Jimmy Panetta

Jimmy Panetta
Born	James Varni Panetta 1 10, 1969
Birthplace	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupation	Politician, lawyer, former Navy intelligence officer
Known for	U.S. Representative for California's 19th congressional district
Spouse(s)	Carrie McIntyre
Children	2
Awards	Bronze Star Medal
Website	[panetta.house.gov Official site]

James Varni Panetta (born October 1, 1969) is an American lawyer, politician, and former United States Navy intelligence officer who has served as the U.S. representative for California's 19th congressional district (previously the 20th district) since January 3, 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Panetta represents a sprawling stretch of California's Central Coast that includes portions of southeast San Jose, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Paso Robles in San Luis Obispo County. Before entering Congress, Panetta worked as a deputy district attorney for Monterey County and served in the Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer, deploying to Afghanistan, where he earned the Bronze Star Medal. He is the son of former Secretary of Defense and CIA Director Leon Panetta, and represents substantially the same geographic region his father represented in Congress from 1977 to 1993. In Congress, Panetta has focused on issues including agriculture, defense, trade policy, environmental protection, and veterans' affairs, and has been recognized for his bipartisan legislative efforts.

Early Life

James Varni Panetta was born on October 1, 1969, in Washington, D.C., while his father, Leon Panetta, was serving in the U.S. Army and beginning a career in public service that would eventually take him to the U.S. House of Representatives, the directorship of the Office of Management and Budget, the White House Chief of Staff position, the leadership of the Central Intelligence Agency, and the post of Secretary of Defense. Growing up in a family steeped in public service and policy, Jimmy Panetta was raised on the Monterey Peninsula in California, an area his father represented in Congress for 16 years.

The Panetta family's roots in the Monterey region run deep. Leon Panetta and his wife, Sylvia Panetta, established the Panetta Institute for Public Policy at California State University, Monterey Bay, reflecting the family's long-standing commitment to civic engagement and public service in the Central Coast region. Jimmy Panetta grew up in this environment, which shaped his eventual decision to pursue careers in law, military service, and politics.

Education

Panetta attended college and subsequently earned a law degree, which prepared him for his career as a prosecutor. He would later use his legal training during his military service as a Navy intelligence officer and in his work as a deputy district attorney for Monterey County prior to running for Congress.

Career

Military Service

Panetta served in the United States Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer from 2003 to 2011. During this period, he deployed to Afghanistan as part of the War in Afghanistan. His service in the conflict zone earned him the Bronze Star Medal, one of the U.S. military's highest individual awards for meritorious service or valor in a combat zone. His military experience would later inform his work in Congress, particularly on defense and veterans' issues, and contributed to his membership in the Work for Warriors Caucus.

Legal Career

Before running for Congress, Panetta served as a deputy district attorney for Monterey County, California. In this role, he prosecuted criminal cases and gained experience in the local justice system. His work as a prosecutor gave him a grounding in the legal and community issues affecting California's Central Coast, which he would later carry into his congressional career.

2016 Congressional Campaign

When longtime U.S. Representative Sam Farr, who had held the seat representing California's Central Coast since 1993, announced his retirement, Panetta entered the race to succeed him in California's 20th congressional district. Farr endorsed Panetta's candidacy, passing the torch in a district that Farr himself had inherited from Leon Panetta when the elder Panetta left Congress to join the Clinton administration. Panetta won the Democratic primary and went on to win the general election in November 2016, securing the seat in a district that leaned heavily Democratic. He took office on January 3, 2017, succeeding Farr.

Congressional Tenure

Since entering Congress, Panetta has served multiple terms representing California's Central Coast. Following redistricting after the 2020 census, his district was renumbered from the 20th to the 19th congressional district, though it continued to encompass much of the same geographic area along the Central Coast.

Committee Assignments and Caucus Memberships

Panetta has been a member of several congressional caucuses reflecting his policy priorities. He is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the New Democrat Coalition, the Congressional Arts Caucus, the Climate Solutions Caucus, and the Work for Warriors Caucus, which focuses on veterans' employment and transition issues.

Defense and Military Spending

Drawing on his own military background, Panetta has taken positions on defense spending and military policy. Roll Call reported that Panetta took a "hard line" on military spending, reflecting his view that adequate defense funding is essential to national security while emphasizing the need for fiscal responsibility in military budgets. In 2026, Panetta introduced H.R. 7188, the Military Occupancy Living Defense Act, a bill focused on military housing issues that attracted bipartisan support with seven co-sponsors.

Animal Welfare Legislation

Panetta gained attention for his efforts to end the USDA's practice of using kittens in laboratory research. He was a key advocate in pushing legislation aimed at stopping the government-funded slaughter of kittens used in toxoplasmosis research at USDA facilities. In January 2019, the Monterey Herald reported that Panetta was honored for his leadership role in the effort to end the USDA kitten lab program. The campaign attracted bipartisan support and significant media coverage, with NBC News reporting on the legislative effort as part of a broader push to reform government animal testing practices.

