Nassau County Legislator Siela Bynoe (D-Westbury) announced on Facebook Tuesday that she will run in the 4th Congressional District.

“I’m proud to announce I’m running for Congress to represent the values, hopes and dreams of the extraordinary people of Nassau County’s CD-4,” Bynoe said. “Please join me in this grassroots campaign to make sure our community has the representation in Congress we deserve.”

The 4th Congressional District comprises central and southern Nassau County, including Floral Park, Garden City, Hempstead, Mineola, Carle Place, New Hyde Park and Westbury. Under newly drawn redistricting maps, it also takes in the villages of East Williston, Williston Park, Lake Success and some unincorporated parts of the Town of North Hempstead.

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.

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 Democratic legislator announced her candidacy less than a week after U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City) said she would not run for re-election.

Rice, who was first elected to Congress in 2014 and is in the midst of her fourth term, said in a tweet that elected officials “must give all we have and then know when it is time to allow others to serve.”

“Though I will not be running for re-election to Congress this year, I will remain focused on protecting our democracy and serving my constituents throughout the rest of my term,” Rice continued.

With Rice deciding not to run for re-election, she becomes the 30th Democratic member of Congress to bow out of the fall elections, including U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove), who represents the 3rd Congressional District on the North Shore and is running for governor.