Jimmy Panetta

Jimmy Panetta's two daughters attended the same local public schools he did on California's Central Coast.¹ His wife Carrie is a Monterey County Superior Court judge, and his family roots include Italian immigrant grandparents.¹

Panetta attended Monterey Peninsula College before earning an international relations degree at UC Davis and a law degree at Santa Clara.¹ He began prosecuting cases in Alameda County in 1996 and later joined Monterey County's district attorney's office, where his assignments included Salinas gang prosecutions.²

As a Navy Reserve intelligence officer, he volunteered for active duty in 2007, deployed to Afghanistan and received a Bronze Star for meritorious service.¹ Back home, he served on the Veterans Transition Center's board and helped establish a veterans treatment court and the Central Coast Veterans Cemetery.¹ He served on boards for youth job training and cultural institutions.²

First elected in 2016, Panetta is in his fifth House term and currently serves on Ways and Means and Budget; he is also a chief deputy whip.¹ His priorities include affordable housing, immigration reform, agriculture, coastal protection and veterans' benefits.¹ Republican Peter Coe Verbica is his November challenger for the district's House seat.³