John Avlon Considering Run For Congress in District Trump Won
John Avlon, who announced his departure from CNN this week, is seriously considering a run for Congress, Mediaite has learned.
Avlon, who served as a speechwriter for Rudy Giuliani, editor in chief of The Daily Beast for half a decade and finally an anchor at CNN, was approached to run in New York’s 1st congressional district. Avlon shares a home in Sag Harbor with his wife Margaret Hoover, the host of Firing Line on PBS and a CNN contributor.
Puck’s Dylan Byers was first to report on the potential run. I’m told that while Avlon is considering the bid, no final decision has been made.
Avlon has long been an evangelist for centrism and critic of political polarization. The books he’s authored include Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics and Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America. On CNN, Avlon appeared daily and frequently made the case against rising extremism in the Trump era.
The 1st district covers the eastern end of Long Island, a politically and economically diverse community that includes the tremendously wealthy Hamptons. The district has been red since 2015, when Republican Lee Zeldin was elected to the seat. He was succeeded by Rep. Nick LaLota (R). Trump won the district in 2016, but lost it to Joe Biden in 2020.
Avlon announced his departure from CNN on air Thursday night and bid farewell to the morning show, where he was a fixture, on Friday.
“I learn from you every day and you’re just such a good human,” CNN host Poppy Harlow said in a segment bidding Avlon farewell.
What a joy you are @JohnAvlon — we’ll be cheering you on, always! pic.twitter.com/GcIX7JlpcX
— Poppy Harlow (@PoppyHarlowCNN) February 9, 2024
CORRECTION: This article has been updated to reflect the fact that Joe Biden won New York’s first congressional district in 2020 – not Donald Trump, as originally stated.
Watch above, via CNN.
