Carl Heastie

Carl Edward Heastie (; born September 25, 1967) is an American politician from New York, who has served as Speaker of the New York State Assembly since 2015. Heastie has served in the New York State Assembly since January 2001.

Heastie is the first African-American to serve as speaker of the Assembly. One of his first New York City appearances after becoming speaker was at Al Sharpton's rally in Harlem, where he told the crowd, "This is a tremendous opportunity for our community, for the first time, to have one of us sit at the table," and added "All of you are going to be sitting at that table with me for the first time".

Early life and education

Born in New York City, Heastie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in applied mathematics and statistics from Stony Brook University in Suffolk County, New York, and a M.B.A. in finance from Baruch College in New York City.

Career Before his election to the Assembly, Heastie worked as a budget analyst for the New York City comptroller.

Speaker of New York State Assembly In January 2015, Heastie's Assembly colleagues considered him a frontrunner to be elected Speaker, following the arrest of Sheldon Silver on federal corruption charges arising from an investigation led by U.S. attorney Preet Bharara. On February 2, Assembly Democrats voted unanimously for Heastie to become the new Speaker. The full Assembly elected him Speaker of the Assembly the next day.

Heastie is the first African-American to serve as speaker of the Assembly. One of his first New York City appearances after becoming speaker was at Al Sharpton's rally in Harlem, where he told the crowd, "This is a tremendous opportunity for our community, for the first time, to have one of us sit at the table," and added "All of you are going to be sitting at that table with me for the first time".

In April 2015, it was reported that--contrary to a judge's instructions--Heastie had neglected to sell a home that his mother, Helene Heastie, allegedly purchased with money embezzled from a nonprofit charity. After his mother's death, Heastie ceased attempts to sell the home, having been advised by his lawyer that he was no longer obligated to do so; he later sold it for a profit of $200,000. An independent forfeiture law expert consulted by the New York Times asserted that the judge's order was "probably legally unenforceable without a formal forfeiture agreement," which prosecutors had not obtained. In 2015, Heastie's office issued a statement about the incident, saying that "the lessons imparted to the speaker [Heastie]... included owning up to mistakes and taking responsibility."

In September 2025 before the 2025 New York City mayoral election, Heastie expressed reluctance in endorsing the Democratic nominee for mayor and colleague Zohran Mamdani for perceived insufficient efforts by Mamdani to placate Jewish Assembly colleagues concerned by his outspoken criticism of Israel. He has also sought assurances from Mamdani to avoid endorsing primary challengers pushed by the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Personal life Heastie has a daughter from a previous marriage.