Kammala jumla mai zuwa: A shekara ta 1850, Penniman ya kayar da dan Democrat mai suna Alexander W. Buel don za a zabe shi a matsayin Whig daga gundumar majalisa ta 1 na Michigan zuwa Majalisa na talatin da biyu, yana aiki daga Maris 4, 1851 zuwa Maris 3, 1853. Shi ne ɗan asalin Plymouth na farko da aka zaɓa a Majalisa ta Amurka. Bai kasance dan takara ba don sake zabarsa a 1852. Ya kasance memba na taron da ya haɗu a ƙarƙashin itatuwan oak a Jackson, Michigan, Yuli 6, 1854, a ƙungiyar Jam'iyyar Republican a Michigan. Ya kasance wakili a
Babban Taron Jam'iyyar Republican na 1856 daga Michigan.