Environmental Protection and Coastal Issues

Representing a district whose economy depends heavily on tourism, fishing, and agriculture along the California coast, Panetta has been an advocate for environmental protection and opposition to offshore oil drilling. In February 2026, he hosted a roundtable in Monterey to discuss the economic impacts of possible offshore oil drilling, telling attendees, "We always have to be prepared to protect not just the coastline, but obviously … our coastal economy." His membership in the Climate Solutions Caucus reflects his broader engagement with climate and environmental policy.

Trade Policy

Panetta has been vocal about Congress's constitutional authority over trade policy. In February 2026, following a Supreme Court ruling related to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, Panetta issued a statement emphasizing the importance of Congressional oversight of trade policy and the economic impact of tariffs on his constituents, particularly the agricultural producers and exporters in his Central Coast district.

Infrastructure and Community Funding

Panetta has worked to secure federal funding for infrastructure projects in his district. In February 2026, he helped secure $3.15 million in funding for repairs to the Santa Cruz Wharf, a historic landmark and major tourist attraction in Santa Cruz. He also worked with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren to secure a $1 million bus grant for the Monterey-Salinas Transit District, aimed at reducing emissions in the transit fleet. Panetta highlighted the importance of the grant in supporting both public transportation access and environmental goals in the region.

Bipartisan Legislation

Panetta has sought to work across the aisle on various legislative initiatives. In November 2025, he joined with Representative Blake Moore (R-UT) to introduce bipartisan legislation aimed at promoting active and healthier lifestyles among Americans. His bipartisan approach is also reflected in his participation in the Climate Solutions Caucus, which requires equal numbers of Democratic and Republican members.

Foreign Policy and National Security

Panetta has engaged with foreign policy and national security issues during his congressional tenure. In 2025, he traveled to the Middle East as part of a bipartisan congressional delegation focused on expanding U.S. engagement in the region, including matters related to Israel's operations against Iran.

Oversight and Accountability

In January 2026, Panetta called for the removal of high-ranking Trump administration officials following deadly shootings in Minneapolis, asserting that accountability was necessary in the wake of the incident. The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported on Panetta's repeated calls for the ousting of the officials in question.

Personal Life

Panetta is married to Carrie McIntyre, and the couple has two children. The family resides in the Monterey Peninsula area of California, the same region where Panetta grew up and where his family has long been established. His father, Leon Panetta, served as a U.S. Representative from California from 1977 to 1993, and later held the positions of Director of the Office of Management and Budget, White House Chief of Staff, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and Secretary of Defense. The elder Panetta and his wife, Sylvia, co-founded the Panetta Institute for Public Policy at California State University, Monterey Bay.

Jimmy Panetta's decision to enter public service followed a career path that included military service and legal work, both of which he has cited as formative experiences. His deployment to Afghanistan and his work as a deputy district attorney in Monterey County informed his policy positions and his approach to governance.

Recognition

Panetta received the Bronze Star Medal for his service as a Navy intelligence officer in Afghanistan, one of the highest individual military decorations awarded for meritorious service in a combat zone.

In the legislative arena, Panetta was recognized in 2019 for his leadership in the effort to end the USDA's kitten testing program, an issue that attracted national attention and bipartisan support. The Monterey Herald reported on the honor, noting his role in bringing the practice to light and pushing for its termination.

His electoral record reflects sustained support from voters in his district. Since his initial election in 2016, Panetta has won re-election multiple times in a district that encompasses some of California's most prominent Central Coast communities.

Legacy

Jimmy Panetta's congressional career is notable in the context of his family's multi-generational involvement in California Central Coast politics and national public service. He represents substantially the same geographic area that his father, Leon Panetta, represented in the U.S. House for 16 years, and which Sam Farr subsequently represented for over two decades before endorsing Panetta as his successor. This continuity of representation reflects the Panetta family's deep ties to the Monterey region and the broader Central Coast.

In Congress, Panetta has carved out a legislative identity that draws on his background as a military veteran and prosecutor. His work on defense policy, veterans' issues, environmental protection, trade policy, and agricultural interests reflects the diverse needs of a district that spans urban, suburban, rural, and coastal communities. His membership in both the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition places him within the mainstream of the Democratic Party, while his bipartisan legislative efforts—including collaborations with Republican colleagues on health and wellness legislation—demonstrate an approach oriented toward coalition-building.

His advocacy on coastal protection issues, including opposition to offshore oil drilling and securing infrastructure funding for landmarks such as the Santa Cruz Wharf, aligns with the environmental and economic priorities of his constituents. His continued engagement with foreign policy, trade, and defense issues reflects the influence of his military service and his family background in national security policy.