Joseph M. Kyrillos Jr.

Joe Kyrillos focuses on business development for Newport Capital Group. A licensed Series 65 professional, he’s been affiliated with Newport Capital Group since 2008. 

Kyrillos has enjoyed a distinguished career in both the public and private sectors. Sen. Kyrillos ended a 30-year tenure in the New Jersey Legislature in January 2018.

First elected at age 27, Joe served two terms in the General Assembly. Sworn into the state Senate in 1992, he was re-elected to serve eight terms. During a visible and productive career representing Monmouth and Middlesex counties, Joe emerged as a statewide leader in job creation, economic growth, shore protection and good government. A former Majority Conference Leader and committee chairman, he voted more than 140 times to reduce taxes and fees, and developed a reputation for practical, reform-minded politics while working with both sides of the aisle.

A respected voice in New Jersey’s business community, Kyrillos also serves on the boards of directors of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ, and Miami International Holdings MIAX Emerald and is chairman of the advisory board of OceanFirst Bank and a director of its foundation. In addition, he has been on numerous national and local nonprofit boards, is currently a trustee of the Parker Family Health Center and Monmouth Historical Association and sits on advisory boards for Lunch Break and the Count Basie Center for Arts.

From 2001 to 2004, Senator Kyrillos served as chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee and as a member of the Republican National Committee. In 2008, Joe was New Jersey chairman of Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, and the following year, he was chairman of Chris Christie’s successful gubernatorial campaign and subsequently a member of his transition team. Joe was a leading supporter of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in the 2016 presidential primary.

In 2012, Kyrillos won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. Sen. Kyrillos is the second youngest person elected to the state Senate since the 1947 Constitutional Convention and the 10th youngest since 1844. He served as only the 29th Republican state chairman in recorded history of the party since 1880 and as one of four to serve simultaneously in the Legislature. When he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2012, Joe joined a small group of 135 individuals who, since the founding of New Jersey, earned the privilege to be nominated for Governor or U.S. Senator by the major political parties.

Active and accessible at home and around the state, Joe has appeared on CNN, FOX, MSNBC, New York network affiliates, and local New Jersey outlets. He was the 2018-2019 Public Servant-In-Residence at Monmouth University.

In June 2018, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders designated the West Front Street bridge spanning the Navesink River and connecting the towns of Middletown and Red Bank as the Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos Bridge.

Senator Kyrillos graduated from Hobart College and earned a master’s degree at Boston University. He attended Middletown public schools, the Rumson Country Day School, and the Lawrenceville School. Joe and his wife live in Middletown and have two adult children. They are members of Tower Hill Presbyterian Church in Red Bank.