James Varni Panetta

Democrat Representative of California's 19th district

  • Representative

    California, district 19

    January 3, 2025 - January 3, 2027

202-225-2861

@RepJimmyPanetta

panetta.house.gov

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5

Congresses Served

5

House Terms

October 1, 1969 (55 years old)

Birthday

  • American lawyer, politician, and former Navy intelligence officer
  • Served as a U.S. representative, first elected in 2016
  • Previously worked as a deputy district attorney for Monterey County
  • Son of former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta
  • Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of California, Davis
  • Received a J.D. degree from Santa Clara University School of Law
  • Served in the United States Navy Reserve, completed a tour in Afghanistan in 2007, and was awarded the Bronze Star
  • Succeeded Sam Farr in Congress, continuing a Democratic hold on the seat since 1977
  • Has been reelected multiple times with a significant majority of the vote
  • Selected as a regional whip for House Democrats
  • Introduced the KITTEN Act to curtail certain types of animal testing
  • Voted in line with Joe Biden’s stated position 100% of the time as of October 2021
  • Advocated for providing F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War
  • Joined a bipartisan House delegation to Taiwan in support of its independence
  • Holds committee assignments on Armed Services, the Budget, and Ways and Means
  • Member of several caucuses including the Congressional Arts Caucus, Climate Solutions Caucus, and the Congressional Progressive Caucus
  • Has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America and an F rating from the Susan B. Anthony List for his abortion-related voting history
  • Voted against the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, aimed at cracking down on anti-competitive behavior
  • Married to Carrie McIntyre, a judge, and has two daughters