Jabari Brisport

Jabari Brisport
Brisport in 2021
Member of the New York State Senate
from the 25th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2021
Preceded byVelmanette Montgomery
Personal details
Born (1987-08-09) August 9, 1987
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
PartyGreen (before 2019)
Democratic (2019–present)
Other political
affiliations
Democratic Socialists of America
EducationNew York University (BFA)
Yale University (MFA)
WebsiteCampaign website

Jabari Brisport (born August 9, 1987) is an American politician, activist, and former public school teacher.[1] He is the state senator for New York's 25th State Senate district in Brooklyn, and the first openly gay person of color to be elected to the New York State Legislature.[2]

Early life and education

Brisport was raised in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn,[3] by a Guyanese immigrant father and a second-generation Guyanese mother who was born in Brooklyn.[4] During Brisport's childhood, his father worked at a sheet metal factory and his mother was an office manager.[5]

Brisport graduated from Poly Prep, a private high school in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn.[6] He also earned degrees from New York University and Yale University.[7][8]

Career

Education

Brisport taught primarily math to sixth- and seventh-graders at a public school in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.[9] He is a member of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT).[10]

Activism

At age 22, Brisport began organizing efforts in support of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in New York.[5] A few years later, he got involved in the burgeoning Black Lives Matter movement and began organizing rallies and protests, as well as training protesters on what to do if stopped or harassed by the police.[11] In 2017, he traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia, to march in the counter-protest of a Unite the Right rally.[12]

Brisport joined the New York City chapter of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) shortly after Donald Trump was elected president, and got involved in its work on access to affordable housing. He quickly became a leader in the fight against the private development of the Bedford Union Armory in Crown Heights.[13][14][15][16]

2017 City Council race

In 2017, Brisport ran against incumbent Laurie Cumbo in the 35th New York City Council District. In a rare Green Party primary, he defeated Scott Hutchinson, 32 votes to 4.[3] Brisport was partially inspired to run for office by Senator Bernie Sanders[17] and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.[18] He was endorsed by Our Revolution, New York Communities for Change,[3] and the New York Chapter of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).[16] He lost the election, receiving 29% of the vote.[19][20] Brisport earned more independent votes than any council candidate since 2003.[21]

New York State Senate

Brisport speaking at a protest in June 2020

In 2019, Brisport announced a run for the New York State Senate 25th District seat being vacated by Velmanette Montgomery.[22] On September 29, 2019, he was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America.[23] His campaign did not accept donations from the real estate industry or for-profit corporations. Instead, it received donations from over 7,000 individuals, breaking the record for most donors to a New York State-level campaign.[24][25] According to the campaign, it also had the support of over 1,000 volunteers.[26] His campaign was also endorsed by Ocasio-Cortez, Sanders, Cynthia Nixon, New York Communities for Change, and the Working Families Party.[5][27]

On election night of the Democratic primary on June 23, 2020, Brisport led the race with 52.25% of the vote against sitting Assemblywoman Tremaine Wright and former Montgomery staffer Jason Salmon. But there were more absentee ballots than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and on election night 26,000 absentee ballots remained uncounted.[28] Brisport declared victory on July 23, once the absentee ballots had been counted and his lead over Wright had grown to 10,000 votes.[29] He won the November general election, becoming the first openly gay person of color ever elected to the New York legislature.[30] He is a member of the New York State Socialists in Office.[31]

In 2022, Brisport faced Conrad Tillard in the State Senate district 25 race.[32] Brisport was backed by the DSA and by unions including 1199SEIU and District Council 37. Tillard was endorsed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, State Senator Kevin Parker, and former New York City Councilman Robert Cornegy.[33][34][32][35] Tillard ran as a more moderate and centrist candidate than Brisport, and was critical of his support of socialism.[36][34][37] Brisport won re-nomination in the three-way race, with 70% of the vote to Tillard's 16%.[38][39][40]

Brisport faced community organizer Marlon Rice[41] in the Democratic primary on June 23, 2026.[42] Brisport won the primary, with 73% of the vote to Rice's 20%.[42]

Political positions

Brisport came to identify as a democratic socialist through Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign, for which he volunteered as a canvasser and phone-banker.[11] He is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).[16]

Brisport was arrested while protesting the re-development of the vacant Bedford Union Armory in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.[13][14][15][19] He argued that the development should be 100% affordable housing.[19] He has advocated for a vacancy tax and a pied-à-terre tax.[43]

Brisport is an advocate for the New York Health Act, which would establish single-payer healthcare in New York State.[44] He starred in a 2021 advertisement for the Campaign for New York Health along with then-assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, portraying a firefighter.[44]

Brisport supports the elimination of cash bail, the legalization of injection sites for drug users, the restoration of voting rights for persons who have been incarcerated, elder parole, and the decriminalization of prostitution.[45]

