Jimmy Panetta

James Varni Panetta (/pəˈnɛtə/ pə-NEH-tə; born October 1, 1969) is an American lawyer, politician, and former Navy intelligence officer from the state of California.

A member of the Democratic Party, he is the U.S. representative for California's 19th congressional district. From north to south, the northernmost district includes southeast San Jose, continuing southbound, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and finally far inland to just one city in San Luis Obispo County, Paso Robles which is correctly part of California's "Central Coast" region.

Panetta was first elected in 2016, after working as a deputy district attorney for Monterey County.

He is the son of former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and represents the same geographical region his father once represented in Congress.

Early life and career

Panetta graduated from Carmel High School in Carmel, California. He then attended Monterey Peninsula College and the University of California, Davis, graduating with a bachelor's degree in international relations. He then interned at the United States Department of State. Panetta received his J.D. degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law.

Military service

He joined the United States Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer and completed a tour of duty in the War in Afghanistan in 2007 while attached to Joint Special Operations Command, for which he was awarded the Bronze Star.

Legal career

He worked in the Alameda County, California, prosecutor's office and as a deputy district attorney for the District Attorney's office of Monterey County, California.

Elections

2016

After incumbent U.S. Representative Sam Farr announced in November 2015 that he would not seek reelection, Panetta announced his candidacy to succeed Farr in the 2016 election. His father had represented the district from 1977 to 1993.

Panetta defeated Republican Casey Lucius in the November general election. Democrats, in the persons of the Panettas and Farr, have held the seat and its predecessors without interruption since 1977. It is one of California's most Democratic districts outside Los Angeles and the Bay Area; Republicans have only garnered as much as 40% of the vote twice since 1977.

2018

Panetta was reelected, defeating an independent challenger with 81.4% of the vote.

2020

Panetta was reelected to a third term, defeating Republican challenger Jeff Gorman, a financial adviser, with 76.8% of the vote.

2022

Due to redistricting, the incumbent changed from Democrat Zoe Lofgren to fellow Democrat Jimmy Panetta. Panetta, who had represented the 20th district since 2017, was re-elected in 2022 in the newly-drawn 19th district. He again defeated Gorman, who sought a rematch after the 2020 campaign, by a margin of 67.3% to 23.3%. The remaining vote was spread out among other candidates.

2024

In 2024, Panetta defeated the Republican candidate, auto shop manager Jason Anderson, by a margin of 65% to 28.6%.

Congress

Panetta was sworn into office on January 3, 2017.[failed verification] House Democrats selected him to be a regional whip for Northern California, the Central Coast, Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific Islands.

Twice, in 2018 and in 2019, Panetta introduced a bill commonly stylized as the KITTEN Act, a legislative proposal to curtail certain types of animal testing.

In February 2023, during the Russo-Ukrainian War, Panetta signed a letter advocating for President Biden to give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

During May 2024, Panetta joined a bipartisan House delegation that traveled to Taiwan to signal support for the newly elected pro-Taiwanese independence government in the aftermath of Chinese military exercises that simulated a blockade of Taiwan.

Committee assignments

For the 119th Congress:

• Committee on the Budget
• Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Arts Caucus
• Climate Solutions Caucus
• Rare Disease Caucus
• Congressional Equality Caucus
• Work for Warriors Caucus
• Congressional Progressive Caucus
• For Country Caucus, Founder and Former Co-Chair
• New Democrat Coalition
• Medicare for All Caucus
• Problem Solvers Caucus

Electoral history

Political positions

Abortion

As of 2020, Panetta has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and a F grade from the Susan B. Anthony List for his abortion-related voting history. He opposed the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Big Tech

In 2022, Panetta was one of 16 Democrats to vote against the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior.

Personal life

Panetta is the youngest of the three sons of Leon Panetta, the former United States Secretary of Defense. His wife, Carrie, is a judge on the Monterey County Superior Court. They have two daughters.

Foreign awards

• Ukraine Ukraine Honorary Diploma of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (2024) – Awarded by Ukrainian Parliament; presented by Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada.

External links

• official U.S. House website
• campaign website
• on C-SPAN

• at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• at the Federal Election Commission
• at the Library of Congress
• at Vote Smart