About Mike

Mike Panetta has been the “Shadow” U.S. Representative for the District of  Columbia since 2007. He has been an effective advocate and leader in the quest for full representation in Congress, and continues to push forward on the drive for statehood.

Mike knows it takes more that flowery speeches and lip-service to achieve our goals. Mike Panetta has a proven track record fighting for representation in Congress and has taken actions that have led to tangible results.

A few of the highlights of his tenure as Shadow Representative include:

• Generating over 20,000 constituent communications to Congressional offices from grassroots activists across the country  in support of the District of Columbia Voting Rights Act
• Started the Free and Equal DC Fund, a PAC to elect congressional candidates
  who support statehood and expanded home rule for the District.
• Deployed radio campaigns in Montana and Mississippi targeting the Congressmen and Senators attempting to revoke our locally enacted gun laws.
• Launched “Where’s My Star” campaign to re-brand DC Statehood movement
• Organized District of Columbia “Olympic” curling team to raise awareness
• Led efforts to brand the home turf of the Washington Nationals as “Taxation Without Representation Field at RFK”