During his 2017 campaign for the New York City Council, Brisport pledged to reduce his $148,000 council salary to $47,000, the median income in Brooklyn at the time and direct the remainder toward increasing staff pay, arguing that elected officials should not earn substantially more than the constituents they represent. Since taking office, Brisport has not reduced his salary and has accepted the full council compensation. In 2023, Brisport even voted to increase pay for himself and other lawmakers, bumping the salary floor from $110,000 to $142,000. [46]

Electoral history

2017

2017 New York City Council election, District 35[47][48][49]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Laurie Cumbo (incumbent) 10,421 57.4
Democratic Ede Fox 7,549 41.6
Democratic Jabari Brisport (write-in) 113 0.6
Write-in 63 0.4
Total votes 18,146 100
Green Jabari Brisport 32 88.9
Green Scott Hutchins 4 11.1
Write-in 0 0.0
Total votes 36 100
General election
Democratic Laurie Cumbo (incumbent) 21,695 67.2
Green Jabari Brisport 8,117
Socialist Jabari Brisport 1,190
Total Jabari Brisport 9,307 28.8
Republican Christine Parker 1,203 3.7
Write-in 57 0.3
Total votes 32,262 100
Democratic hold

2020

2020 New York State Senate election, District 25[50][51][52]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jabari Brisport 33,510 57.7
Democratic Tremaine Wright 20,229 34.8
Democratic Jason Salmon 4,270 7.4
Write-in 86 0.1
Total votes 58,095 100.0
General election
Democratic Jabari Brisport 108,059
Working Families Jabari Brisport 30,202
Total Jabari Brisport 138,261 99.6
Write-in 522 0.4
Total votes 138,783 100.0
Democratic hold

2022

2022 New York State Senate election, District 25[53][54]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jabari Brisport (incumbent) 12,492 70.4
Democratic Conrad Tillard 2,710 15.3
Democratic Renee Holmes 2,475 13.9
Write-in 66 0.4
Total votes 17,743 100.0
General election
Democratic Jabari Brisport 50,505
Working Families Jabari Brisport 12,512
Total Jabari Brisport (incumbent) 63,017 99.5
Write-in 328 0.5
Total votes 63,345 100.0
Democratic hold

2024

2024 New York State Senate election, District 25[55]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jabari Brisport (incumbent) 90,484 99.4
Write-in 525 0.6
Total votes 91,009 100.0
Democratic hold

2026

2026 New York State Senate election, District 25[56]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jabari Brisport (incumbent) 22,779 72.80
Democratic Marlon Rice 6,204 19.83
Write-in 0.4
Total votes 31,291 100.0

