Joe Pennacchio
New Jersey State Senator, District 26 since 2007. Ran in 9 elections between 2001 and 2023, winning 9. Next on the ballot in 2027.
- In office
- 19 yrs
- Since 2007
- Bills became law
- 4
- 210 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 1.7%
- Chamber median 2.7%
- With party
- 97%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +13.5
- Won 2023
- Next election
- 2027
- Nov 2, 2027
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Economic Growth
- Legislative Oversight
- Legislative Services Commission
- Public Schools
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Passed House Sep 2026
Passed Senate Jun 2026
Passed Senate Jun 2026
Passed Senate Jun 2026
Introduced Mar 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Pennacchio sits in the New Jersey State Senate
Pennacchio is closer to the center than 7% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Parker Space, Doug Steinhardt, Mike Testa
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:57 PM ET
With Pennacchio’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans97%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills55%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the New Jersey State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Pennacchio’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Pennacchio | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 22, 2025 | A 3016: Allows follow-up communication by operators of mental health and suicide crisis resources… | No | No | Yes | Passed 27–6 |
| Dec 18, 2025 | A 2316: Increases traffic threshold for local installation of certain speed humps on certain local… | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 35–2 |
| Dec 18, 2025 | S 3776: Establishes Chronic Absenteeism Task Force. | No | No | Yes | Passed 26–12 |
| Jun 30, 2025 | A 5463: Requires electric public utilities to submit annual report on voting to BPU. | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 29–8 |
| Jun 30, 2025 | S 4476: Permits awarding of contracts for certain preschool education services by resolution of… | No | No | Yes | Passed 30–7 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Pennacchio was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | New Jersey State Senate, District 26 | Won | R+13.5 | R+1.2 | +12.3 |
| 2021 | New Jersey State Senate, District 26 | Won | R+17.9 | — | — |
| 2017 | New Jersey State Senate, District 26 | Won | R+13.0 | — | — |
| 2013 | New Jersey State Senate, District 26 | Won | R+30.0 | — | — |
| 2011 | New Jersey State Senate, District 26 | Won | R+31.5 | — | — |
| 2007 | New Jersey State Senate, District 26 | Won | R+32.8 | — | — |
| 2005 | New Jersey General Assembly, District 26 | Won | D+1.1 | — | — |
| 2003 | New Jersey General Assembly, District 26 | Won | D+0.4 | — | — |
| 2001 | New Jersey General Assembly, District 26 | Won | D+1.9 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats Pennacchio has held
- New Jersey State Senate, District 26 · since 2007
- New Jersey General Assembly, District 26 · 2001–2007
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Pennacchio has run against
- Joan Waks (D) · 2023 election, won
- Christine Clarke (D) · 2021 election, won
- Elliot Isibor (D) · 2017 election, won
- Avery Hart (D) · 2013 election, won
- Wasim Khan (D) · 2011 election, won
- Alex Decroce (R) · 2005 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know Pennacchio
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/4bf4c8e4-5a97-4100-b34d-cb01da6ab266
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET