Former CNN anchor John Abron is running for Long Island House

politics

by Victor Nava

Former CNN anchor John Avron on Wednesday launched his campaign against U.S. Rep. Nick Larota (R-NY) in New York’s 1st Congressional District.

Mr. Avlon, 51, is running as a Democrat in a district that includes parts of Suffolk County and eastern Long Island, once held by Republican Lee Zeldin.

The announcement came two weeks after the veteran reporter left CNN, where he worked as an anchor and political analyst. He previously served as editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast and as a speechwriter for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

“I believe the United States is the greatest democracy the world has ever known. And now our democracy is at risk,” Avlon posted on X said in a video posted.

“This election is not a drill. It’s up to all of us to step up and come off the sidelines. And that’s why I’m running for Congress in New York’s First District,” he said. continued.

“Too much is at stake for this country and the communities I love,” he added. “We need to build the broadest possible coalition to defeat Donald Trump, protect our democracy, and take back the House from his MAGA minions who don’t even seem interested in solving problems.”

Avlon promised her campaign would focus on rebuilding the middle class, investing in infrastructure, protecting access to abortion and combating climate change.

“Democrats cannot afford to lose this battle,” he added.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates New York’s 1st Congressional District in 2024 as “likely Republican,” with Avlon facing several Democratic opponents in the June 25 primary. He will be challenged by his faction.

Larota won the House seat in 2022 by a 10-point margin.

The first-term lawmaker’s campaign rejected Avron’s objections.

“John Avron is a Manhattan elitist with no attachment to Long Island other than his summer home in the Hamptons,” Larota’s spokesman Will Kiley said in a statement.

“Abron knows nothing about Suffolk County other than the croquet games in Sag Harbor and the summer cocktail parties in Bridgehampton,” he added.

“Avlon learned that NY-1 has a history of rejecting out-of-state and Manhattan elites on both sides of the aisle who parachute into the district to buy seats.” You may need to burn your friend’s money’ meetings. “

Kiley called LaRota “the common-sense conservative voice that Long Island needs at this critical time in our nation’s history.”