Gregory Meeks

Gregory Meeks
Born	Gregory Weldon Meeks 25 9, 1953
Birthplace	New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, lawyer
Known for	Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs (2021–2023), U.S. Representative from New York (1998–present)
Education	Howard University (JD)
Spouse(s)	Simone-Marie Meeks
Children	3
Website	[Official website Official site]

Gregory Weldon Meeks (born September 25, 1953) is an American lawyer and politician who has served as a U.S. Representative from New York since 1998. A member of the Democratic Party, Meeks has represented southeastern Queens for more than a quarter century, making him one of the longest-serving members of the New York congressional delegation. He chaired the House Committee on Foreign Affairs during the 117th Congress (2021–2023) and continues to serve on the committee as its ranking member. Meeks also serves as chair of the Queens County Democratic Party. Before entering Congress, he served in the New York State Assembly from 1993 to 1998, representing the 31st district. Throughout his congressional career, Meeks has focused on foreign affairs, financial services, and issues affecting his diverse district, which encompasses economically varied African-American and West Indian American communities, as well as portions of other ethnic enclaves in southeastern Queens. He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, the New Democrat Coalition, and several other congressional caucuses.

Early Life

Gregory Weldon Meeks was born on September 25, 1953, in New York City. He grew up in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan and later in the public housing projects of East Harlem, an experience that shaped his understanding of the economic challenges facing urban communities. Meeks was raised in a working-class family and attended public schools in New York City during his formative years.

As a young man, Meeks became involved in community activities and developed an interest in public service. He became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate African-American Greek-letter fraternity, a connection that would remain significant throughout his career.

Education

Meeks attended Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He subsequently enrolled at Howard University School of Law in Washington, D.C., one of the nation's historically Black universities, where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education at Howard prepared him for a career that would span both law and public service.

Career

Early Legal and Public Service Career

After completing his legal education, Meeks worked in various capacities within the New York City legal and government systems. He served as an assistant district attorney in the Queens County District Attorney's office, gaining experience in criminal prosecution. He also worked as a judge on the New York State Workers' Compensation Board, where he adjudicated claims related to workplace injuries. These positions gave Meeks extensive experience in both the legal profession and government administration, laying the groundwork for his subsequent political career.

New York State Assembly (1993–1998)

In 1992, Meeks ran for the New York State Assembly and won election to represent the 31st district, succeeding Anthony S. Seminerio. He took office in January 1993 and served in the Assembly for five years. During his time in the state legislature, Meeks focused on issues pertinent to his Queens constituency, including housing, economic development, and criminal justice. His tenure in Albany provided him with legislative experience and deepened his connections within the Queens Democratic political establishment. When he departed the Assembly in 1998 to enter Congress, he was succeeded by Pauline Rhodd-Cummings.

U.S. House of Representatives

Election to Congress

Meeks entered Congress through a special election held on February 3, 1998, to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Floyd Flake, a Democratic congressman and prominent pastor who stepped down to focus on his ministry and community development work in southeastern Queens. Meeks won the special election and was sworn in on February 5, 1998. He has been reelected in every subsequent general election, typically winning by wide margins in the heavily Democratic district.

Meeks initially represented New York's 6th congressional district. Following redistricting after the 2010 Census, his district was renumbered as the 5th congressional district beginning with the 113th Congress in 2013. His district encompasses most of southeastern Queens, including the neighborhoods of Jamaica, Laurelton, Rosedale, Cambria Heights, Saint Albans, Springfield Gardens, and The Rockaways, as well as John F. Kennedy International Airport. The district is made up largely of economically diverse African-American and West Indian American communities, but also includes portions of Ozone Park and part of Howard Beach, which are predominantly middle-class Italian-American communities, as well as much of Kew Gardens, northern Richmond Hill, and the largely Irish American western portion of the Rockaway Peninsula.

Committee Assignments

Throughout his congressional tenure, Meeks has served on several key committees. His most prominent committee assignments have been on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on Financial Services, both of which align with his policy interests in international relations and economic matters.

On the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Meeks rose through the ranks over his more than two decades in Congress. In January 2021, he was elected chair of the committee for the 117th Congress, succeeding Eliot Engel, who had lost his primary election in 2020. As chair, Meeks oversaw the committee's work on a range of critical international issues during the Biden administration's first two years, including U.S. policy toward Afghanistan, relations with China, and transatlantic alliances. When Republicans took control of the House in January 2023, Meeks transitioned to the role of ranking member, the top Democrat on the committee, with Michael McCaul becoming chair.

Meeks has continued to serve actively as ranking member, using the position to articulate Democratic positions on foreign policy matters. In July 2025, he participated in a conversation at the Council on Foreign Relations in which he discussed the Democratic vision for the future of U.S. foreign policy.

In February 2026, Meeks issued a statement regarding Israel's Security Cabinet decision to intensify control over the West Bank, expressing concern about the implications of the policy.

On the House Committee on Financial Services, Meeks has focused on issues related to capital markets, housing finance, and economic opportunity. In December 2025, he partnered with House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill, Capital Markets Subcommittee Chairman Ann Wagner, and Representative Josh Gottheimer to unveil a bipartisan capital formation package aimed at improving access to capital markets and supporting economic growth. This bipartisan effort illustrated Meeks's willingness to work across the aisle on financial policy matters.

