Darling challenged incumbent Democratic Assemblymember
Earlene Hooper in
2018. During a candidate forum, Hooper compared the race to a
plantation and claimed Darling was a tool for
White power brokers in the majority
Black district. An anonymous mailer called Darling a "
jezebel" and urged voters to "vote against fake Democrat and fake Christian Rayner [Darling]. Jesus sees your vote." She ultimately defeated Hooper in the Democratic primary with 52% of the vote.
2024 State Senate campaign Darling announced her campaign for the
6th district of the
New York State Senate in
2024 after incumbent Democrat
Kevin Thomas announced his intention to run for the
United States House of Representatives. She lost the primary to
Nassau County Legislature member
Siela Bynoe.
2026 U.S. House campaign Darling announced in February 2026 that she is running in
the 2026 midterm elections for U.S. House, challenging incumbent representative
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. ==Personal life==