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RELEASE: Gottheimer Discusses AI Policy at the University of Pennsylvania
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Updated Oct 16, 2026, 2:28 PM ET
Republican · 3 November 2026
Jay Obernolte
U.S. Representative for California's 23rd congressional district (since 2021)
Jay Obernolte, a Republican who has represented California's 23rd congressional district since 2021, when it was numbered the 8th, faces Democrat Tessa Lynn Hodge, a clinical social worker, in the 2026 general election.
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Live TruthIndex™ and prediction market consensus for races contested by Jay Obernolte.
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Recent media coverage for Jay Obernolte.
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ANCA endorses congressional allies for 2026 midterm elections
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA-42) – B [...] Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) – A
No story this week names this candidate.
- Born
- August 18, 1970
- Birthplace
- Chicago, Illinois
- Education
- Edison/Computech High School (1988)
California Institute of Technology (Bachelor of Science in engineering and applied science, 1992)
University of California, Los Angeles (Master of Science in artificial intelligence, 1997)
California Baptist University (Doctorate in Public Administration, 2020)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Jay 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.
He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in engineering and applied science from the California Institute of Technology in 1992 and a Master of Science in artificial intelligence from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1997.
In 2020 California Baptist University awarded him a Doctorate in Public Administration for a dissertation on budgetary conflict between the executive and legislative branches.
Career
Obernolte launched FarSight Studios, an independent developer and publisher of video games, in 1990, and he is its owner, president and technical director.
His public service began in 2005 with election to the Big Bear City Airport Board, and in 2010 he was elected to the Big Bear City Council, where he served as mayor. From 2014 to 2020 he represented California's 33rd State Assembly district, where he was vice chair of the Budget Committee.
In 2020 he was elected to Congress to replace the retiring Paul Cook in California's 8th congressional district, defeating Democrat Chris Bubser with 56.1% of the vote, and he has held the seat since it was renumbered as the 23rd district.
With Ted Lieu he began chairing a bipartisan task force on artificial intelligence in 2024, and on April 15, 2026, he was elected GOP conference policy chair.
In the 119th Congress he serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on the Budget.
2026 race
Jay Obernolte is the Republican incumbent in California's 23rd congressional district and was reelected with 60.1% of the vote in 2024. In the 2026 top-two primary he finished first with 81,346 votes, or 57.08%. Democrat Tessa Lynn Hodge, a clinical social worker, placed second with 21.25%, ahead of Democrat Pat Wallis with 13.29% and three other candidates on the ballot. Obernolte faces Hodge in the general election on November 3, 2026.