recovered. He was re-elected to the Assembly in 2005. During the 2005 campaign, Democratic opponent Daniel R. Benson held an October press conference at the State House, intending to attack Baroni on property taxes. Instead, Baroni personally attended the press conference and debated the issue with Benson, attacking Benson's record on taxes as a Hamilton Township councilman. Benson eventually left his own press conference, leaving Baroni to take media questions from Benson's podium. On November 6, 2007, he won election to become State Senator of the 14th Legislative District. He captured 62.3% of the vote, defeating Democratic Party opponent Seema Singh. Baroni filled the State Senate seat vacated by Republican Senator Peter Inverso. There had been speculation that Baroni would seek the Republican nomination for United States Senate in 2008 against Frank Lautenberg, but his run for the New Jersey Senate effectively ended that speculation. Legislative tenure In 2004 and 2005, he was the Assembly's Assistant Parliamentarian. Baroni served in the Senate on the Joint Committee on the Public Schools, the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, the Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee and the Judiciary Committee. In 2006, Baroni helped Tom Kean Jr. prepare for his debates against Senator Bob Menendez by playing the part of Menendez. He did the same in 2009 for Chris Christie's debate preparations, standing in for Jon Corzine. In 2008, Baroni served as State Chairman of John McCain's presidential campaign in New Jersey. Political positions Baroni has been described as "pro-life and pro-labor." In 2010, he was the only Republican Senator who voted to allow same-sex marriage in New Jersey. He supports same sex marriage in Ireland, of which he is also a citizen. Election history Legal career Baroni was an associate at DeCotiis, Fitzpatrick & Cole, and then at Blank Rome. He was of counsel at Fornaro Francioso, a Hamilton firm. He served as chief counsel to Congressman Bob Franks in his 2000 U.S. Senate race. In 2002, when U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli withdrew his candidacy for re-election five weeks before Election Day after the Senate admonished him on ethics charges, Baroni argued for the Republicans in the New Jersey Supreme Court against a last-minute switch of candidates to Frank Lautenberg. In 2002, Baroni became an adjunct professor at the Seton Hall University School of Law, where he taught classes on Professional Responsibility, voting rights, legislation, and campaign finance reform. As