The $5 Million Man Still Begging: Incumbent Jimmy Panetta Hits Up Voters for More Cash Despite Massive War Chest

SAN JOSE, Calif. & SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. & SANTA CRUZ, Calif. & MONTEREY, Calif. - June 10, 2026 - PRLog -- While families across California's 19th Congressional District struggle with sky-high taxes, housing costs, gas prices, and a cost-of-living crisis, incumbent Jimmy Panetta is reportedly sitting on $4.85 million in campaign cash (nearly $5 million as of mid-May) and still sending out urgent fundraising appeals for another $16,000 by next Thursday.

"Washington politics never change," said Pete Verbica, the Common Sense Republican running for Congress, District 19. "The incumbent, a career politician with a massive war chest most working families could never imagine, is still hounding everyday Californians for $10, $25, and $50 donations. As I like to say, 'Wealthy is the man who understands enough; poor is the man who grasps and grasps.' This is exactly why people are fed up."

While Pete Verbica runs a lean, volunteer-powered campaign focused on lowering costs, ensuring voting integrity and securing the border, Panetta's latest email promotes a "CA-19 Voter Contact Fund" for phone banking, texting, and direct voter outreach. Verbica's campaign operates with small-dollar donors and no major corporate or mega-PAC backers.

"Our campaign is focused on real solutions, not endless fundraising," added Verbica. "We're listening to the people of Santa Cruz, Monterey, South San Jose, and North San Luis Obispo counties. We don't need $5 million to tell the truth — we just need enough to get our message out to voters who want common sense in Congress."

Pete Verbica is committed to delivering practical reforms:

• Cutting taxes and burdensome fees driving families and businesses out of California
  
  
• Securing the border and protecting local services
  
  
• Eliminating government waste, from high-speed rail failures to bloated pensions
  
  
• Restoring affordability in housing, energy, and daily life for working Californians

This race isn't about matching millions in special-interest money. It's about replacing entitlement in Washington with common-sense leadership.

For more information or to support Pete Verbica's grassroots campaign, visit www.peterverbica.com or contribute at Support - Verbica for Congress.

About Pete Verbica

Pete Verbica is a fifth-generation Californian, who learned the value of a strong work ethic growing up on a cattle ranch; he's a lifelong listener, fiscal conservative, and Common Sense Republican running for Congress, District 19. Managing Director of Silicon Private Wealth, LLC, he is a successful businessman, author, and advocate who cares about veterans, farmers, and ranchers. A graduate of Bellarmine College Preparatory, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara University School of Law, and MIT, he brings real-world experience and a commitment to restoring affordability, accountability, and opportunity to California.

Paid for by Verbica for Congress