A Republican, Bonacic represented New York State Senate District 42 (which includes all or parts of Delaware, Sullivan, Orange, and Ulster Counties) from November 1998 to 2018.

[3] Bonacic was re-elected four times and remained in the Assembly until 1998, sitting in the 188th, 189th, 190th, 191st and 192nd New York State Legislatures.

[citation needed] Bonacic, a Republican, was the Chair of the Senate Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee.

[6] While Bonacic cast a procedural vote against a 2013 bill that would have expanded abortion rights,[7] he expressed support for the Reproductive Health Act in 2016.

At a January 25, 2016 gathering of abortion advocates in Albany, the Senator commented, "'Both my daughter and my bride of 50 years believe in pro-choice and we should never deprive women of access of health care that they choose and their medical providers say is best for them.