Vincent Solomeno, Democratic candidate for NJ State Senate, has scored a prestigious endorsement from the non-partisan LGBTQ Victory Fund, a national organization working to “recruit, train, and elect out (LGBTQ) public officials at every level and in all 50 states.”

Solomeno, a US Army Veteran from Hazlet, is challenging incumbent Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Little Silver) in NJ’s 13th legislative district.

“Knowing how selective the Victory Fund is in their endorsements makes this such an honor,” Mr. Solomeno told InsiderNJ. “I’m proud to have earned this recognition from my community. It reminds me that I’m not just running for me, but to represent all of us.”

Victory Fund endorses openly LGBTQ candidates each election cycle, helping to score  donors and vote while assisting endorsees with strategic- and financial support.

Past high-profile Victory Fund endorsees include US Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and NY Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney who currently chairs of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Presently, there are zero LGBTQ people serving in NJ’s 120-seat legislature making our state house home to “the most heterosexual state legislature in America.”

Lauren Albrecht chairs the NJ Democratic State Committee’s LGBTQ caucus.

“The endorsement by the Victory Fund reinforces for us what we already know- that this race is winnable,” Ms. Albrecht told InsiderNJ. “National organizations have taken notice that New Jersey has no openly LGBTQ members of legislature. We know that Vincent is the one to correct this deficit, and we’re dedicated to ensuring his success. That’s the ultimate goal: competent, qualified representation.”

Middletown (pop. 67K) and Marlboro (41k) are the largest towns in the Monmouth County-based district which also includes Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands, Fair Haven, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Little Silver, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright, Rumson, and Union Beach.

Jay Lassiter is an award-winning writer and podcaster who, as America’s first credentialed state house blogger, helped pioneer the media landscape we’re currently inhabiting. He’s on Twitter @Jay_Lass.