NY · Candidate
Nathaniel Hezekiah III
DCandidate
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: NY State Assembly · District 32
Biography
Nathaniel Hezekiah III is a South Jamaica, Queens native who, according to his campaign website, has spent nearly two decades in the office of U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks, rising to Deputy Chief of Staff.[2] He won a five-way Democratic primary on June 23, 2026 for the open Assembly District 32 seat, and says he is running to continue serving the community that raised him.[1][2]
Hezekiah says he was born and raised in South Jamaica, Queens. According to his campaign website, his family moved to Richmond, Virginia, in the 1980s, and his mother brought the children back to Southeast Queens after his father was killed by gun violence.[2] He attended P.S. 160 and New Preparatory Middle School, then studied in the law program at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School. He attended St. John's University before transferring to Pennsylvania State University, where his campaign website says he earned two bachelor's degrees, in business and finance.[2]
Hezekiah began his career with Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1056 and then joined the staff of Congressman Gregory Meeks, working up to Deputy Chief of Staff, according to his campaign website. The Queens Chronicle reported in early 2026 that he had previously served as Meeks' project manager and community liaison.[2][3] His campaign website describes constituent-service work in Meeks' office, including help with Social Security, Medicare, immigration and veterans benefits, and says he helped recover more than $13 million owed to Rochdale Village residents and directed more than $100,000 in scholarship funding for local students.[2]
Hezekiah declared his candidacy for Assembly District 32 after Assemblymember Vivian Cook announced she would not seek re-election after 35 years in office. The Queens County Democratic Party backed him, and Meeks supported his candidacy.[3][4] He won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary with 51.9% of the vote over Latoya LeGrand, Mohammed Molla, Tunisia Morrison and Queen Johnson.[1]
- 1.New York State Assembly District 32 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 2.About Nathaniel Hezekiah III · Nathaniel Hezekiah III campaign website Candidate's own words
- 3.Nathaniel Hezekiah III and Latoya LeGrand seek to succeed AM Cook · Queens Chronicle News report
- 4.Vivian Cook won’t seek reelection to the Assembly · City & State New York · 2026-02 News report
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.