Basil Smikle is an American political strategist, university professor, author, and television commentator who served as the Executive Director of the New York State Democratic Party. He is widely recognised for his appearances as a political analyst on MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) and CNN, his senior advisory role to Hillary Rodham Clinton, and his academic work at Columbia University. The Bronx-born expert remains one of the most respected Black voices in American political commentary today.
Basil Smikle Profile summary
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Basil Anthony Smikle Jr. |
| Nickname | Basil |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 12 January 1972 |
| Age | 54 years old (as of June 2026) |
| Place of birth | The Bronx, New York City, United States |
| Current residence | New York, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-Jamaican-American |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
| Religion | Christian |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (approximately 187 cm) |
| Weight | Around 211 lbs (96 kg) |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Ex-spouse | Marjorie Fields Harris |
| Children | None publicly known |
| Father | Retired textile worker |
| Mother | Public school special education teacher |
| High school | Mount Saint Michael Academy, Bronx |
| Alma mater | Cornell University, Columbia University |
| Profession | Political strategist, professor, media analyst |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Net worth | $1–2 million (estimated) |
| Social media | Instagram, LinkedIn |
Who is Basil Smikle?
Basil Anthony Smikle Jr. is a Bronx-raised political strategist who has spent three decades shaping Democratic politics in New York State.
He currently works as a Professor of Practice at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies. The seasoned analyst also runs his own consulting firm, Basil Smikle & Associates, and provides regular on-air commentary across major American news networks.
Born to Jamaican immigrant parents, he has built his reputation around education equity, electoral politics, urban policy, and civic engagement.
His career bridges three worlds — academia, government, and broadcast media — making him a familiar name in New York political circles.
How old is Basil Smikle? Age and birthday
Basil Smikle is 54 years old as of June 2026. He was born on 12 January 1972 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
His zodiac sign is Capricorn, a sign often linked to discipline, ambition, and structured thinking — traits that match his academic and political path.
Where is Basil Smikle from? Family background
The political analyst was born and raised in the Bronx by working-class Jamaican immigrants. His father is a retired textile worker, while his mother spent decades teaching special education in New York public schools.
Their dedication to service and learning shaped his early commitment to education policy and community advocacy.
He has often credited his parents as his greatest inspiration in interviews and lectures. Their Caribbean roots also give him African-Jamaican-American heritage, which he frequently references in his media commentary.
Is Basil Smikle married? Wife and dating history
Basil Smikle is currently single. He was previously married to Marjorie Fields Harris, who served as the Executive Director of Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network.
The couple met in January 2000 during Hillary Clinton’s Senate campaign, when Basil attended a coordination meeting at Sharpton’s Harlem office.
They became engaged within two months of their first date and married on 26 May 2001 at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan. The union ended in divorce in September 2003. He has remained notably private about his personal life since then. He has no publicly confirmed children.
Education: Where did Basil Smikle study?
Basil attended Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx, where he received his high school diploma in 1989.
He then enrolled at Cornell University, graduating in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Labor Relations, with a concentration in Labor Law.
He pursued his graduate studies at Columbia University, earning a Master of Public Administration in Public Administration and Urban Policy from the School of International and Public Affairs.
He later returned to Columbia’s Teachers College and earned his PhD in Politics and Education, which is the credential behind his “Dr. Smikle” title.
Basil Smikle’s height, weight and body measurements
Basil Smikle stands approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall, which is around 187 centimetres. His weight is estimated at about 211 lbs (96 kg).
He has a tall, broad build, with short black hair and dark brown eyes. His on-air presence has helped make him one of the more recognisable Black political analysts on cable news.
Career: How Basil Smikle became a political force
Early career and government service
Basil began his political career in the mid-1990s as a Special Assistant for Budget and Policy under Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer.
By the age of 22, he was working as a benefits manager at the National Benefit Fund, supporting more than 200,000 Local 1199 union members.
He joined Hillary Rodham Clinton’s first Senate campaign in 2000 as a volunteer on her advance team. After her victory, he was hired as Deputy State Director and senior aide, advising the senator on statewide policy. Mrs. Clinton publicly called him “a key advisor and tremendous public servant”.
New York State Democratic Party leadership
In 2015, Governor Andrew Cuomo and former Governor David Paterson appointed Basil as the Executive Director of the New York State Democratic Party.
The position made him the second-highest ranking Democrat in the state. He held the role until 2017 and was credited with helping Democrats flip county legislatures and lay the groundwork for taking full control of the State Senate in 2018.
Academia and consulting
He has taught at Teachers College, Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs, and CUNY’s School of Labor and Urban Studies.
In 2019, Hunter College appointed him Director of the Public Policy Program at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute. In 2021, he managed Ray McGuire’s New York City mayoral campaign.
He currently serves as Professor of Practice and Director of the M.S. program in nonprofit management at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies.
Media work and political commentary
Basil is a regular political analyst on MS NOW (the rebranded MSNBC) and has appeared on CNN, NY1, BBC, and The Hill. His commentary covers electoral politics, urban education policy, and racial equity in American governance.
Awards and recognition
His honours include the New York Urban League Community Service Award and the Bronx Branch NAACP W.E.B. DuBois Scholar Award.
He has also received official citations from Governor Cuomo, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, and a Proclamation from the New York City Council.
What is Basil Smikle’s net worth and salary?
As of 2026, Basil Smikle’s net worth is estimated at $1–2 million, according to multiple celebrity finance trackers. His earnings come from several sources, which gives him a diversified income stream rather than dependence on a single role.
His estimated income sources include:
- Academic salary from Columbia University as Professor of Practice
- Political consulting fees through Basil Smikle & Associates
- MS NOW (MSNBC) political analyst contract
- Guest commentary fees from CNN, BBC, and other networks
- Public speaking and lecture engagements
- Board memberships and trusteeships
University professors at Columbia in similar roles typically earn between $150,000 and $250,000 annually, while cable news contributors often receive five- to six-figure annual retainers depending on appearance frequency.
Fast facts about Basil Smikle
- He earned his PhD from Columbia’s Teachers College in Politics and Education.
- He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
- He is also affiliated with Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons and 100 Black Men of New York.
- He helped start the Eagle Academy in the Bronx, which has expanded to six schools across New York and New Jersey.
- He serves as a Trustee of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library.
- The Los Angeles Times once described him as part of “Harlem’s New Political Elite”.
- Senator Cory Booker has called him a “much sought-after consultant”.
- He was raised by Jamaican immigrant parents in the Bronx.
- He worked as a benefits manager for the National Benefit Fund at just 22 years old.
- He runs his own consulting firm, Basil Smikle & Associates.
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Wrapping up
Basil Smikle’s story reflects how academic discipline, public service, and media savvy can combine into one of the most respected careers in American political commentary.
From the Bronx classrooms where his mother taught to Columbia University lecture halls and MS NOW studios, his path continues to inspire young Black professionals across the United States.
At 54, he remains a leading voice on Democratic strategy, civic engagement, and education policy in 2026.
References
- Columbia SPS. “Basil Smikle Jr., Ph.D.”
- Columbia SIPA. “Basil Smikle Faculty Profile”
- The New York Times. “WEDDINGS: VOWS; Marjorie Harris and Basil Smikle Jr.”
- Hunter College. “Basil Smikle Named New Director of Public Policy Program at Roosevelt House”
- Aspen Institute. “Basil Smikle”
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