On May 10, 2005, Hevesi won a special election to fill a seat left vacant by the resignation of former Assemblyman Michael Cohen,[1][3][7] serving for the remainder of his term.[8] In 2007, New York State and Albany County investigators examined whether Hevesi and his brother improperly reaped benefits from their disgraced father's control of the state's $154 billion pension fund.[9] At the time, more than a tenth of Hevesi's contributions had come from investment firms that managed state pension fund assets or their executives, including Los Angeles–based Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy.[9] Hevesi was re-elected in November 2006 and has been re-elected in all subsequent elections.
From June 2011 to February 2015 Assemblyman Hevesi served as Chairman of the Committee on Oversight, Analysis, and Investigation, a position previously held by both New York City ComptrollerScott Stringer and New York State SenatePresident Pro TemporeJeff Klein. As Chair, Assemblyman Hevesi held hearings on numerous topics including healthcare, human trafficking, and technology infrastructure in New York State.[10]
Hevesi has secured a total of $6 million for freight locomotive engine upgrades in the 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 New York State Budgets.[11][12] The initiative was prompted by a constituency in his district that suffered from constant locomotive idling and emissions from outdated locomotive engines.[citation needed]
In February 2015, Assemblyman Hevesi was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Social Services.[13]