Rep. Jimmy Panetta

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D California, 20th (2017-2023), 19th (2023-) In Office

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Biographical

Full Name: James Varni Panetta
Gender: Male
Pronunciation: JIM-ee puh-NEH-tuh
Date of Birth: Oct. 1, 1969 (age: 54)
Place of Birth: Washington, D.C.
Religion: Catholic
Hometown: Carmel Valley, Calif.
Place of Residence: Carmel Valley, Calif.
Previous Occupation: Attorney

Wikipedia

Family:

Married: Carrie McIntyre Panetta judge

2 children: Siri, Gia

Relations with people in our database:

Son of Former Rep. Leon Panetta (D-CA)

Biography:

Congressman Jimmy Panetta is dedicated to public service and has proudly served California in the U.S. House of Representatives since January 3, 2017.

Growing up in Monterey County, Congressman Panetta knows what makes the Central Coast a special place. The agriculture of this area is the economic engine of this congressional district. From artichokes to strawberries to lettuce to wine grapes, the Central Coast is the epicenter of specialty crop and organic agriculture producing over $5 billion annually. The community of farmers and farm workers that till this fertile area produce more than 100 different crops and help give the area its moniker of Salad Bowl of the World.

California’s 20th District is also home to more than a dozen military installations, which are collectively referred to as Team Monterey, and includes the renowned Naval Postgraduate School and Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center. Through Congressman Panetta’s eight years of service with the United States Navy Reserve, he has a deep and personal connection to our nation’s veterans and military families. In 2007, he volunteered for active duty and was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He worked with Special Forces units and as a result of his meritorious service in a combat zone, Congressman Panetta was awarded the Bronze Star.

In addition to serving his nation in uniform, Congressman Panetta served as a board member of the Veterans Transition Center where he focused on ending veterans’ homelessness and improving resources for his fellow veterans and their families. He also pushed for the opening of Monterey County’s first Veterans Treatment Court to ensure veterans receive the services they earned. Moreover, Congressman Panetta worked with local leaders and veterans to establish the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery on the former Fort Ord. Based on his commitment to serving those who have served our nation, Congressman Panetta was honored to be named a Monterey County Veteran of the Year in 2015.

Stretching along Congressman Panetta’s district lies the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the largest protected ocean area in the continental United States. Anchored around this unique ecosystem are more than 40 world-class universities and marine research institutions working to better understand climate change, ocean acidification, rising sea levels, and more. Congressman Panetta knows how valuable these institutions are and before attending law school, served aboard a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel and more recently as an Advisory Council member for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Travelers from around the world visit Congressman Panetta’s district to explore Pinnacles National Park, Fort Ord National Monument, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Hollister, Santa Cruz and other attractions. The Central Coast boasts a flourishing travel and tourism industry based on a long tradition of providing exceptional hospitality services and unparalleled recreational, historical, scenic, and educational opportunities.

Most recently before his election to Congress, Congressman Panetta served his community as the deputy district attorney for Monterey County, which includes the city of Salinas. In this role, he prosecuted violent gang members to pursue justice for victims, protect families and make communities safer.

Congressman Panetta graduated from the University of California at Davis with an undergraduate degree in International Relations and received his law degree from Santa Clara University.

He is married to Carrie McIntyre Panetta, a Superior Court judge in Monterey County, and they have two daughters, Siri and Gia. See more >>

Miscellaneous Links:

Ballotpedia

C-SPAN

Project VoteSmart

Campaign Links:

Website, campaign

Email, campaign: jimmypanettaforcongress@gmail.com

X (Twitter), campaign

Instagram, campaign

Facebook, campaign

YouTube, campaign

Flickr, campaign

Social Networking:

Facebook, official

X (Twitter), official

YouTube, official

Instagram, official

Official Links:

Website, official

Press Releases

Official press releases »

Education

Santa Clara University School of Law - JD (1993-1996)
University of California, Davis - BA, international relations (1989-1991)
Monterey Peninsula College - AA (1987-1989)
Carmel (Calif.) High School - Diploma

Office History

Congressional Offices:

U.S. House of Representatives (Jan. 3, 2023-) In Office

Member, 19th Congressional District of California
U.S. House of Representatives (Jan. 3, 2017-Jan. 2, 2023) Changed District

