Latoya LeGrand files to run for Vivian Cook’s Assembly seat

Latoya LeGrand, a former staffer to Assembly Member Vivian Cook, filed to run on Tuesday for her former boss’s Southeast Queens seat, state campaign finance records show. 

Now 88 years old, Cook has been in office for more than three decades, earning respect and holding influence as the county committee chair of the Queens County Democratic Party – serving under party chair Rep. Greg Meeks.

LeGrand ran for New York City Council last year, losing to Ty Hankerson in the Democratic primary. She left her constituent services role at Cook’s office in August after four years. She now works in state Sen. James Sanders’ office. Several elected officials, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Assembly Member Khaleel Anderson, have launched their own political careers after working for Sanders. 

State records show that Cook has not yet filed to run for reelection, and she terminated her most recent campaign account last May. But reached by phone Wednesday, Cook insisted she is running. “Of course,” she said. “I’m not giving up yet. You want me to give up?” 

Asked when she intends to file for reelection, Cook said she was currently in the hospital. “I’m moving around, I’m talking, you know,” she said, but didn’t go into further detail. Earlier in the call, she could be heard saying to someone in the background that she got herself into bed. 

Even in her 80s, Cook has withstood primary challenges before, most recently, from Anthony Andrews in 2022.

It’s unclear whether LeGrand filed with the intention of challenging Cook or potentially succeeding her. Reached via text, LeGrand declined to comment, saying she was “not at liberty to discuss the future plans of the Assembly member.” While several sources said they had not heard that Cook planned to retire, two said they would not be surprised if she didn’t run again given concerns about her health.