National LGBTQ+ Organization Endorses Red Bank Council Candidate

RED BANK, NJ — LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, dedicated to electing LGBTQ people to public office, has endorsed John Jackson for Red Bank Council in May’s nonpartisan election, the Red Bank Together campaign announced.

Victory Fund had also endorsed Jackson in November 2022 in Jackson's first run for a term on the Borough Council.

All seats on the Borough Council and the Mayor's office are up for re-election May 9 in the borough's first nonpartisan election since the new form of government was approved by voters in a November public question.

The endorsement indicates that Victory Fund believes Jackson will "continue to be a voice for equality and fairness," the Red Bank Together team said in a news release.

The endorsement reflects the organization’s view that Jackson is well-positioned for re-election, as a "realistic plan to win" is a requirement for endorsement, the campaign said.

In 2022, 71 percent of Victory-endorsed candidates won their races compared with 48 percent for non-endorsed LGBTQ+ candidates, the campaign said.

LGBTQ+ representation is very low with just 0.2 percent of elected positions nationwide held by LGBTQ+ individuals, despite comprising approximately 7.1 percent of the U.S. population, according to LGBTQ Victory Institute.

New Jersey is on par with this national average, as 0.19 percent of elected New Jersey officials identify as LGBTQ+, according to 2021 statistics from the organization.

There are 13 candidates for six seats on the Borough Council and two candidates for mayor, Tim Hogan of the Red Bank Together team and the current Mayor Billy Portman of the Red Bank's Ready team.

For more information about LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, visit victoryfund.org.