In February 2026, Meeks drew significant attention during a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee when he confronted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding the economic policies of the Trump administration. During the exchange, Meeks accused Bessent of "covering for the president" and pressed him on questions of financial stability, delivering his remarks with notable intensity.

Caucus Memberships

Meeks is a member of several congressional caucuses that reflect his policy priorities and the interests of his constituents. He is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, which advocates for the legislative interests of African Americans and other marginalized communities. He is also a member of the New Democrat Coalition, a group of moderate and pro-growth Democrats in the House. Additionally, Meeks has been associated with the Congressional Caucus on the Baltic States and Democracy, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and the Congressional Afterschool Caucus, reflecting the diverse interests of his Queens constituency and his broad approach to policy engagement.

Queens County Democratic Party

Beyond his congressional role, Meeks serves as chair of the Queens County Democratic Party, a position that gives him significant influence over local Democratic politics in one of New York City's most populous and diverse boroughs. Queens County is known for its remarkable ethnic and cultural diversity, and the party chairmanship positions Meeks as a central figure in the borough's political landscape. His dual role as congressman and county party chair reflects the intersection of local and national politics that has characterized much of his career.

Dean of the New York Delegation

With the announced retirements of Representatives Jerry Nadler and Nydia Velázquez, both of whom have served in Congress since 1993 and 1992 respectively, Meeks is set to become the dean of the New York House delegation upon their departures in 2026. The designation of dean traditionally goes to the longest-serving member of a state's House delegation and carries informal influence within the delegation's operations and deliberations.

Netanyahu Address Controversy

In March 2015, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress at the invitation of House Speaker John Boehner, an event that generated considerable controversy due to its perceived partisan nature and timing ahead of Israeli elections. Meeks was among the lawmakers noted in connection with the political dynamics surrounding the address.

Ethics and Financial Scrutiny

During his congressional career, Meeks has faced scrutiny regarding certain financial matters. In 2008, The New York Times reported on questions related to his acquisition of automobiles, raising ethical questions about the arrangements. That same year, he was also the subject of reporting by The New York Times in connection with broader coverage of Democratic politicians and financial matters. The New York Post also published reporting examining questions about Meeks's financial dealings. The Queens Tribune covered related developments in 2011. Meeks has continued to serve in Congress and has not been formally charged in connection with these matters.

Recent Legislative Activity

In a February 2026 interview with PoliticsNY, Meeks discussed his role as a U.S. Representative and provided insight into his approach to governance and representation of his Queens district. The interview was part of the publication's "Inside Government" series, which profiles elected officials and their work.

Personal Life

Gregory Meeks is married to Simone-Marie Meeks. The couple has three children. The family resides in the southeastern Queens area that Meeks represents in Congress. Meeks has maintained close ties to his community and the various ethnic and cultural groups that make up his diverse district, which includes significant African-American, West Indian American, Italian-American, and Irish American populations.

Meeks is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Recognition

As one of the longest-serving African-American members of Congress from New York, Meeks has held positions of significant institutional responsibility. His chairmanship of the House Foreign Affairs Committee from 2021 to 2023 represented one of the highest-ranking positions held by a member of the New York delegation and by an African-American lawmaker in the realm of foreign policy. He was the first African-American chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a milestone in the committee's history.

His role as chair of the Queens County Democratic Party has also been recognized as a position of considerable political influence in New York City politics. Queens is the most ethnically diverse urban area in the United States, and leading its Democratic Party organization requires navigating a complex landscape of immigrant communities, established neighborhoods, and competing political interests.

Meeks's engagement with international affairs has been recognized through invitations to speak at prominent foreign policy forums, including his July 2025 appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations, where he was featured in a conversation about the future direction of U.S. foreign policy.

Electoral History

Meeks first won election to Congress in a special election on February 3, 1998, and has been reelected in every subsequent election cycle. His campaign finance filings are maintained by the Federal Election Commission. Representing a heavily Democratic district in southeastern Queens, Meeks has typically won his general elections by substantial margins. His primary elections have occasionally been more competitive, reflecting the complex internal dynamics of Queens Democratic politics.

Legacy

With more than 28 years of service in the U.S. House of Representatives as of 2026, Gregory Meeks has established himself as one of the most enduring political figures in Queens and in the broader New York political landscape. His ascent to the chairmanship of the House Foreign Affairs Committee placed him at the center of American foreign policy deliberations during a period of significant global challenges, including the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, heightened tensions with China, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

As ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Meeks continues to play a significant role in shaping the Democratic Party's positions on international affairs. His willingness to engage in bipartisan cooperation, as evidenced by his collaboration on the capital formation package with Republican colleagues on the Financial Services Committee, reflects an approach that combines partisan advocacy with cross-aisle legislative work.

His position as chair of the Queens County Democratic Party further cements his role as a figure of political consequence in New York. As he prepares to become the dean of the New York House delegation following the retirements of Nadler and Velázquez, Meeks's institutional seniority and committee leadership positions place him among the most influential members of the New York congressional delegation.

Meeks's district in southeastern Queens, with its diverse tapestry of African-American, West Indian American, Italian-American, and Irish American communities, has served as both a constituency and a microcosm of the multicultural dynamics that define contemporary American urban politics.