Joseph Pennacchio (born May 27, 1955) is an American Republican Party politician, who has represented the 26th Legislative District in the New Jersey Senate since January 8, 2008. Pennacchio has served in the Senate as the Deputy Republican Leader since 2022. He served in the General Assembly from 2001 to 2008.

Early life Pennacchio was born in Brooklyn, New York. He received a B.S. in 1976 from Brooklyn College in Biology and a D.D.S. degree in 1979 from the New York University College of Dentistry.

He served on the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders 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, Project Vote Smart. 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 Donald DiFrancesco to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities."Pennacchio joins Assembly", The Star-Ledger, March 9, 2001. Accessed August 17, 2007. "Pennacchio, who will resign his freeholder position next Thursday, replaces Republican Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, also of Montville, who recently was appointed to the state Board of Public Utilities."

New Jersey Senate Pennacchio ran for state Senate in 2007 upon the retirement of Robert J. 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 and passed a budget without the millionaires' tax. Pennacchio, alongside six other Republicans, voted for the budget. Since 2022, he has been the Deputy Republican Leader .

Committees Committee assignments for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:Senator Joseph Pennacchio, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 24, 2024. Economic Growth Legislative Oversight

District 26 Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly.New Jersey State Constitution 1947 (Updated Through Amendments Adopted in November, 2020): Article IV, Section II, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 28, 2022. The representatives from the 26th District for the 2024—2025 Legislative Session are:Legislative Roster for District 26, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 24, 2024. Senator Joseph Pennacchio (R) Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R) Assemblyman Jay Webber (R)

United States House campaign In 1994, Pennacchio challenged Congressman Dean Gallo 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.Legislator enters U.S. Senate primary, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 18, 2008. Accessed January 18, 2008. On June 3, 2008, he was defeated in the Republican primary by former Congressman Dick Zimmer.

Controversies In 1991, Pennacchio sent a 94-page white paper called the "Nationalist Agenda" to then-New Jersey General Assembly minority leader Chuck Haytaian. The manifesto, among other things, called for a new "Nationalist Party;" Balanced Budget Amendment; 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 (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; reforms to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Welfare Reform; letting the homeless stay in military bases; and mandatory military service for non-violent criminals. This has been referred to by his primary opponent as a "fascist manifesto". 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 announced that Pennacchio and State Senator Mike Testa 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 New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 Joseph 'Joe' Pennacchio, Project Vote Smart Joseph Pennacchio's Nationalist Agenda: “A blueprint for the 21st century” (PDF) Official US Senate Campaign Website - www.JerseyJoe08.com