Jimmy Panetta

Jimmy Panetta
Jimmy Panetta
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; from California's 20th district
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; January 3, 2017
Preceded by	Sam Farr
Personal details
Born	James Varni Panetta; October 1, 1969 (age 55); Washington, D.C.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Carrie
Children	2
Residence(s)	Carmel Valley, California
Alma mater	University of California, Davis (B.A.); Santa Clara University (J.D.);
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Attorney
Website	House website
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy Reserve

James Varni Panetta /pəˈnɛtə/ (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. He is the son of Leon Panetta, who represented the Monterey area in Congress for 26 years before holding such jobs as White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of Defense.

Early life and career

Panetta graduated from Carmel High School in Carmel, California.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[3]

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.^[3]^[4] Panetta defeated Republican Casey Lucius in the November general election.^[5]

He was sworn in on January 3, 2017.^[6] House Democrats selected Panetta to be a regional whip for Northern California, the Central Coast, Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific Islands.^[7]

Source:^[8]

Panetta is the youngest of three sons born to Leon Panetta, the former United States Secretary of Defense.^[2] His wife, Carrie, is a judge on the Monterey County Superior Court. They have two daughters.^[9]

^ Larson, Amy (March 17, 2016). "Rep. Sam Farr endorses Jimmy Panetta for Congress". KSBW-TV. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
^ ^a ^b Hennessey, Virginia (July 30, 2013). "Jimmy Panetta following in father Leon's footsteps". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
^ ^a ^b "Election 2016: Jimmy Panetta launches his campaign for Congress". Monterey Herald. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
^ Herrera, James (November 17, 2015). "Election 2016: Jimmy Panetta launches campaign for Congress". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
^ Lesniewski, Niels (November 9, 2016). "New Member: Democrat Jimmy Panetta Elected in California's 20th District: Son of former Defense secretary Leon E. Panetta is heading to Congress". Roll Call. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
^ Herrera, James (January 3, 2017). "Freshman Congressman Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, sworn into office amid House ethics plan reversal". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
^ Wire, Sarah D. (December 5, 2016). "This congressman will sleep in his office, and other tales from the incoming California freshmen". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
^ "Jimmy Panetta appointed to subcommittees". Santa Cruz Sentinel. January 24, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
^ "Carrie Panetta appointed to Monterey superior court bench". Monterey Herald. August 29, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2016.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Sam Farr	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 20th congressional district 2017–present	Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Tom O'Halleran D-Arizona	*United States Representatives by seniority* 421st	Succeeded by Jamie Raskin D-Maryland