Former CNN anchor Jon Avron announces congressional campaign

The Democratic nomination race to challenge U.S. Rep. Nick Larota in New York’s 1st Congressional District became even more crowded Wednesday with the announcement of Sag Harbor-based author, columnist and former CNN anchor John Abron as a candidate. Ta.

Avlon will be the seventh Democratic nominee in the race to decide the House majority. He joins 2020 Democratic candidate Nancy Goroff. former state senator James Gaughran; Craig Herskowitz of Northport was a New York City judge before starting his campaign. Kyle Hill of Port Jefferson, a former senior legislative aide at the Capitol, and two lesser-known candidates, Andy DeCoco and St. Germaine Endery.

In announcing his candidacy, Avlon took aim at presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Trump has been indicted in four ongoing criminal cases and is seeking his third and second term as president. “I believe the United States is the greatest democracy the world has ever known,” Avlon said in a video statement. “But now our democracy is at risk. 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 That’s why I’m running for Congress in New York’s 1st District. The crisis is too great for the country and community I love, and he seems unwilling to defeat Donald Trump, protect democracy, and solve it. It’s no longer a question of building the broadest possible coalition to take back the House of Representatives from the MAGA minions.”

Avron, 51, previously served as an analyst and anchor for CNN. He was editor-in-chief and managing director of The Daily Beast from 2013 to 2018, during which time the paper was on a blacklist of media outlets barred from attending Trump’s campaign rallies. He volunteered on former President Bill Clinton’s campaign, worked at New York City Hall, and served as chief speechwriter for former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Mr. Avlon is a columnist and associate editor for the New York Sun, author of “The Independent State: How Centrists Can Change American Politics,” “Wingnuts: The Mad Fringe Is Hijacking America,” and “The Independent State: How Centrists Can Change American Politics.” He is the author of “Washington’s Farewell: The Founding of the Nation.” He is the author of “A Father’s Warning to Future Generations,” “Lincoln and the Fight for Peace,” and contributed to his anthology “The Fight for Freedom: Defending Democracy in the Age of Trump.”

“We need to rebuild the middle class, protect women’s reproductive rights, invest in infrastructure, and mitigate climate change, all while blocking bipartisan policies and other things Trump wants to do. We need to protect our democracy from MAGA stooges like Donald Trump and Nick LaRota who will do anything to secure a border security agreement,” Avlon said. “This district needs real leadership, not more partisanship. I’m committed to working hard and speaking to voters across Suffolk County about the issues we all care about. .”

In what some experts have framed as a possible foreshadowing of the Nov. 5 general election, Democratic candidate Tom Tom・Mr. Suozzi defeated Republican candidate Maji Pilip. A district that straddles western Long Island and parts of Queens. Mr. Santos, a Republican candidate, has been exposed as a serial liar and has been charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, false statements, falsifying records, aggravated identity theft and credit card fraud. He was expelled from the House of Commons in December. Opinion polls showed a close race, but Suozzi, who previously held the seat, won by 8 points, with 54% to Pilip’s 46%, returning the district to Democratic control.

The 1st District has been in Republican hands since former Rep. Lee Zeldin was elected in 2014, but President Biden won the district in 2020. When Mr. Suozzi takes office on February 28, the Republican Party’s slim majority has shrunk further to 219-213.

In a sign that Mr. Avlon could be a formidable challenger to Mr. LaRota, a spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee issued a statement shortly after the announcement about Mr. LaRota’s campaign. Avlon’s candidacy “adds more left-wing fuel to the already crowded dumpster fire of the Democratic primary,” Savannah Viall said. “We look forward to litigating this self-righteous liberal hack’s past so voters can see just how left-wing he and other modern-day Democrats have become. ”

The Democratic primary election will be held on June 25th.