ABOUT DR. TAYLOR DARLING
Putting People First
Dr. Taylor Darling operates with a spirit of excellence that began long before she stepped into Long Island’s political spotlight. Her devoted parents - Raulston and Towana Bertley - were the blueprint for strength, hard work, knowledge, focus and strategy. Raulston was a proud veteran, while Towana – who was a member of the United Federation of Teachers - devoted her life to education, teaching in the Uniondale School District. Taylor became a nationally-ranked chess player in her youth, thanks to her father who taught her how to play this methodical game full of life lessons. She credits the game for developing her strategic approach to problem-solving, which has served her well in every endeavor she has initiated.
When she was 11 years old, Taylor’s family relocated from Brooklyn to Nassau County where she attended Turtle Hook Jr. High School and Uniondale High School, graduating early at the age of 16. The Talented and Gifted Program is what enabled her to skip a grade in middle school, and it triggered her thirst for knowledge and penchant for an educational platform that she has always touted. After high school, Taylor immediately attended her dream school - Spelman College - in Atlanta, Georgia. She spent just three years there, once again graduating early at 19 years old. Upon graduation, Taylor entered a Clinical Psychology doctoral program in Georgia. Unfortunately, three years later, Taylor’s mother became afflicted by a terminal illness, and she returned to Nassau County to care for her. During this time, she enrolled in the Industrial-Organizational Psychology master’s degree program at Hofstra University. Her academic accomplishments are a tribute to her mother and her father whom she looked up to in every aspect of her life.
Post college, Taylor entered the high stakes world of business consulting. She achieved great success helping businesses increase efficiency, productivity and profitability, all while balancing marriage and motherhood. However, when she announced her plans to run for office, she was immediately terminated from her private sector job. Rather than focus on a wrongful termination lawsuit, she instead focused on ensuring her voice was heard – not silenced – and giving every little girl behind her a place where they can be heard, too. Taylor’s goal was to re-invest in the community that invested so much into her.
In November 2018, Taylor was elected to the New York State Assembly, representing the 18th Assembly District. While there, she allocated funds for homeownership, assisting families in purchasing or keeping their homes. She also allocated funds for student transportation services, addressing a transportation desert that existed on Long Island. Her major accomplishments also include championing a high school trade program at Roosevelt High School for students to learn the construction trade, creating a pathway for future success post high school. The first such program in New York State and one of only seven in the United States, students receive a certification after they complete the program to immediately enter into the workforce for a good paying, union job. With a husband who is a CSEA (Civil Service Employees Association) member and a sister who is a NYSNA (New York State Nurses Association) member, being able to support this initiative to grow the union workforce is of paramount significance for Taylor.
Affectionately called the pothole princess, Taylor fought for long-needed repairs to hazardous roads on Long Island and secured state funds for major pothole repair. By being accessible to her constituents, she resolved thousands of constituent complaints, improving the quality of life for those she served.
Taylor served in the New York State Assembly effectively, efficiently and enthusiastically for three terms. She successfully used her strategic problem-solving skills to fight for Long Island’s fair share of funding and resources. An advocate of common-sense legislation, Taylor implemented coalition-building to get results that benefited Long Island.
While balancing family, motherhood, and a career in public service, Taylor returned to school and completed a doctorate in Educational Policy and Leadership in 2024.
In 2024, Taylor ran for an open seat in the New York State Senate, 6th Senate District. She did not win the seat. While not in office, Taylor continued with her philanthropic work, while also consulting with not-for-profit organizations to elevate and amplify their work on the ground in Nassau County.
Answering the call from the community, Taylor decided to run for U.S. Congress, CD 4 in 2026. This unprecedented, community-focused congressional campaign is about putting people first, a contrast to the current landscape in Washington that has crippled middle and working-class families with harmful policies and cuts. Her focus is to reclaim what matters: reclaim affordability, reclaim quality of life, and reclaim hope and opportunity. When these three work together, families are stable, communities are strong, and the future feels possible again.
