Obernolte has spent time focused on a few core fights. Each is tied to bills actually introduced or votes actually cast.
01
Supports constitutional requirement for federal balanced budgetsObernolte has sponsored a proposed constitutional amendment that would require the federal government to balance its budget (HJRES.17). He has also introduced a resolution calling for the identification of federal savings (HRES.36), and he voted against three continuing appropriations bills that became law (HR.6363, HR.2872, HR.5860), each time departing from his party's majority position.
02
Advances cybersecurity literacy and infrastructure protectionObernolte has sponsored the American Cybersecurity Literacy Act (HR.2154), which addresses public education on cybersecurity topics, and the 9-8-8 Lifeline Cybersecurity Responsibility Act (HR.912), which concerns cybersecurity obligations tied to the 988 mental health crisis line. Both bills have been reintroduced across multiple Congresses.
03
Promotes quantum computing development and testingObernolte sponsored the Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act of 2025 (HR.3220), a bill that has been reintroduced across multiple Congresses and aims to establish frameworks for testing and developing near-term quantum computing applications under federal oversight.
04
Addresses federal prison staffing and critical mineral supplyObernolte sponsored the Prison Staffing Reform Act of 2025 (HR.2879) and the Intergovernmental Critical Minerals Task Force Act (HR.3198). The prison staffing bill has been reintroduced across multiple Congresses. The critical minerals bill would establish an intergovernmental task force to coordinate federal and other governmental efforts on mineral supply issues.
05
Legislates on organ donation, veterans benefits, and medical labelingObernolte has sponsored the Honor Our Living Donors Act (HR.628), addressing federal policy on living organ donors; the Streamlining Aviation for Eligible Veterans Act of 2025 (HR.913), related to aviation licensing for veterans; and the Medical Device Electronic Labeling Act (HR.1539), which concerns electronic labeling requirements for medical devices. He has also introduced the Cost-Share Accountability Act of 2025 (HR.359) and the GRANTED Act of 2025 (HR.1836), addressing federal grant program oversight.
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01 · Background
Who they are, where they came from
Jay Obernolte represents California's 23rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, a seat he has held since January 2021, when the district was numbered the 8th. Before serving in Congress, Obernolte was a member of the California State Assembly representing the 33rd district. Prior to his state legislative service, he served on the city council and as mayor of Big Bear Lake, California. He is the owner, president, and technical director of FarSight Studios, a video game development company. In Congress, Obernolte has sponsored legislation addressing federal fiscal accountability, including a proposed balanced budget amendment to the Constitution (HJRES.17) and a resolution to identify federal savings (HRES.36). He has also introduced bills in the areas of cybersecurity (HR.2154, HR.912), emerging technology (HR.3220), critical minerals (HR.3198), federal prison staffing (HR.2879), medical device labeling (HR.1539), organ donation (HR.628), veterans' aviation licensing (HR.913), federal grant oversight (HR.1836), and cost-sharing in federal programs (HR.359). He sponsored a joint resolution of congressional disapproval that was enacted into law (HJRES.89). On appropriations matters, he voted against three continuing appropriations measures that became law (HR.6363, HR.2872, HR.5860), each time diverging from the majority of his party caucus.
02 · Recent significant work
What they’ve done lately
Apr 2, 2025Sponsored
Providing congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "California State Motor Vehicle and Engine and Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; The 'Omnibus' Low NOX Regulation; Waiver of Preemption; Notice of Decision".
Summary not yet generated.
Jan 18, 2024Voted no
(HR.2872)
Summary not yet generated.
Nov 14, 2023Voted no
(HR.6363)
Summary not yet generated.
Sep 30, 2023Voted no
(HR.5860)
Summary not yet generated.
May 6, 2025Sponsored
Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act of 2025
PAC contributions made up 54.1% of Obernolte's $1.07M in cycle receipts, with individual contributions accounting for 38.1% — nearly all itemized. Top PAC contributors include Obernolte Victory Fund (a joint fundraising committee), Space Exploration Technologies Corp. PAC, Google LLC NetPAC, and Comcast Corporation & NBCUniversal Political Action Committee. Top employer concentrations among individual donors include Lighthouse, Anthropic PBC, and ESRI. Outside spending totaled $365K supporting Obernolte, led by People for Better Government Committee of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians at $333K and Fix Congress Now! at $32K, in independent expenditures separate from contributions to his own campaign.
Self-reported employer data. Categories like “Retired” and “Not Employed” are excluded — these reflect demographic patterns rather than industry concentrations.
Outside spending · 2020
Supporting Obernolte
PEOPLE FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE OF THE SAN MANUEL BAND OF MISSION INDIANSFEC ↗$333K
Independent expenditures from super PACs and other groups, separate from contributions to the candidate’s own campaign. These committees may not coordinate with the campaign.
Every claim on this page links to a public source. We don’t tell you whether Jay Obernolte is a good or bad official— that’s your call. We just make the facts easy to find.
