JOHN IN THE MEDIA
INTERVIEW: CNN Newsroom 3/30/24
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Election 2024: Huntington Democrats Back Avlon; Santos Drops Out - Huntington Now 4/23/24
Huntington Democrats have endorsed John Avlon as their candidate to go up against US Rep. Nick LaLota in the 1st Congressional District.
Huntington Town Democratic Committee Vice Chair Jill Kaufman said: “We’re backing John because he’s the best candidate to take this seat back and help create a Democratic majority. The stakes in this election are too high, and by getting behind a Democrat like John, we are putting ourselves in the best position to win in the fall and then deliver on our Democratic priorities.”
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Avlon Draws More Support - The East Hampton Star 4/11/23
In his bid for the Democratic nomination for New York’s First Congressional District, John Avlon of Sag Harbor this week picked up the endorsement of the New York State Democratic Committee chairman, Jay Jacobs, and of all five members of the East Hampton Town Board.
The town board members — Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, Councilwoman Cate Rogers, and Councilmen David Lys, Ian Calder-Piedmonte, and Tom Flight — announced their endorsement in a joint statement on Monday. “We need his strong working knowledge of local issues and we need his ability to work across party lines to get things done,” the statement read. “That’s because John embodies what each of us wants in our elected officials — he’s thoughtful, he’s open-minded, he’s empathetic, and he is a strong communicator.”
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: John Avlon: Bridging Divides to Shape a United Future for NY’s First - The National Herald 4/5/24
In a passionate appeal to the Greek-American community and broader electorate of New York’s First Congressional District, John Avlon presents his candidacy as a pivotal move to safeguard democracy and address the pressing challenges facing his constituents. Avlon, a native New Yorker and proud grandson of Greek immigrants, brings a rich blend of experience and a profound sense of duty to his congressional run. Drawing inspiration from his family’s journey to America, he embodies a deep-seated appreciation for the nation’s democratic values and the imperative of civic engagement.
Avlon’s background as a presidential historian, author, and seasoned commentator has fortified his resolve to combat the extreme polarization and “unhinged extremism” corroding American politics. His tenure on platforms such as CNN and appearances on shows like “Real Time with Bill Maher” and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” have showcased his commitment to fostering reasoned discourse and highlighting the importance of unity in times of division. Through his work, Avlon has consistently championed the search for common ground and pragmatic solutions to national issues, a stance that resonates deeply with voters seeking a reprieve from the current political tumult.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Letter From Sag Harbor: Can John Avlon Ride His Centrism From CNN to Congress? - Vanity Fair 4/1/24
John Avlon had just returned from a campaign event at the other end of Long Island when he greeted me at the door of his Sag Harbor home on a recent Friday afternoon. It’s in a semi-secluded enclave that’s like a combination of a woodsy suburb and a New England fishing village, with a smattering of modern fancy homes because, well, obviously. Avlon’s place is not one of these, but a modest domicile that looks like it could belong to a nice elderly couple. (In fact it did previously belong to a nice elderly couple, God rest their souls.)
Sag Harbor is part of New York’s First Congressional District, which stretches all the way from Huntington to Montauk, with a wide array of constituents who range from the ultra-wealthy to the working class. On February 21, Avlon announced he had entered the race to flip the district’s Republican-held swing seat, which explained his resignation a couple weeks earlier from CNN, where he’d been an anchor and political analyst for years.
INTERVIEW: PIX11 NEWS 3/31/24
INTERVIEW: Dan’s Talks with Dan Rattiner 3/26/24
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Avlon Says the District Is Winnable - The East Hampton Star 3/21/24
Three weeks after announcing his candidacy to represent New York’s First Congressional District, the author, columnist, and former CNN anchor John Avlon formally launched his campaign at the World War II memorial in Sag Harbor’s Marine Park on Saturday, promising supporters that the race to unseat Representative Nick LaLota is winnable.
Since announcing his candidacy, Mr. Avlon has shaken up the Democratic Party primary campaign. Two candidates seeking the party’s nomination quickly withdrew from the race, and several Democratic officials and organizations have thrown their support to Mr. Avlon, including the East Hampton and Southampton Town Democratic Committees.
