California Republican Rep. Jay Obernolte is officially GOP conference policy chair.
He was elected by voice vote during a candidate forum Wednesday, five members told POLITICO as they were leaving the meeting. His only opponent, Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), withdrew from race Tuesday.
Obernolte secured endorsements from senior Republicans like Republican Study Committee Chair August Pfluger (R-Texas) and the former policy chair, Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.). Hern left the position to launch a Senate bid.
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Obernolte will now help develop policy initiatives for House Republicans. He serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and is chair of the Science Subcommittee on Research and Technology.
