As a pastor and community leader in Queens, Nichols has spent years working directly with families, youth, and community organizations to strengthen neighborhoods and expand opportunities. Now he is running for the New York State Assembly to bring experienced leadership and real solutions to Albany.

Paul Nichols – NY State Assembly District 32 | There Is An Answer

Molla agreed a common problem for everyone across the district is affordable housing.

Nichols said he has used his position as an attorney to provide free foreclosure help and as a resident for more than 20 years he has helped with food pantries.

Who will you vote for in Assembly District 32?

Paul Nichols is a pastor and community leader in Queens. He has been a resident for more than 20 years and has helped with food pantries.

Who will you vote for in Assembly District 32? - Queens Chronicle

Paul Nichols is an attorney, community leader, and veteran government leader with nearly two decades of experience working in and around government, law, and public policy. Throughout his career, he has dedicated himself to fighting for fairness, opportunity, and justice for everyday people.

Legislative staffer Paul Nichols
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Nichols said he has used his position as an attorney to provide free foreclosure help and as a resident for more than 20 years he has helped with food pantries.

“As the director of the community center,” at South Jamaica Houses, Nichols said that via the Southern Queens Park Association he has helped to run free afterschool, summer camp and evening programs for the community.

Paul is an attorney. He has served as chief counsel for state Sen. Leroy Comrie of Queens and as director of the community center at South Jamaica Houses.

Nichols previously ran for Governor of New York in 2022, bringing attention to the challenges facing working families across the state and advocating for stronger leadership to address the rising cost of living and unequal access to opportunity.

Paul previously ran for governor of New York in 2022.

2026 New York General Election

Queens families are facing an affordability crisis. Paul Nichols is committed to advancing policies that lower the cost of living, protect working families, support small businesses, and ensure that people can afford to live and thrive in the communities they call home.

Committed to policies that lower living costs, protect working families, and support small businesses.

- Committed to policies that lower living costs, protect working families, and support small businesses.

Economy

As of September 9, 2026, Paul Nichols’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Nichols believes there needs to be a reevaluation how the area’s real median income is determined.

As for resources, he says many people are going to Long Island for healthcare instead of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center because it is not getting the resources it needs.

“The elected officials are leading the conversation about what it needs,” said Nichols. “If there are internal things we have to do from a state perspective to have a bit of an oversight, then I suggest we have to look at how operations are going and how management is going. ... Services at the hospital should be top notch.”

A look at AD 32’s 2026 candidates

Healthcare Access

Expanding access to affordable healthcare and mental health services, and protecting the community clinics that serve working families across District 32.

Suggests state oversight of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center's operations and management to improve services.

Supports expanding affordable healthcare and mental-health services and protecting community clinics in District 32.

- Suggests state oversight of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center's operations and management to improve services.
- Supports expanding affordable healthcare and mental-health services and protecting community clinics in District 32.

Healthcare

Asked if Albany needs fixing, Molla simply said yes.

Nichols said it needs a radical transformation.

“As I campaigned for governor four years ago, I spoke to a young man who said, ‘I’m excited that you’re running because we need to fix this broken system,” he said. “I said the system is not broken, it just wasn’t designed to work for you. Albany needs ... term limits.”

Supports term limits for Albany officials.

- Supports term limits for Albany officials.

Voting & Elections

Sponsors of the event wanted to learn more about how the candidates plan to unite the various groups within the district, address housing issues and opportunities for young folks, ensure public safety and tackle social media problems among youths.

“When I was in 40 projects, and [youths] didn’t have the resources that they need, I worked with Assemblywoman Cook to get $2 million over there to that center so they can get them off of the streets,” said Nichols. “Open up the churches, open up the community centers and provide job opportunties, too. Poverty is the mother’s milk of crime.”

Calls for opening churches and community centers, and providing job opportunities for young people.

- Calls for opening churches and community centers, and providing job opportunities for young people.

Public Safety

Quality Education

Investing in our public schools, supporting teachers, improving resources for students, and expanding after-school and youth programs for every child in the district.

Supports investment in public schools, teachers, and student resources, including expanded after-school and youth programs.

- Supports investment in public schools, teachers, and student resources, including expanded after-school and youth programs.

Education

Nichols told the Chronicle that he believes the top three issues in AD 32 are the lack of affordable housing, lack of resources and lack of unity amongst different communities.

“When it comes to housing affordability, we need to remove some of the standards that determine what qualify for affordability,” said Nichols. “If you are paying more than 50 percent of your income, you are rent-burdened. That is almost 90 percent of folks in this district.”

Nichols believes there needs to be a reevaluation how the area’s real median income is determined.

As for resources, he says many people are going to Long Island for healthcare instead of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center because it is not getting the resources it needs.

Housing

Nichols Calls for Emergency Tenant Protections in Queens

Paul joined tenant advocates to demand immediate action on eviction protections and rent relief for District 32 families.

Feb 22, 2026
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Advocates reevaluating the affordability standards and the area median income used to determine housing affordability.

Calls for emergency eviction protections and rent relief for District 32 families.

- Advocates reevaluating the affordability standards and the area median income used to determine housing affordability.
- Calls for emergency eviction protections and rent relief for District 32 families.

Housing & Urban Development

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Paul Nichols

- Supports expanding affordable healthcare and mental-health services and protecting community clinics in District 32.

- Calls for emergency eviction protections and rent relief for District 32 families.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

Nathaniel Hezekiah III

- Your assembly member is involved in the legislative process at the state level as part of the New York State Assembly, which consists of 150 members and serves as the lower house of the New York State Legislature.  
- Assembly members are responsible for representing your interests and assisting you with navigating state services while bringing resources back to your district.  
- Assembly members draft laws, approve budgets, oversee the state executive branch, and engage in debates and votes on proposed legislation.  
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your assembly member can serve on committees, where many bills may be delayed before reaching a vote.  
- Assembly members are elected for a two-year term with no term limits.  
- Their annual salary is $142,000.  

Your representative and state lawmaker in the New York State Assembly.