INTERVIEW: "I felt that there is a real chance to flip a seat from a first term Republican." - The Hollywood Reporter 3/14/24
Why did you make the decision to leave journalism and run for office?
I didn’t want to look at my kids and tell them I could’ve done more when it mattered most. I’m the grandson of immigrants. I’m a patriotic guy and I’m deeply concerned about the stakes of this race for our country and my community. We’ve never had a presidential nominee of a major party run on an authoritarian platform praising dictators. I didn’t feel that simply offering opinions on cable news was enough. I love my job and my colleagues at CNN, and they are doing important work, but I felt that there is a real chance to flip a seat from a first term Republican, sort of Trump hugger/Trump flunkey, who is far too right for the district. But that requires a candidacy that can excite people and a candidate who can not only inspire the base but win over independent voters and anti-Trump Republicans and I looked at it and said “maybe that’s something I can do that’s different from many of my colleagues.”
INTERVIEW: News 12 Long Island Politics & Power 3/10/24
EDITORIAL: Democrats should rally behind Avlon candidacy - The Smithtown News 3/7/24
Some formidable Democrats were interested in the challenge, but in a county now dominated by Republicans, it had begun to appear that Republican Rep. LaLota was invincible on the path to re-election to a second term. That all changed when John Avlon announced his candidacy last week.
A sign that Mr. Avlon is a game changer in the race came last week when James Gaughran, a former state senator, county legislator and town councilman, withdrew from the primary for the Democratic nomination and endorsed Mr. Avlon. There were few people in Suffolk County better able to gauge the political landscape than Mr. Gaughran, who has been a Democratic campaign worker for most of the last six decades—a long time.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Run, John, Run - The Easthampton Star 3/7/24
The Times hasn’t mentioned it much. They’ve been too busy telling us Biden’s too old while Trump’s as vigorous as he is inevitable. So it should be said here that John Avlon’s entry into politics is a rare boon, an unexpected boost, more than encouraging.
INTERVIEW: Morning Joe 3/6/24
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: John Avlon Targets New York Republicans in US House Campaign: ‘They’re Scared’ - The Guardian 2/25/24
To John Avlon’s knowledge, “the National Republican Congressional Committee didn’t feel compelled to weigh in when any of the other candidates in the Democratic primary got in the race. But they did for me. And I think that’s because they’re scared.” (read more)
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: A news anchor runs for Congress - Politico New York Playbook PM 2/21/24
Fresh off his job as a CNN journalist, John Avlon is hoping to bring star power to the sleepy 1st Congressional District primary on the east end of Long Island — a swing seat now held by first-term Republican Rep. Nick LaLota.
“This fight is too important for Democrats to lose,” Avlon said in an interview with Playbook Wednesday, after launching his campaign. “This seat is winnable, with the right kind of candidate, who can bring energy and inspire the base and also reach out and win over independent voters, as Tom Suozzi did in his special.”
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Former CNN anchor John Avlon announces run for Congress as a Democrat - Axios 2/21/24
Driving the news: "Right now, our democracy's in danger," Avlon said in a video posted to social media Wednesday morning.
"This election is not a drill. It's up to all of us to step up and get off the sidelines," he added.
Avlon took aim at former President Trump, as well as "his MAGA minions, who don't even seem interested in solving problems anymore."
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: John Avlon, Former CNN Anchor, Announces Congressional Campaign - The East Hampton Star 2/21/24
In announcing his candidacy, Mr. Avlon took aim at Donald Trump, the presumed Republican nominee for president, who is seeking his second presidency in his third presidential campaign, this time while facing charges in four ongoing criminal cases. "I believe the United States is the greatest democracy the world has ever known," Mr. Avlon said in a video statement.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Former CNN Anchor John Avlon announces Bid for Congress - The Hill 2/21/24
“We need to build the broadest possible coalition to defeat Donald Trump, defend our democracy and win back the House from his MAGA minions who don’t even seem interested in solving problems anymore,” [John Avlon] added.
