Former Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen is in.Former Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen announced on Thursday that she is running for Congress in the 4th District.
The position will be open in November after U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice, a Democrat from Garden City, announced last week that she is not seeking re-election.
Gillen, from Rockville Centre, became the first Democrat to get elected as Hempstead town supervisor in more than 100 years in 2017, but lost in her bid for re-election against current Supervisor Donald Clavin, a Republican from Garden City, in 2019.
Also running is Nassau County Legislator Siela Bynoe. Siela Bynoe, the Nassau County District 2 legislator, announced that she will run for Congress on Tuesday morning. The Democrat is seeking election in Congressional District 4. Current Congresswoman Kathleen Rice said last week she will not seek re-election.
Rice became the 30th incumbent to decide not to run again, nationwide. The Democrats hold a 10-seat majority in Congress ahead of this year's midterms.
Bynoe, 54, represents Lakeview, Westbury, New Cassel, Hicksville, Uniondale, and Rockville Centre. She was first elected in 2014 and re-elected in November on a platform that focused on economic development and affordable housing as priorities. She has lived in Westbury for more than 40 years.
Got to say, Democrats picked up two solid recruits here. I'd probably back Gillen in the primary for personal reasons, but I'd be happy with either choice.