Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz -- We Welcome Bruce Jenner

EXCLUSIVE

Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz is happy Bruce Jenner will continue to embrace the GOP, telling us his party needs all the Cali support it can get. 

Chaffetz -- an ultra conservative from Utah who has become extremely influential in DC -- told our TMZ photog it's not his job to judge Jenner's choices.

It's interesting ... Chaffetz has become a powerful voice promoting the right of privacy. Although it seems Chaffetz is saying live and let live, he clearly has limits because he has opposed both gay marriage and medical marijuana use in the past.

Jenner told Sawyer he's a long time Republican with no plans of jumping parties.