The former CNN anchor won the Democratic primary for New York’s 1st Congressional District and is expected to face off in a highly-anticipated battle with New York Rep. Nick LaLota in November.
John Avlon, a former speechwriter for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, is running against former Stony Brook University professor Nancy Goroff, who ran unsuccessfully in the same district in 2020.
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Rep. Nick LaRota leaves a House Republican Conference meeting to discuss the impeachment investigation of President Joe Biden, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, on Capitol Hill. (Getty Images)
Avlon received the endorsement of New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and New York Democratic Reps. Dan Goldman and Tom Suozzi.
“We need to build the broadest possible coalition to defeat Donald Trump, protect our democracy, and take back the House of Representatives from his radical MAGA minions,” Avlon’s website states.
WATCH: This House primary is the most expensive in congressional history
Rep. Nick LaRota leaves a House Republican Conference meeting to discuss the impeachment investigation of President Joe Biden, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, on Capitol Hill. (Getty Images)
While the seat is somewhat safer than other Republican seats in the New York metropolitan area, it is still likely to be crucial in determining which party controls the congressional district next year.
LaLota is one of 17 Republicans representing districts won by President Biden in 2020.
See the latest Fox News coverage of the primary campaign here
John Avlon and Nancy Goroff faced off in the Democratic primary for New York’s 1st Congressional District. (Getty Images)
The first-term congressman won the seat after his predecessor, former New York Assemblyman Lee Zeldin, retired to run for governor of New York. Zeldin flipped the seat to Republicans in 2014, defeating incumbent New York Assemblyman Tim Bishop.
Like Zeldin, LaLota aligned himself with Trump, becoming one of the first swing-seat Republicans to support the former president’s reelection.
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The seat was held by former Congressman Lee Zeldin. (Getty Images)
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Trump has also endorsed LaLota, writing on Truth Social earlier this month, “Nick is fighting hard for economic growth, lowering inflation, ensuring a great military and police, securing our borders, upholding the rule of law, and protecting our constitutional rights. I fully support Nick LaLota!”
LaRota is a Navy veteran and serves on the Armed Services, Homeland Security and Small Business committees.
