Quick Info
| Profession | Politician, businessman, and video game developer |
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| Nationality | American |
| Date of Birth | 18/08/1970 |
| Age | 56 years |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
Latest News about Jay Obernolte
Obernolte led members of the California congressional delegation in sending a letter to the state's Department of Health Care Services about oversight of the Medi-Cal program. The letter followed a California State Auditor report that found deficiencies in how the state investigates potentially improper billing and recovers overpayments. It asks for information on efforts to address potentially fraudulent billing and safeguard taxpayer funds.
At the NBAA-BACE 2026 business aviation event, Obernolte argued that the Federal Aviation Administration, rather than a new agency, should write rules governing artificial intelligence. His remarks came as he discussed how AI oversight should apply to aviation.
Obernolte and Representative Lori Trahan introduced the bipartisan FRONTIER Act, which aims to strengthen oversight of advanced artificial intelligence. The bill was introduced alongside several other House members from both parties. It follows a discussion draft of the Great American AI Act that the two released earlier in 2026 to create a federal framework for governing AI.
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Republican politician who has represented California's 23rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2023, after serving the 8th district from 2021 to 2023. He previously served in the California State Assembly for the 33rd district from 2014 to 2020, and earlier held local office in Big Bear Lake, California. He is known for his focus on artificial intelligence and technology policy, and he has been seeking re-election in the 23rd district in 2026. |
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| Full Name | Jay Phillip Obernolte |
Educational Qualification(s)
| High School | Edison High School, Fresno, California (1988) |
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| Bachelor's | B.S., California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (1992) |
| Master's | M.S., University of California, Los Angeles (1997) |
| Doctorate | D.P.A., California Baptist University, Riverside (2020) |
Personal Life
| Residence | Big Bear Lake, California |
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| Hobbies and Activities |
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Relationships & More
| Spouse | Heather Obernolte |
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Family
| Spouse | Heather Obernolte |
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| Children |
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Career
| Current Office | U.S. Representative for California's 23rd congressional district (since 3 January 2023; term ends January 2027) |
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| Previous Office | U.S. Representative for California's 8th congressional district (2021-2023) |
| State Legislature | California State Assembly, 33rd district (2014-2020) |
| Local Government |
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| Business | Founded FarSight Studios in 1990, a video game developer and publisher, where he serves as owner, president, and technical director |
| Committees |
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| Recent Legislative Focus | Co-authored the bipartisan FRONTIER Act and a discussion draft of the Great American AI Act with Representative Lori Trahan in 2026 |
| 2026 Re-election | Seeking re-election for California's 23rd district; primary held 2 June 2026 and general election scheduled for 3 November 2026 |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Started FarSight Studios in his college dorm room in 1990 | |
| 2. Is a licensed pilot and certified flight instructor | |
| 3. Describes himself as the only serving member of Congress with a graduate-level degree in artificial intelligence | |
| 4. Served as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 2016 |