Member, 20th Congressional District of California

Election Results

2021 (Nov. 3, 2020 election)

20th Congressional District of California

James Varni Panetta (Jimmy), 76.78%
Democrat

Jeff Gorman, 23.22%
Republican
2019 (Nov. 6, 2018 election)

20th Congressional District of California

James Varni Panetta (Jimmy), 81.37%
Democrat

Ronald Paul Kabat, 18.63%
Non-designated
2017 (Nov. 8, 2016 election)

20th Congressional District of California

James Varni Panetta (Jimmy), 70.75%
Democrat

Casey Lucius, 29.25%
Republican

Employment History

U.S. Department of State

Intern

Associated Organizations

Board membership:

Carmel River Watershed Conservancy
Board Member
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
Honorary Board Member
U.S.-Russia Joint Commission on Prisoners of War and Missing in Action
Congressional Co-Chair
Community Foundation of Monterey County (2015-)
University of California Santa Cruz Foundation (2013-)
Trustee
Rancho Cielo (2013-)
National Steinbeck Center (2013-)
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (2013-)
Advisory Council Board Member
Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Foundation (2012-)
Vice Chair
Veterans Transition Center (2011-)

Own leadership PAC:

Joining Ideas to Motivate Movement for You

Election campaign:

Jimmy Panetta for Congress (California)

Membership:

Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau
Monterey County Farm Bureaus

Awards

Federal Champion (American Flood Coalition)
Fiscal Hero Award (Fix the Debt Coalition Inc.) (May 2024)
Legislator of the Year Award (Agricultural Retailers Association) (March 2024)
Spirit of Enterprise Award (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) (June 2020)
Distinguished Community Health Advocate Award (National Association of Community Health Centers Inc.) (2018)

Military History

U.S. Navy Reserve (2003-2011)

Served in Afghanistan as an intelligence officer during Operation Enduring Freedom

Awards and Honors:

Navy Expert Pistol Military Medal
Navy Expert Rifle Military Medal
Navy Armed Services Reserve Deployment Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon
Joint Meritorious Unit Award Ribbon
Bronze Star awarded for meritorious service

Official Signature

Contact Information

Email, member official contact form

Office Addresses:

Main Office:

Address:	304 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-0519
Phone:	202-225-2861
Fax:	202-225-6791

View Larger Map

» District Offices

Privately Financed Travel

15 trips taken between 2017 - 2024 costing $124,981

See map of trips

Trip Destinations:

Trip Sponsors:

» see more

Personal Financial Disclosures

Disclosures as a member:

Annual: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017
Extension Letter: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2017
» see more

Congressional Staff

Staff Turnover:

Turnover Index: 0.42
(House Average: 0.25)
» See more

Staff Salary Rate:

Office Median Annual Salary: $66,333.34
» See more

Staff Salaries Paid:

» See full staffer list

» view all salaries

Committees

House Armed Services Committee

House Armed Services Committee Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee

House Armed Services Committee Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee

House Ways and Means Committee Trade Subcommittee

Caucuses

Caught Our Eye

Panetta LA leaves for greener pastures

Posted by Andy Gottlieb on Sept. 28, 2023
After a nine-month stint on the Hill, a staffer to Rep. Jimmy Panetta has flocked elsewhere. read more
Last year's staff turnover was the House's worst in decades, data shows

Posted by Keturah Hetrick on March 21, 2022
Last year's rumored staff exodus was more than just speculation: According to LegiStorm data, House staffers left their jobs at the highest rate in at least two decades. read more
GOPer leads House in worst 2018 staff turnover - but Dems hold all-time records

Posted by Keturah Hetrick on March 25, 2019
A Republican led Congress in the worst staff turnover of 2018 - but the worst all-time offenders are still Democrats, according to a LegiStorm staffer salary analysis. read more
Rep. Panetta hires University of Iowa lobbyist

Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Feb. 15, 2018
Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) has hired his third legislative director since taking office last year. read more
Rep. Panetta brings restaurant lobbyist to the table

Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Sept. 19, 2017
A National Restaurant Association lobbyist is serving up a new job as chief of staff to Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.). read more

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