Nassau County Legislator Siela Bynoe (D-Westbury) announced that she has suspended her campaign to represent the 4th Congressional District following redistricting changes that have put the Westbury-New Cassel community in the 3rd Congressional District.
“The last several days have been filled with extensive discussion, reflection and prayer, and today, I made the difficult decision to suspend my campaign for Congress,” Bynoe said in a statement.
On May 20, newly drawn congressional maps were approved by a State Supreme Court judge.
Patrick McAllister, the acting State Supreme Court judge who approved the newly drawn maps, previously rejected maps drawn up by Democratic officials, saying they were “unconstitutionally drawn with political bias.”
“Since launching the campaign on Feb. 22nd, I have been truly humbled by the support that we gained for our people-driven vision for the future of the 4th Congressional District – a philosophy that had us on track for victory in the primary and general elections,” Bynoe said. “However, in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 21st, we were incredibly disheartened to learn that the Westbury-New Cassel community has been carved out of the 4th Congressional District, placing my family home within the 3rd Congressional District.”
Changes to the 4th Congressional District include Westbury and New Cassel moving over into the 3rd, while Floral Park, Garden City, Hempstead, Mineola and New Hyde Park remained.
The maps were submitted by a court-appointed “special master” and have been viewed as more neutral compared to ones that were rejected by a state appeals court several weeks ago.
Newly drawn congressional maps with significant changes to the state’s 3rd District were approved by a State Supreme Court judge on Friday night.
Bynoe was elected to the Legislature in February 2014 following a special election. A 40-year resident of Nassau County, Bynoe graduated from Westbury High School and received degrees from Nassau Community College, Hofstra University and C.W. Post, Long Island University.
In the first quarter of 2022, Bynoe raised $105,450, putting her in fourth place behind rivals William Staniford, former Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen and Malverne Mayor Keith Corbett.
Bynoe has served as a trustee on the Westbury Board of Education and in various housing organizations, including the Long Island Housing Partnership, the Huntington Housing Authority and the North Hempstead Housing Authority.
The crowded Democratic field to fill the seat left vacant by Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City) now includes Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages (D-Lawrence), Staniford, Gillen and Corbett.
Previous endorsements for Bynoe came from state Assembly member Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) and DNC member Hazel Dukes, among others.
“While I am tremendously disappointed by this outcome, I step aside with a grateful heart because of the trust that so many people placed in me – passion that fueled our momentum in this grassroots campaign,” Bynoe said. “To everyone who supported our campaign – thank you from the bottom of my heart. In the months ahead, let us continue our collaborative work to make Nassau County and our nation a beacon of opportunity and equality for all.”
