Joseph Pennacchio (born May 27, 1955) is an American
Republican Party politician, who has served in the
New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. There are 40 legislative districts, representing districts with an average population of 232, ...
since January 8, 2008, where he represents the
26th Legislative District. Pennacchio has served in the Senate as the Deputy Republican Leader since 2022.
[ He served in the ]General Assembly
A general assembly or general meeting is a meeting of all the members of an organization or shareholders of a company.
Specific examples of general assembly include:
Churches
* General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of presby ...
from 2001 to 2008.
Early life
Pennacchio was born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
, New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
. He received a B.S.
A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years.
The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University ...
in 1976 from Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a public university in Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York. It is part of the City University of New York system and enrolls about 15,000 undergraduate and 2,800 graduate students on a 35-acre campus.
Being New York City's first publ ...
in Biology and a D.D.S. degree in 1979 from the New York University College of Dentistry
The New York University College of Dentistry is the dentistry school of New York University. As the 3rd oldest dentistry school in the United States, it offers both graduate programs and clinical training in oral healthcare.
History
The College ...
.[
He served on the Morris County ]Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, a Board of County Commissioners (until 2020 named the Board of Chosen Freeholders) is the elected county-wide government board in each of the state's 21 counties. In the five counties that have an elected county executive, the b ...
from 1998 to 2001 and is a former member of Governor DiFrancesco's New Jersey Economic Development Authority.[ He is the founder and a former member of the Montville Education Foundation, and a former member of the Montville Economic Development Council. He ousted incumbent freeholder, John M. Fox, in the 1998 Republican primary. He was succeeded by John Inglesino on the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Pennacchio currently resides in Rockaway Township with his wife Diane.][Assembly Member Joseph 'Joe' Pennacchio](_blank)
Project Vote Smart
Vote Smart, formerly called Project Vote Smart, is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States. It covers candidates and elected officials in si ...
. Accessed August 17, 2007.
New Jersey Assembly
Pennacchio was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in February 2001 by a special convention of district Republicans to fill the seat vacated by Carol Murphy, following her nomination by Acting Governor of New Jersey
The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official res ...
Donald DiFrancesco
Donald Thomas DiFrancesco (born November 20, 1944) is a retired American politician who served as the 51st governor of New Jersey from 2001 to 2002. He succeeded Christine Todd Whitman after her resignation to become Administrator of the Enviro ...
to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) is a regulatory authority in New Jersey "with authority to oversee the regulated utilities, which in turn provide critical services such as natural gas, electricity, water, telecommunications and ca ...
.
New Jersey Senate
Pennacchio ran for state Senate in 2007 upon the retirement of Robert J. Martin
Robert J. Martin (born January 13, 1947) is an American Republican Party politician, who served as a member of the New Jersey State Senate from 1993 to 2008, where he represented the 26th legislative district.
Before entering the Senate, Martin ...
. He has since served as Assistant Minority Leader from 2014 to 2017 when he was chosen as Minority Whip.[ During the 2019 budget fight, Democrats contradicted Governor ]Phil Murphy
Philip Dunton Murphy (born August 16, 1957) is an American financier, diplomat, and politician serving as the 56th governor of New Jersey since January 2018. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the United States ambassador to Germa ...
and passed a budget without the millionaires' tax. Pennacchio, alongside six other Republicans, voted for the budget.
Committees
Committee assignments for the current session are:[Senator Joseph Pennacchio]
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the ...
. Accessed January 28, 2022.
*Economic Growth
*Legislative Oversight
District 26
Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. There are 40 legislative districts, representing districts with an average population of 232, ...
and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.
Since the election of 1967 (1968 Session), the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for ...
. The representatives from the 26th District for the 2022—23 Legislative Session are:*Senator Joseph Pennacchio (R)
*Assemblyman Christian Barranco
Christian Barranco (born December 31, 1969) is an American politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly from the 26th district since taking office on January 11, 2022. He served on the Pompton Lakes Borough Council from 2017 to ...
(R)
*Assemblyman Jay Webber
James K. "Jay" Webber (born February 29, 1972) is an American Republican politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since January 8, 2008, where he represents the 26th legislative district. Webber has served in the Assembly ...
(R)
United States House campaign
In 1994
File:1994 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1994 Winter Olympics are held in Lillehammer, Norway; The Kaiser Permanente building after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; A model of the MS Estonia, which Sinking of the MS Estonia, sank in ...
, Pennacchio challenged Congressman Dean Gallo
Dean Anderson Gallo (November 23, 1935 – November 6, 1994) was an American politician and businessman who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1985 until his death from prostate cancer in Denvill ...
in the Republican primary. He lost the primary.
