Key Takeaways (Click to Expand)

Before entering politics, Jay Obernolte was a successful entrepreneur and video game developer, founding FarSight Studios, a company he still owns and operates.

He holds a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence, making him one of the foremost experts on technology and AI within the U.S. Congress.

Prior to his election to the House in 2020, he served in the California State Assembly, where he was a leading Republican voice on fiscal policy.

He is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, where he helps oversee the federal budget.

“From designing video games and earning a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence to shaping the nation’s budget, Jay Obernolte brings a rare and valuable technological expertise to the halls of Congress.”

Jay Obernolte: The Video Game Developer in Congress

Representative Jay Obernolte’s background is one of the most unique in all of American politics. As a successful video game developer, an accomplished pilot, and a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence, he brings a deep, hands-on understanding of technology and innovation to his work in Washington. His career is a story of applying a problem-solving, entrepreneurial mindset to the complex challenges of public policy.

Obernolte’s story began not in politics, but in technology. In 1990, he founded FarSight Studios, a video game development company that has created dozens of popular games over the last three decades, including titles based on classic pinball machines and major movie franchises. He remains the owner and operator of the company today. Alongside his business career, he pursued his academic interests, earning a master’s degree in computer science and eventually a doctorate in Artificial Intelligence.

His entry into politics started at the local level, where he served as a councilman and Mayor of Big Bear Lake. He was then elected to the California State Assembly, where he quickly became a respected Republican leader on budget and fiscal issues, known for his meticulous, data-driven approach to policy.

In 2020, Obernolte was elected to represent California’s 23rd District, a vast inland district that includes parts of the High Desert. In Congress, he has secured a position on the influential House Appropriations Committee, where he has a direct say in federal spending. Given his background, he is a leading congressional voice on technology policy, particularly on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, where he helps educate his colleagues on the opportunities and risks of this transformative technology.

Sources Used

Ballotpedia Profile: https://ballotpedia.org/Jay_Obernolte

GovTrack.us Legislative Record: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/jay_obernolte/456804

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