Former CNN personality John Avlon wins Democratic primary in New York

Former CNN anchor John Avlon has won the Democratic nomination for the seat representing New York’s 1st Congressional District, Decision Desk HQ projects. 

Avlon defeated Nancy Goroff, a professor emeritus of chemistry at Stony Brook University, to win the nomination to face Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.). Goroff was the Democratic nominee for the seat in 2020, losing to then-Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) by about 10 points. 

Democrats will target the district in November as part of the party’s attempt to retake a majority in the House. 

Avlon had the support of a few prominent New York Democrats, including Reps. Tom Suozzi, Gregory Meeks and Dan Goldman. 

But Avlon may still have an uphill battle to win the seat, as the nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the race as “likely Republican.”