References

  1. ↑ "All Politics Is Local: a Guide to Brooklyn's City Council Races - The Bridge". The Bridge. November 6, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  2. ↑ Wakefield, Lily (November 4, 2020). "'The next AOC': Jabari Brisport makes history as New York's first gay Black state senator". PinkNews. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "'Crazy Green Party Dude' Wages Grassroots Fight in Brooklyn Council Race". City Limits. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Jabari Brisport profile". gp.org. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "Teacher Jabari Brisport set to be N.Y.'s 1st Black gay state senator". NBC News. September 24, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Brooklyn Native Jabari Brisport (XXI) is Set to Lead His Community". Prep for Prep. September 10, 2020.
  7. ↑ Kong, Austin (December 8, 2020). "Senator-elect Jabari Brisport will make history this January". Legislative Gazette.
  8. ↑ "Jabari Brisport stars in 'Bach at Leipzig'". The Philadelphia Tribune. July 24, 2014.
  9. ↑ McDonough, Annie (November 4, 2020). "Jabari Brisport is still teaching". City & State NY. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  10. ↑ Coltin, Jeff (September 6, 2020). "Will labor stick with the establishment?". City & State NY. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  11. 1 2 "Hannah Black talks with New York State Senate candidate Jabari Brisport". www.artforum.com. June 10, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Charlottesville protester: Trump's words too little too late". Fox News. August 15, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  13. 1 2 "Arrest of City Council candidate at Bedford-Union Armory protest draws criticism - Brooklyn Daily Eagle". www.brooklyneagle.com. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  14. 1 2 "Bedford-Union Armory fight spills over into 35th City Council debate in Brooklyn - Brooklyn Daily Eagle". www.brooklyneagle.com. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  15. 1 2 "City Planning Approves Bedford-Union Armory Plan as 2 Protesters Arrested". DNAinfo New York. Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  16. 1 2 3 Jilani, Zaid (August 3, 2017). "Jabari Brisport Is Running For City Council to Bring Democratic Socialism to Brooklyn". The Intercept. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  17. ↑ Foldy, Ben (October 9, 2017). "A Green Grows in Brooklyn". Bklyner. Retrieved December 28, 2017.
  18. ↑ "TALKING SOCIALISM | Catching up with AOC". Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  19. 1 2 3 "Laurie Cumbo Holds On To Win NYC District 35 Election". Patch. November 6, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  20. ↑ Max, Ben. "2017 New York City General Election Results". Gotham Gazette. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  21. ↑ Elliott-Negri, Luke (July 25, 2019). "Opinion: By Forging Alliance on the Left, Cabán Race is Reshaping NYC Politics". City Limits.
  22. ↑ "Brooklyn Democratic Socialists narrow their sights on four 2020 candidates". Brooklyn Eagle. September 19, 2019.
  23. ↑ Levine, Jon (October 5, 2019). "NYC Democratic Socialists' new AOC could be this rising star from Brooklyn".
  24. ↑ Tracy, Matt (May 26, 2020). "Flexing Grassroots Muscle, Brisport Leads State Senate Rivals in Fundraising". Gay City News. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Inside the NYC Democratic Socialists' Powerhouse Electoral Machine". jacobinmag.com. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Jabari Brisport Declares Victory In Brooklyn State Senate Race". www.msn.com. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Our Candidates". Working Families Party. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  28. ↑ Millman, Andrew (July 8, 2020). "Jabari Brisport, Democratic Socialist on Verge of Upset Primary Win in Brooklyn, Eyes Journey to Albany". Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  29. ↑ Iqbal, Zainab (July 23, 2020). "Jabari Brisport Declares Victory In NYS Senate Democratic Primary In District 25".
  30. ↑ Crary, David (November 4, 2020). "In blue and red states, milestone wins for LGBTQ candidates". Washington Post. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  31. ↑ "About". New York State Socialists in Office. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  32. 1 2 Mays, Jeffery C. (August 20, 2022). "Adams Endorses Primary Candidates, Hoping to Defeat Left-Wing Democrats". The New York Times.
  33. ↑ "Tracking the contested state Senate primary races in New York". City & State NY. August 22, 2022.
  34. 1 2 "STATE SENATE". issuu.
  35. ↑ Samar, Khurshid (August 11, 2022). "New York State Senate Races to Watch in the August Primary". Gotham Gazette. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  36. ↑ Louis, Errol (August 27, 2022). "4 Big Takeaways From New York's Weird Late-Summer Primaries". Intelligencer.
  37. ↑ "NY Senate Voter's Guide: What to know about the 2022 NYC primaries". Gothamist. August 12, 2022.
  38. ↑ "New York Primary Election Results". The New York Times. August 23, 2022.
  39. ↑ "NYS Board of Elections Unofficial Election Night Results". NY State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on November 20, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  40. ↑ "Adams state Senate pick Conrad Tillard has history of bigoted remarks". The New York Post. August 17, 2022.
  41. ↑ Mays, Jeffery C.; Ashford, Grace (June 24, 2026). "Here Are 8 New York State Legislative Races to Watch". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  42. 1 2 Martinez, Ainsley; Staff, Patch (June 24, 2026). "NY-25th State Senate District 2026 Elections: Live Results". Brooklyn, NY Patch. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  43. ↑ "Lessons from Vancouver for NYC's Debate Over Taxing Vacant Land to Ease Housing Crunch". City Limits. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  44. 1 2 Lewis, Rebecca C. (April 28, 2023). "Zohran Mamdani is bringing Hollywood glamor to Albany". City & State NY. Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  45. ↑ Brand, David (January 22, 2020). "DSA challengers push state legislature on criminal justice reform". Queens Daily Eagle.
  46. ↑ https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook-pm/2026/05/29/brisport-walks-off-the-plank-00943245
  47. ↑ "Primary Election 2017 - Democratic Member of the City Council, 35th Council District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  48. ↑ "Primary Election 2017 - Green Member of the City Council, 35th Council District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  49. ↑ "General Election 2017 - Member of the City Council, 35th Council District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  50. ↑ "Certified Results from the June 23, 2020 Primary Election" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. August 6, 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 16, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  51. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Ballotpedia was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  52. ↑ "State Senator 25th Senate District - General Election - November 3, 2020". New York State Board of Elections. December 3, 2020. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  53. ↑ "Primary Election 2022 - Democratic State Senator - 25th Senatorial District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  54. ↑ "General Election 2022 - State Senator - 25th Senatorial District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  55. ↑ "General Election 2024 - State Senator - 25th Senatorial District" (PDF). New York City Board of Elections. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  56. ↑ Martinez, Ainsley; Staff, Patch (June 24, 2026). "NY-25th State Senate District 2026 Elections: Live Results". Brooklyn, NY Patch.
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