A former CNN anchorman is running for Congress — guess what party.
John Avlon announced Wednesday that he will run for the Democratic nomination in New York’s 1st Congressional District, citing the threat to democracy. And the need to oppose Donald Trump.
The former journalist introduced the clip by writing on X that “Long Island families deserve someone who fights for their values, not Trump’s.”
In the clip itself, Mr. Avlon claimed that “right now, our democracy’s in danger. This election is not a drill.”
Besides his CNN post, which he left earlier this month, Mr. Avlon had been editor in chief of the Daily Beast. He also helped co-found the group No Labels, though he used plenty of labels in his opening video statement.
“We need to build the broadest possible coalition to defeat Donald Trump, defend our democracy and win back the House from his MAGA minions,” he said.
Several Democrats already had entered the primary, including former state Sen. Jim Gaughran and Nancy Goroff, the Democrats’ 2020 nominee in the district.
The district, which covers the eastern part of Long Island, is currently represented by first-term Rep. Nick LaLota, a Republican.
“We look forward to litigating this smug, liberal hack’s past,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Savannah Viar said in a Wednesday statement.