Avlon also vowed to focus on rebuilding the middle class, investing in infrastructure, protecting women’s reproductive rights and combatting climate change.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Former CNN anchor John Avlon launches campaign in New York’s 1st Congressional District - News 12 New York 2/21/24
New candidate John Avlon has officially announced his bid for the Democratic primary in New York’s 1st Congressional District.
The former CNN anchor made his announcement on social media. In the video, he says he wants to flip the seat on the East End.
The Sag Harbor resident says as a member of Congress he would focus on strengthening Long Island's middle class, invest in local infrastructure and protect women's reproductive rights.
CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Former CNN Commentator John Avlon Running for New York Congressional Seat - Spectrum News 1 2/21/24
Avlon on Wednesday launched his bid to represent New York 1st Congressional District, where he will be among several Democrats seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Nick LaLota.
Among the issues Avlon said he would try to address in Congress are rebuilding the middle class, investing in infrastructure, protecting women’s reproductive freedoms and combatting climate change.
COLUMN: It’s Precisely the Wrong Time to Tune Out the News and Politics - CNN 2/8/24
Rather than turning away from civic engagement, now is the time to lean in. This isn’t an election like any other. Democracies depend on active citizens engaging in political debates in good faith. They depend on elevating facts over hyper-partisan fiction. They depend on citizens getting in the arena, rather than retreating from it, especially during hard times.
We need to combat this growing sense of apathy. We meet the challenges of our time with confidence.
COLUMN: Are You Better Off Than You Were Three Years Ago? - CNN 1/5/24
The US unemployment rate has been below 4% for two years — that’s the first time it’s happened since the 1960s. Black and Hispanic unemployment rates have seen historic lows. Hourly wage growth outpaced inflation last year, and union workers saw major raises.
INTERVIEW: Real Time With Bill Maher Overtime 12/8/23
COLUMN: Why Speaker Johnson Says America is not a Democracy - CNN 10/31/23
It might surprise you to learn that the new speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, has said, ”we don’t live in a democracy.”
COLUMN: Why a Third-Party 2024 Presidential Ticket Is a Dangerous Gamble - CNN 7/21/23
The Electoral College mathematics of presidential elections suggest that a key way a figure like Trump — who remains deeply unpopular with the American people at large — could be reelected is if a third-party candidate plays spoiler. Even Republican senators are now warning that a No Labels ticket led by Manchin would hurt Biden and help Trump. That is an extraordinarily reckless risk at this particular time in our history."
INTERVIEW: Lincoln and the Fight for Peace – JFK Library 5/25/23
VIDEO: Baptist Leader Speaks Out: 'Christian nationalism is not Christianity' - CNN 9/7/22
VIDEO: The Surprising History of Gun Laws in America - CNN 6/3/22
INTERVIEW: Lincoln and the Fight for Peace – The Late Show With Colbert 2/22/22
VIDEO: Americans Are Not As Divided As They’re Told- CNN 9/13/21
VIDEO: Obamacare Has Survived Over 2,000 Attempts To Kill It - CNN 6/18/21
ESSAY: The Unum Test - 4/13/21
To emerge stronger and wiser from this severe civic stress test, we need to put country over party. We need to address the deeper causes of our divisions while developing a unifying vision that can guide policy debates going forward.
We call it the Unum Test. Here’s how it works: put partisan blinders aside and ask yourself which policies would have the long-term effect of uniting—or further dividing—our country. The policies that pass the test won’t all come from one party or ideology. That’s precisely why it offers an off-ramp from our bitter polarized debates. The Unum Test can reunite our nation because it is rooted in principle and practicality, not partisan agendas, allowing us to make progress towards a more fair, just and prosperous nation.
INTERVIEW: We Have to Un-f**k America – Real Time With Bill Maher 4/16/19
ESSAY: The Resilient City: New York After 9/11 - 9/11/02
Three hundred and forty-one New York City firefighters. Twenty-three New York City police officers. Thirty-seven Port Authority police officers. Three court officers. Two EMS workers. Thousands of innocent civilians. Numbers alone, of course, cannot do them justice.