[5] After graduating from Malvern Preparatory School, he attended Villanova University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1990.

In the Democratic primary, he faced union leader Johnny Dougherty and community activist Anne Dicker; he ultimately won the election with 43%, receiving 30,879 votes.

The indictment was taken to trial in January 2017,[11] with allegations that Farnese paid $6,000 in campaign funds towards the education of committee person Ellen Chapman's daughter to secure her vote, and thus his seat as Ward Leader.

[11][12] Farnese and his legal team denied the charges against him in court, asserting that what the government describes as a clear case of bribery is within the realm of state campaign finance laws.

[13] Farnese made a bid for re-election in 2020, but was defeated by a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, journalist Nikil Saval.