Nathaniel Hezekiah III

D

Won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary with 51.9% of the vote in a five-candidate field

Nathaniel Hezekiah III is a Southeast Queens community advocate and former Deputy Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks, running for the open Assembly District 32 seat after winning a five-way Democratic primary.[1][2]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsLoosen zoning rules to build more housing

    Campaigns on expanding paths to homeownership and homeownership assistance for district residents.[2]

  • SupportsStronger rent regulation and tenant protections

    Lists protecting Mitchell-Lama affordable-housing communities as a campaign priority.[2]

In their words — priorities

  • Hezekiah's campaign slogan frames his candidacy around a record of service: "When It Mattered. Nathaniel was there."[2]
  • He cites accomplishments including directing more than $100,000 in scholarship funding for local students, helping recover more than $13 million owed to the Rochdale Village community, and supporting minority- and women-owned business participation in the JFK Airport redevelopment.[2][3]
  • His platform lists housing and homeownership assistance, protecting Mitchell-Lama communities, economic development, transportation equity, a "cradle-to-career" education pipeline, protecting the social safety net, and public safety as priorities.[2]
  • He states his overall commitment is "strengthening opportunity, protecting affordability, and making sure government works for the people it serves."[2]

Background

  • Hezekiah was born and raised in South Jamaica, Queens, and states he has "spent more than twenty years serving Southeast Queens."[2]
  • He attended P.S. 160 and New Preparatory Middle School, then Benjamin N. Cardozo High School's law program.[3]
  • He holds two bachelor's degrees in business and finance, earned at St. John's University and Pennsylvania State University.[3]
  • He worked with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1056 and later served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Congressman Gregory Meeks, a role he held for nearly two decades of constituent-service work.[3]

Also on the ballot for this seat: Paul Nichols · Compare side by side

Sources cited in this profile

  1. 1.New York State Assembly District 32 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Nathaniel Hezekiah III for New York State Assembly · Nathaniel Hezekiah III campaign website Candidate's own words
  3. 3.About Nathaniel Hezekiah III · Nathaniel Hezekiah III campaign website Candidate's own words