United States Senate campaign
On January 17, 2008, Pennacchio launched his campaign for the 2008 United States Senate race. On June 3, 2008 he was defeated in the Republican primary by former Congressman Dick Zimmer
Richard Alan Zimmer (born August 16, 1944) is an American Republican Party politician from New Jersey, who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and in the United States House of Representatives. He was the Republican nominee for ...
.
Controversies
In 1991, Pennacchio sent a 94-page white paper
A white paper is a report or guide that informs readers concisely about a complex issue and presents the issuing body's philosophy on the matter. It is meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision. A white paper ...
called the "Nationalist Agenda" to then-New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.
Since the election of 1967 (1968 Session), the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for ...
minority leader Chuck Haytaian
Garabed "Chuck" Haytaian (born January 28, 1938) is an American Republican Party politician, who was the Speaker of the New Jersey State Assembly during the 'tax revolt' of the James Florio – Christine Todd Whitman era. He is of Armenia ...
. The manifesto, among other things, called for a new "Nationalist Party;" Balanced Budget Amendment
A balanced budget amendment is a constitutional rule requiring that a state cannot spend more than its income. It requires a balance between the projected receipts and expenditures of the government.
Balanced-budget provisions have been added t ...
; Line-item Veto Amendment; Term Length/Limit Amendment (six-year terms for presidents, senators, and congressmen and twelve-year term limits for each office); Anti-Racism Amendment; Amend the 2nd Amendment to allow for regulation and banning of certain guns and ammunition; Death Penalty Amendment (make murder a federal crime and ensure that the death penalty is allowed); Equal Rights Amendment
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. Proponents assert it would end legal distinctions between men and ...
(albeit slightly amended); Flag-Burning Amendment; abolition of the Electoral College; establishment of regional presidential primaries; Establishment of a federal "Department of Science"; national lottery (funded by voluntary $52-per-year contributions on tax returns; only those participating would be eligible to win), school vouchers
A school voucher, also called an education voucher in a voucher system, is a certificate of government funding for students at schools chosen by themselves or their parents. Funding is usually for a particular year, term, or semester. In some cou ...
; reforms to Social Security
Welfare, or commonly social welfare, is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specificall ...
, Medicare, Medicaid
Medicaid in the United States is a federal and state program that helps with healthcare costs for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid also offers benefits not normally covered by Medicare, including nursing home care and pers ...
, and Welfare Reform; letting the homeless
Homelessness or houselessness – also known as a state of being unhoused or unsheltered – is the condition of lacking stable, safe, and adequate housing. People can be categorized as homeless if they are:
* living on the streets, also kn ...
stay in military bases; and mandatory military service
Conscription (also called the draft in the United States) is the state-mandated enlistment of people in a national service, mainly a military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it continues in some countries to the present day un ...
for non-violent criminals. This has been referred to by his primary opponent as a "fascist
Fascism is a far-right, Authoritarianism, authoritarian, ultranationalism, ultra-nationalist political Political ideology, ideology and Political movement, movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and pol ...
manifesto
A manifesto is a published declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of the issuer, be it an individual, group, political party or government. A manifesto usually accepts a previously published opinion or public consensus or promotes a ...
". Sabrin called for him to drop out of the Senate race and resign from the State Senate. Pennacchio refused to drop out, and said that these were ideas he came up with before he ran for office, and that he had "evolved" beyond many of them. Pennacchio described these attacks as "anti-Italian". Despite these attacks, he bested Sabrin by a wide margin.
Involvement in Trump campaign
On October 16, 2019, the Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign
Incumbent Republican Donald Trump led an unsuccessful campaign for the 2020 United States presidential election. He was inaugurated for his first term on January 20, 2017, and officially announced his reelection campaign on June 18, 2019.
Do ...
announced that Pennacchio and State Senator Mike Testa
Michael L. Testa Jr. (born May 1, 1976) is an American Republican Party politician who represents the 1st Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate. Testa was elected to the state senate on November 5, 2019 in the special election to f ...
would be honorary state chairs of Trump's Victory Team.
Electoral history
New Jersey Senate
New Jersey Assembly
References
External links
Senator Joseph Pennacchio's official site
Senator Pennacchio's legislative webpage
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the ...
*''New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms''
20112010200920082007200620052004
Joseph 'Joe' Pennacchio
Project Vote Smart
Vote Smart, formerly called Project Vote Smart, is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States. It covers candidates and elected officials in si ...
Joseph Pennacchio's ''Nationalist Agenda'': “A blueprint for the 21st century” (PDF)
Official US Senate Campaign Website - www.JerseyJoe08.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pennacchio, Joseph
1955 births
Living people
American people of Italian descent
Brooklyn College alumni
County commissioners in New Jersey
Republican Party New Jersey state senators
Republican Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly
New York University College of Dentistry alumni
People from Montville, New Jersey
People from Rockaway Township, New Jersey
Politicians from Morris County, New Jersey
21st-century American politicians