New York state Democratic congressional leaders have taken an unusual stance in what is expected to be a hotly contested primary, announcing their support for centrist John Avlon, a former speechwriter for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani before becoming a CNN anchor, over liberal rival Nancy Goroff in the Long Island race.
Reps. Tom Suozzi, Gregory Meeks and Dan Goldman have endorsed Avlon in the 1st Congressional District, which covers the East End and other parts of Suffolk County.
The winner of the June 25 matchup between Avlon and Goroff will face off against freshman Republican incumbent Rep. Nick La Rota.
Prior to LaLota’s election, the 1st District was represented for eight years by 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin.
The three Democrats believe Avlon’s election would improve Democrats’ chances of retaking the seat and even taking control of the House of Representatives.
“I’m supporting John Avlon in the 1st District because he’s a good Democrat and understands that we need to focus on the issues that Long Islanders care about. He believes we need to rebuild the middle class, restore the state and local tax credit, solve our border crisis, protect reproductive health rights and heal our nation’s divisions,” Suozzi said Wednesday.
“John Avlon is the best choice for the Democratic Party in the upcoming primary because, like me, he will work with anyone to get things done for the people he serves.”
Meeks’ endorsement is notable because he is also the chair of the Queens Democratic Party and has close ties to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
“The stakes couldn’t be higher for our country and our community, which is why Democrats need to unite behind the candidate who can flip this battleground district of Suffolk County from red to blue, and there’s no question that that is John Avlon. He can inspire Democrats and win the support of independents,” Meeks said.
Goldman, a former federal prosecutor who covered lower Manhattan and Brooklyn’s brownstone districts and served as lead counsel in former President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial, said of Avlon: “John is the very definition of a creative, results-oriented Democrat who can forge a better path for New Yorkers.”
State Democratic Party Chairman and Nassau County Democratic Party leader Jay Jacobs has already endorsed Avlon, who he called “the only candidate who can win the seat” on Wednesday.
Avlon, who was a columnist and editor at The Daily Beast for 10 years before moving into television in 2018, welcomed the endorsement from the three Democrats.
“We need to galvanize our base and get independent support,” Avlon said.
Goroff, 56, a professor emeritus at Stony Brook University, is re-running the seat after losing to Zeldin by 9.7 percentage points in the 2020 election.
A spokesman for Goroff’s campaign implicitly denied Avlon’s affinity for Long Island in response to the endorsement, telling The Washington Post, “It’s good that Rep. Dan Goldman is endorsing his constituent John Avlon, but this election will be decided by the voters of Suffolk County.”
