Jabari Brisport- SD 25

Office Sought: State Senate District 25

Campaign Site: https://jabariforstatesenate.com/

Endorsements so far: I’m in the process of re-securing all previous endorsers from previous election cycles, across elected officials, labor, and advocacy groups.

Why do you want to represent your neighbors and fellow Brooklynites in Albany? (100 words max) 7 years ago I was a public school teacher in an overcrowded and underfunded school. In my first year in office I joined with other progressive legislators and the IONY campaign to win new taxes on the rich, which allowed us to invest billions of dollars into things like our schools, via the Foundation Aid formula. I want to do more things like that: big transformative wins that translate to material gains for my community.

What difference will you make for your community? (100 words max) I will continue to serve my community as an elected official only accountable to the people, and not to big monied interests. I will continue to invest in CBOs and initiatives that are serving my constituents well. And I will continue to listen to their stories and build legislation from them, as was the case with Mel’s Law, which requires SUNY, CUNY, and community college boards to establish policies for awarding posthumous degrees to students who pass away before completing their studies.

How will you support and empower the LGBTQ+ community, particularly at a time when transgender people are under sustained attack from the Trump Administration? (100 words max) I will continue to be an out and proud queer elected official. I will stand the movement, like I did with organizers at the Stonewall Monument at a recent Trans Day of Remembrance. I will call out institutions who consider folding, like I did to NY-Presbyterian last year. And I will vocally support legislation and funding to bolster our community, like the TGNB Health Equity Fund.

How will you support and empower Brooklynites being targeted by I.C.E? (100 words max) I will vocally support legislation to weaken their power, like NY for All. I will advocate for the abolition of ICE to our federal partners. And I will stand up to them at 26 Federal Plaza, even if it leads to my arrest again. It’s worth it.

Who did you endorse in the 2025 Mayoral Election, in both the primary and the general election? (100 words max) Zohran since Day 1!

Although you are running for a state legislative position, we recognize that our state elected officials have an important voice in local political communities. With that in mind, do you/will you support the Brooklyn Can’t Wait slate of District Leader candidates and Brooklyn Can’t Wait’s reforms to make our local party more accountable, transparent, inclusive, and effective? (100 words max) I don’t think they’ve a finalized 2026 slate, but I’ve supported the slate in the past. I fully support the reforms.

Similarly, we recognize that our state elected officials have an important voice in national political dialogue as well. How will you use your voice to speak out about ending US support for the genocide in Gaza and putting a stop to the aggression being implemented by the Trump Administration against Venezuela, Greenland, and other areas? (100 words max) I am one of the few state elected officials who have called it a genocide and spoken up for the Palestinian people. I hope that isn’t the case much longer.

Legislation:

Do you support the Gender Identity, Respect, Dignity, and Safety Act (GIRDS) (A5478/S1049A)? Yes

Do you support Cecilia’s Act for Rights in the S*x Trades S2513/A3251 (formerly SVSTA) (A3251/S2513)? Yes

Do you support the New York Health Act (A1466/S3425)? Yes

Do you support the Repeal STI Discrimination Act (A733A/S4545A)? Yes

Do you support the Freedom to Read Act (A7777/S1099) and overriding the Governor’s veto of this act? Yes. And I strongly support veto overrides, but there isn’t much appetite in the Senate for that.

Do you support the New York for All Act (A3506/S2235A)? Yes

Do you support adding a constitutional right to privacy to New York’s State Constitution (A9377/S8603)? I’m unfamiliar with this one. In looking at it, I’m not sure how it defines privacy (although I fully support efforts to reduce govt surveillance or monitoring) - I’d want to check in with constitutional lawyers before signing on to this one.

Commitments:

If endorsed, do you commit to using LID’s full logo (will be provided) and full name on all materials and other places where you list endorsees (with the exception of lists of specific organizations (unions, etc) or elected officials)? Yes

Do you commit to using inclusive and gender-neutral language in press releases and other announcements (e.g., “the people of the..” instead of “the men and women of the…” Yes