Long Island Representative Laura Gillen is encountering a primary challenge within the Democratic Party, spurred by liberal discontent over her decision to support continued federal immigration enforcement funding.
Taylor Darling, a former state Assemblywoman, has announced her candidacy in a bid to unseat the first-term congresswoman, who has been criticized by the progressive wing of her party for her recent vote endorsing the Department of Homeland Security.
“Voters are looking for a representative who truly stands up for and serves their interests—and I am that candidate,” Darling stated in a recent interview. “Gillen fails to represent our community’s values. People are dissatisfied with her leadership.”
Darling, who is Black and married to a Haitian man, seeks to harness local outrage against Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This comes amid nationwide demonstrations against the Trump administration’s increased immigration raids and allegations of excessive force by agents.
Gillen cast her vote supporting DHS funding on January 22, a decision that coincided with two fatal shootings of protesters by ICE agents in Minneapolis, events that have ignited widespread national disapproval.
Within Democratic circles, Darling is being viewed as a formidable contender to Gillen’s incumbency.
“This is a real race,” one insider told The Post.
The 4th Congressional District on Long Island’s South Shore takes in Nassau County’s largest minority and immigrant communities from Elmont on the Queens border to Hempstead and Freeport.
About half of the district’s constituent are non-white — 23% Hispanic, 17% black/African-American/Afro-Caribbean and 8% Asian. The ICE issue could fuel which candidate Dem voters in the district will support come primary time.
Darling made headlines in 2020, when she revealed she had donated her eggs at a fertility clinic five times to help other couples have kids.
Despite the challenge, Gillen, a former Hempstead town supervisor, maintains favorite status with much of the Democratic Party establishment behind her, including Nassau County Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs.
“This is not a time for opportunism and ambition to get in the way of electing Hakeem Jeffries [the House Democratic Minority leader] as the next House speaker,” said Jacobs, who is also the state Democratic Party chairman.
“The bottom line is we have to win the majority in the House. We have to keep our eye on the ball. District 4 is a moderate seat. Laura Gillen is the candidate to win the seat.”
Jacobs even delivered a warning to Darling, saying she has made statements on social media that will come back to haunt her and would be fodder for Republicans if she were to become the Democratic nominee in the general election.
The incumbent’s campaign announced endorsements Monday from black elected officials in the district, including Hempstead Village Mayor Waylyn Hobbs, Jr.
Darling gave up her Assembly seat in 2024 to run for the state Senate, losing in the primary to Siela Bynoe.
While the Democrats are infighting, the Nassau County Republican Party has yet to select a candidate for the seat.
Former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, now the inspector general of the US Labor Department, has to decide in the next few days whether to seek a rubber match against Gillen.
He defeated Gillen in a close race in 2022, but she won the rematch in a hard-fought 2024 contest.
At least two other Republicans have filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission declaring intentions to run — Brian Miller and Air Force veteran Marvin Suber Williams.
