Democrats should rally behind Avlon candidacy

Smithtown News Editorial, March 7, 2024

The race in the First Congressional District in Suffolk County has the potential to become one of the most watched in the country, the outcome which will help determine the balance of power in the House of Representatives. In his first term in office, Re. Nick LaLota (R-Amityvile) has become strong. He has a $1.3 million campaign war chest, he has galvanized the district’s conservative constituency with right-wing talking points, especially about the border and immigration, and he has taken a strong stand in favor of Israel and against antisemitism, as an overture to a left-wing constituency. And the congressional redistricting recently approved by the state legislature—though the Republicans are threatening litigation—favors Rep. LaLota, shifting Democratic-leaning areas of Huntington to the Third Congressional District represented by Democrat Thomas Souzzi. 

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. 

As soon as he announced his candidacy, Mr. Avlon assumed front-runner status in the Democratic primary race held June 25 and he has to be considered a challenger with a probabiliyt of defeating Rep. LaLota. 

To many voters in the First Congressional District, Mr. Avlon is a nationally known and trusted journalist. He worked as a political analyst and anchor for CNN, was the editor-in-chief and managing editor of the Daily Beast, an associate editor of the New York Sun, and before all that, he was the chief speech writer for New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. With an undergraduate degree from Yale University and a master’s in business administration from Columbia University Mr .Avlon is also an author of numerous historic political books. 

And he is married to PBS Firing Line host and political commentator Margaret Hoover, the great grandaughter of President Herber Hoover. They have two children and reside in Sag Harbor. 

That’s just Mr. Avlon at a glance. His life is impressive and he is still young as he makes his first foray into politics. He has a background and a public persona that make it obvious why Mr. Gaughran got out and threw his weight behind Mr. Avlon. When he announced that he was suspending his campaign Mr. Gaughran said Mr. Avon can win the race, can beat Rep. LaLota in the First Congressional District. He said though, that a divisive June 25 primary battle will make the camping more difficult and more costly for the Democratic candidate. He encouraged the other candidates to suspend their campaigns and rally around the Avlon candidacy. 

It’s good advice. 

As was just seen in the special election in the neighboring Third Congressional District won by Rep. Souzz, campaigning has become costly, both in terms of campaign finances and in terms of character. Special interest groups pour millions of dollars into high-profile races and they would stoop to the lowest levels to tarnish a candidate’s reputation. As Mr. Gaughran said, a Democratic challenger to Rep. LaLota will do best if a divisive Democratic primary can be avoided. Dr. Nancy Goroff should follow Mr. Gaughran and drop out of the race and throw her support behind Mr. Avlon. Support for Mr. Avlon is a step Dr. Goroff should take to give the Democratic Party its best chance to regain control of the House of Representatives and to pursue the issues and the ideology that Dr. Goroff advocates for—a sacrifice for the greater good.