A candidate forum in Southeast Queens on May 16 brought together four political hopefuls vying for the New York State Assembly seat in District 32, giving residents a direct opportunity to hear how each contender plans to address key community issues ahead of the 2026 election.
Held at the Rochdale Village Grand Ballroom in Jamaica, Queens, the event was organized by the Rochdale Village Board of Directors Community Relations Committee in conjunction with Southeast Queens civic leaders and the Guy R. Brewer Democratic Club.
The race to succeed longtime Assembly Member Vivian E. Cook is quickly emerging as one of the most competitive Democratic primaries in Southeast Queens in years. Cook, who first assumed office on Jan. 1, 1991, has long been a dominant force in Queens Democratic politics and was the first Black woman to represent the district in Albany. City & State reported in a Feb. 2, 2026 article that Cook would not seek reelection after 35 years in office. Assembly candidates Latoya LeGrand, Nathaniel Hezekiah, Tunisia Morrison, and Queen Johnson are now vying for the open District 32 seat ahead of the June 23, 2026 primary election.
The panel was moderated by NAACP New York State Conference Executive Director Chris Alexander, who asked the candidates several questions on local concerns and community issues, allowing voters to better understand the candidates’ visions and priorities for the future of Southeast Queens. The discussion gave residents an opportunity to hear directly from each contender before casting their votes in the upcoming primary election.
Throughout the forum, candidates highlighted their plans for District 32, particularly on issues surrounding education, public safety, housing affordability, community investment, local services, and other key concerns.
LeGrand’s campaign centered on improving educational resources, youth development opportunities, and increasing community investment throughout Southeast Queens.
“I have been serving on the NYC Queens Community Board 12 as chairperson of education for over six years making executive decisions for our community,” LeGrand said during the forum.
“Our education system needs assistance and needs help. It’s going to take someone who understands what needs to get done to get things done,” she added.
Morrison emphasized the need for political change in the district, economic opportunity, and infrastructure investment. Hezekiah is running on a platform focused on safer streets, delivering cost-of-living relief, and keeping southeast Queens powerful in Albany.
Deed theft, in particular, emerged as one of the major issues discussed during the forum, as residents across Southeast Queens and parts of Brooklyn continue to raise concerns over fraudulent property transfers and scams targeting longtime homeowners.
“Deed theft has created a larger gap in generational wealth because of subprime lending,” LeGrand said. “We have to make sure our voters are informed about their rights and understand the process of purchasing a home. Because of these incidents, many people in our communities are discouraged from becoming homeowners, even though homeownership remains a major part of building generational wealth. On the state level, I will continue partnering and fighting for legislation that protects homeowners, especially seniors. They are among the most vulnerable and are often taken advantage of.”
LeGrand’s remark highlighted growing concerns over deed theft and housing insecurity in Southeast Queens, particularly among senior homeowners who are often targeted by fraudulent real estate schemes.
Also on the topic of deed theft in the district, Morrison called for “stronger accountability to these predators; it is happening across the city of New York and the community.”
Among other topics discussed included the Mitchell-Lama cooperative housing system, which is currently experiencing an extensive affordability crisis due to numerous issues, such as historic maintenance demands that are growing rapidly, increases in insurance costs, and higher operating expenses, among other challenges.
The inception of the Mitchell-Lama cooperative was founded to provide affordable housing for middle-class families in the district or in New York and thus the affordability crisis is in conflict with the mission of the housing program. To combat this issue, Queen Johnson stated that she “will make the affordability crisis in Rochdale Village her priority and will ensure that Rochdale stays affordable.” Johnson further stated that she “intends to do that by pushing the issue in Albany.”
Hezekiah stated at the forum that “there is no way that every Mitchell-Lama across the state is faced with an increase.”
“You have to take responsibility for the mess you caused,” Hezekiah said, emphasizing the need for accountability and responsibility regarding Mitchell-Lama.
“What I would like to do when I get to Albany, if you elect me, is work with my partner in the New York State Assembly to speak to the heart of the issues facing Mitchell-Lama developments across the state,” Hezekiah said.
The candidates are ramping up outreach across Southeast Queens and surrounding neighborhoods as they seek to position themselves as the next generation of leadership for the district. They are expected to intensify grassroots organizing, coalition building, and voter outreach in the final weeks leading up to the election.
Early voting is set to begin June 13 and run through June 21. Election day is June 23.
