislative Technology and Innovation Caucus.
Congressional Breakthrough (2020–2021)
After U.S. Representative Paul Cook announced his retirement from California’s 8th congressional district in 2019, Obernolte entered the race and received an endorsement from President Donald Trump in February 2020. In the November 2020 general election, he defeated Democratic nominee Chris Bubser with 56.1 percent of the vote to her 43.9 percent.
Obernolte was sworn in to Congress on January 3, 2021, and was named Freshman Class Representative to the House Republican Policy Committee. In his first months in office, he secured passage of two legislative provisions related to artificial intelligence research that were included in bipartisan House bills. His first standalone bill, H.R. 3533, passed the House in September 2021 and created new federal occupational series for software development, software engineering, data science, and data management.
U.S. House Era (2021–Present)
Since taking office, Obernolte has focused much of his work on technology and innovation policy. In 2024, he began co-chairing a bipartisan task force on artificial intelligence alongside Representative Ted Lieu, reflecting his long-standing interest in the field. He has voted on high-profile measures ranging from the January 6 commission and impeachment-related questions to antitrust legislation and the Respect for Marriage Act, which he supported in 2022.
On January 6, 2021, Obernolte voted not to count Arizona’s and Pennsylvania’s electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election, citing changes to election law made by those states’ judiciary and executive branches. He also voted against impeaching President Trump for the Capitol attack and against creating a January 6 commission. In 2025, he publicly praised Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency for examining federal spending and waste.
Notable Events and Milestones
Obernolte’s most notable early milestone was his 2014 entry into the California State Assembly, followed by his 2020 election to Congress with 56.1 percent of the vote. He became the only Republican to represent a district that includes parts of Los Angeles County, a politically significant distinction in California politics. His bipartisan AI task force with Representative Ted Lieu in 2024 further cemented his reputation as a technology-focused legislator.
Jay Obernolte Career Wins
Election Highlights
Obernolte has never lost a general election since entering California politics in 2014. He won his State Assembly seat with 65.9 percent of the vote, won reelection in 2016 with 60.6 percent, and later won his U.S. House race in 2020 with 56.1 percent of the vote against Democrat Chris Bubser. His consistent victories in California’s High Desert and mountain communities have made him a durable figure in regional politics.
Other Wins & Achievements
Beyond electoral success, Obernolte has earned legislative achievements, including the inclusion of his AI research bills in the National Science Foundation For the Future Act and the Department of Energy Science for the Future Act. He also led the bipartisan House task force on artificial intelligence beginning in 2024 and serves on multiple committees in the 118th Congress.
Jay Obernolte Family
Family Background and Public Service
Jay Phillip Obernolte was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in Fresno, California, where he attended Edison/Computech High School. His Midwestern roots and California upbringing helped shape his path into engineering, business, and ultimately public service. Details about his parents and extended family are not publicly confirmed.
Personal Life
Obernolte married his wife, Heather, in 1996, and the couple has two sons. The family has lived in Big Bear Lake, California, since 1997. Obernolte is Protestant, holds an airline transport pilot’s license, and serves as a volunteer pilot with the Veterans Airlift Command and the Young Eagles program. He also holds a fifth-degree black belt in Pacific Unified Martial Arts and is a co-owner and instructor at PUMA Karate in Big Bear Lake.