# Taylor Darling > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Taylor_Darling > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Taylor_Darling.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Darling > Source revision: 1347251927 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Taylor Darling** (née **Raynor**) is an American psychologist and politician who served in the [New York State Assembly](/source/New_York_State_Assembly) representing the [18th District](/source/New_York's_18th_State_Assembly_district) from 2019 to 2024. A [Democrat](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)), she represents part of [Nassau County](/source/Nassau_County,_New_York). ## Early life and education Darling was born in [Brooklyn](/source/Brooklyn) to Raulston and Towana Bertley. Her father was of [British](/source/United_Kingdom), [Nigerian](/source/Nigerian), and [Trinidadian](/source/Trinidadian) descent and a convert to [Judaism](/source/Judaism).[1] She graduated from [Spelman College](/source/Spelman_College) with a [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) in [psychology](/source/Psychology) and [Hofstra University](/source/Hofstra_University) with a [Master of Arts](/source/Master_of_Arts) in [industrial/organizational psychology](/source/Industrial/organizational_psychology).[2] ## Political career Darling challenged incumbent Democratic Assemblymember [Earlene Hooper](/source/Earlene_Hooper) in [2018](/source/2018_New_York_State_Assembly_election). During a candidate forum, Hooper compared the race to a [plantation](/source/Plantation) and claimed Darling was a tool for [White](/source/White_Americans) [power brokers](/source/Power_broker) in the majority [Black](/source/Black_American) district.[3] An anonymous mailer called Darling a "[jezebel](/source/Jezebel)" and urged voters to "vote against fake Democrat and fake Christian Rayner [Darling]. Jesus sees your vote."[4] She ultimately defeated Hooper in the Democratic primary with 52% of the vote.[5] ### 2024 State Senate campaign Darling announced her campaign for the [6th district](/source/New_York's_6th_State_Senate_district) of the [New York State Senate](/source/New_York_State_Senate) in [2024](/source/2024_New_York_State_Senate_election) after incumbent Democrat [Kevin Thomas](/source/Kevin_Thomas_(politician)) announced his intention to run for the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives).[6] She lost the primary to [Nassau County Legislature](/source/Nassau_County_Legislature) member [Siela Bynoe](/source/Siela_Bynoe).[7] ### 2026 U.S. House campaign Darling announced in February 2026 that she is running in [the 2026 midterm elections](/source/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_New_York) for U.S. House, challenging incumbent representative [Laura Gillen](/source/Laura_Gillen) in the Democratic primary. She said that she was recruited to run after Gillen voted in January to increase funding for the [United States Department of Homeland Security](/source/United_States_Department_of_Homeland_Security).[8] ## Personal life Darling is married to Reginald Rene and is a [non-denominational Christian](/source/Non-denominational_Christian). She has three children: Lorde-Khai, Ford-Kate, and Monroe-Day.[1] ## References 1. Gronich, Marc (June 29, 2022). ["Christian Assemblywoman Ponders Jewish Conversion"](https://www.jewishpress.com/sections/features/christian-assemblywoman-ponders-jewish-conversion/2022/06/29/). *[The Jewish Press](/source/The_Jewish_Press)*. Retrieved June 18, 2024. 1. Costello, Alex (October 25, 2022). ["Candidate Profile: Taylor Darling Running For Assembly District 18"](https://patch.com/new-york/gardencity/candidate-profile-taylor-darling-assembly-district-18). *[Patch](/source/Patch_Media)*. Retrieved June 18, 2024. 1. Campanile, Carl (July 30, 2018). ["Long Island pol invokes 'plantation' politics in racially-charged rant"](https://nypost.com/2018/07/30/long-island-pol-invokes-plantation-politics-in-racially-charged-rant/). *[New York Post](/source/New_York_Post)*. Retrieved June 18, 2024. 1. ["Assembly candidate says anonymous mailers are 'dirty politics'"](https://longisland.news12.com/assembly-candidate-says-anonymous-mailers-are-dirty-politics-39071347). *[News 12 Networks](/source/News_12_Networks)*. September 12, 2018. Retrieved June 19, 2024. 1. Bolger, Timothy (September 13, 2018). ["Newcomer Raynor Declares Victory Over Deputy Speaker Hooper"](https://www.longislandpress.com/2018/09/13/newcomer-raynor-declares-victory-over-deputy-speaker-hooper/). *[Long Island Press](/source/Long_Island_Press)*. Retrieved June 18, 2024. 1. Lewis, Rebecca & Ostreicher, Skye (September 27, 2023). ["Taylor Darling announces state Senate bid"](https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2023/09/taylor-darling-announces-state-senate-bid/390702/). *[City & State](/source/City_%26_State)*. Retrieved June 18, 2024. 1. Malaszczyk, Michael (June 26, 2024). ["Nassau County Primary Election Results: Siela Bynoe Defeats Taylor Darling In Primary To Replace Kevin Thomas"](https://www.longislandpress.com/2024/06/26/nassau-primary-results-2024/). *[Long Island Press](/source/Long_Island_Press)*. Retrieved March 17, 2026. 1. Coltin, Jeff (February 15, 2026). ["Former Assembly member plans to primary Rep. Laura Gillen over ICE funding vote"](https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/02/former-assembly-member-plans-primary-rep-laura-gillen-over-ice-funding-vote/411448/). *City & State*. Retrieved March 17, 2026. ## External links - [Legislative website](https://nyassembly.gov/mem/Taylor-Darling) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Taylor Darling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Darling) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Darling?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.