Jimmy Panetta

James Varni "Jimmy" Panetta (born October 1, 1969) is an American politician from the state of California. He is a member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 20th congressional district.

Panetta graduated from Carmel High School in Carmel, California. He then attended Monterey Peninsula College and 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 law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law. He joined the United States Navy Reserve and completed a tour of duty in the War in Afghanistan. Panetta 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.

After incumbent Sam Farr announced in November 2015 that he would not seek reelection to the United States House of Representatives, Panetta announced his candidacy to succeed Farr in California's 20th congressional district in the 2016 election. Panetta defeated Republican Casey Lucius in the November general election. House Democrats selected Panetta to be a regional whip for Northern California, the Central Coast, Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific Islands. He was sworn in on January 3, 2017. He joined the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Subcommittees on Water, Power and Oceans and Federal Lands.

Panetta is the youngest of three sons born to 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.