Federal · Statewide General Election
United States Representative, District 19
Draft candidate list — early preview until the state’s official list publishes on August 27, 2026.
This is one contest. Enter your address to see every race on your November ballot, and keep track of your picks.
On the ballot
- Jimmy Panetta — Democratic
- Peter Coe Verbica — Republican
This person holds your district's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives (2-year term).
Representative Jimmy Panetta took 58.4% of the June 2 vote and Republican Peter Coe Verbica took 20.5% to claim the second slot. The district covers the Central Coast from Santa Cruz to San Luis Obispo.
The winner holds one of 435 seats in the U.S. House for a two-year term. A member introduces bills, sits on committees that shape federal legislation, votes on the federal budget and on war powers, and handles casework between constituents and federal agencies. Seniority governs committee standing, so a longer-serving member carries influence a newcomer cannot.
The incumbent has sponsored 53 bills this Congress — among the highest counts in the delegation — with 1 career bill enacted. High introduction with low enactment is common in the House and says more about how the chamber works than about any individual, but the gap is worth seeing. His funding is also majority-committee, unusual among coastal members here.
Jimmy Panetta
Democrat, the sitting Representative for this district since 2017. He has sponsored 53 bills in the 119th Congress — among the highest counts in the California delegation — and 1 of his career bills has become law. He raised $2,887,610.
Strengths
A very high legislative workload and nearly a decade of committee seniority.
Trade-offs
One career bill enacted from 53 sponsored this Congress is a wide gap even by House standards.
Keep in mind
Enacted-bill counts undercount House influence, which often runs through amendments and committee work rather than standalone bills.
Peter Coe Verbica
Republican, who advanced with 20.5% of the June vote. He raised $76,324, nearly all from individuals. He has not served in the California Legislature or U.S. Congress.
Strengths
A campaign funded almost entirely by individuals rather than institutions.
Trade-offs
That total is under three percent of the incumbent's, and he has no record in office to be judged on.
Keep in mind
Coverage surfaced little detail about his platform. That gap is what was available to us on 2026-08-10, not a comment on his candidacy.
Record in office
Jimmy Panetta (Democratic) has served in the U.S. House since 2017 and has sponsored 53 bills in the 119th Congress; 1 of their career bills have become law. Peter Coe Verbica has not served in the California Legislature or U.S. Congress; these records cover only those offices. Per Congress.gov and the public-domain congress-legislators roster, retrieved 2026-08-10.
Record details
Panetta — Committees: Ways and Means; Budget Panetta — HR 1097 (2024): Everett Alvarez, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2023 Committee assignments and the most recently signed-into-law bills each record-holder lead-authored, from the official legislative record.
Financial info
- Individuals
- PACs & committees
- Self-funding
Jimmy Panetta
$2,887,610 raised
- Individuals$1,297,93345%
- PACs & committees$1,559,10755%
Peter Coe Verbica
$76,324 raised
- Individuals$72,31995%
- PACs & committees$3,5005%
- Self-funding$5051%
1Total raised is all receipts for the 2026 cycle; the breakdown lists direct contributions, so the pieces can sum below the total. Figures are FEC filings through June 30, 2026, per the FEC bulk campaign-finance summaries, retrieved 2026-08-22.
June 2 primary — how they advanced
Source review: Very strong (95/100) · 5 cited sources
Official records anchor this contest, with multiple sources checked.
- sos.ca.gov (opens in a new tab)CA Secretary of State — Statement of Vote, June 2, 2026 primary (certified 2026-07-10)
- ballotpedia.org (opens in a new tab)Ballotpedia — June 2026 California primary
- unitedstates.github.io (opens in a new tab)congress-legislators — current members of Congress (unitedstates project)
- api.congress.gov (opens in a new tab)Congress.gov — member sponsored legislation (Library of Congress)
- fec.gov (opens in a new tab)FEC — 2026 House & Senate current-campaign financial summaries (bulk data)
Last updated August 11, 2026.