Former Assemb. Taylor Darling mounts primary challenge to Rep. Laura Gillen

WASHINGTON — Former state Assemb. Taylor Darling, of Hempstead, is the latest Democrat looking to challenge Rep. Laura Gillen in a primary race for the 4th Congressional District seat.

Darling, 42, in a phone interview Monday told Newsday she was urged to run by residents in the district angry over Gillen’s vote last month to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees agencies including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Gillen (D-Rockville Centre) and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) are among the seven Democrats who crossed party lines on Jan. 22 to vote for the department's spending bill.

Darling, who first announced her intent to run this past weekend in an interview with the outlet City & State, told Newsday there are district residents who continue to live in fear over the presence of ICE agents in Nassau County.

"I’m here to protect them," Darling said. "We have people who are refusing to go and be treated at Nassau University Medical Center ... We have [school] attendance records that have absolutely been impacted by the presence of ICE here ... We also have individuals who are afraid to go to work."

Gillen has drawn other primary challengers in the district — Kiana Bierria-Anderson, Gian Jones and Nicholas Jude Sciretta have all filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run.

Gillen’s campaign in a statement touted her endorsement from local and national figures, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn) and one she announced Monday from state Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs. “Congresswoman Gillen has the backing of national and local leaders in her re-election bid and is the only Democratic candidate who can win this seat in November,” her campaign said in a statement.

Asked about Gillen's endorsements, Darling, who served in the Assembly from 2019 to 2024, said, "This is going to be a battle between having the leaders that people pick for us, and having the leaders that we pick for ourselves who do the work."

Darling ran for State Senate in 2024, but she lost the Democratic primary to former Nassau Legis. Siela Bynoe (D-Westbury). Darling, who attended Uniondale public schools and graduated with degrees from Spelman College in Atlanta and Hofstra University, said she has been working as a consultant to nonprofit organizations.

Nassau Republicans have yet to officially endorse a candidate for the 4th District, but Nassau GOP chairman Joe Cairo has been encouraging former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-Island Park) to enter the race.

By Laura Figueroa Hernandez

laura.figueroa@newsday.com@Laura_Figueroa

Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.