A news anchor runs for Congress
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With help from Shawn Ness
New Window
Former CNN host John Avlon is running for Congress in the first Congressional district. He wants to oust Rep. Nick LaLota.
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.”
Of course, TV pundits have a mixed record running — CNBC’s Michelle Caruso-Cabrera didn’t get close in her 2020 primary against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for example — and there are skeptics.
“Nobody knows John
