Alan Cohn
{{short description|American journalist}}
{{for|the American lawyer and government official|Alan D. Cohn}}
{{Update|date=November 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Alan Cohn
|image = Alan Cohn 2007 001.jpg
|birth_name = Alan Michael Cohn
|birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|57|2020|8|7}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2020/08/07/three-democrats-vie-primary-u-s-house-15-lakelands-district/3322424001/ |title=3 Dems in Race to Flip US House-15 Seat |first=Gary |last=White |date=August 7, 2020 |work=The Ledger |accessdate=September 14, 2020}}
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = Democratic
|spouse = Patricia
|children = 2
|education = Hofstra University (BA)
|website = {{url|https://www.cohnforflorida.com/|Campaign website}}
}}
Alan Michael Cohn is an American journalist who was the Democratic nominee in the 2022 U.S. House of Representatives election in Florida's 15th congressional district.
Personal life and education
Cohn has two children with his wife, Patricia. Their son, Aaron, is a pitcher in the Oakland A's organization.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/player/aaron-cohn-703110 | title=Aaron Cohn Stats, Fantasy & News }}{{cite web | url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-tampa/constant-training-is-part-of-the-journey-to-professional-baseball | title=Constant training part of journey to professional baseball | date=January 27, 2022 }} Cohn graduated from Hofstra University.{{cite web|title=Alan Cohn |url=http://www.wtnh.com/news/news-team/alan_cohn |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130906074953/http://www.wtnh.com/news/news-team/alan_cohn |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 6, 2013 |publisher=WTNH |accessdate=September 7, 2013 }} While at Hofstra, Cohn worked for CBS News in New York. He considers fellow Charles Osgood to be his mentor.{{cite news|title=Alan Cohn Q and A|url=http://www.hofstra.edu/alumni/aotm/aotm_aug12_cohn.html|accessdate=September 7, 2013|newspaper=Hofstra|date=August 2012}}
Career
Cohn won the 2020 Democratic nomination for Congress in Florida's 15th congressional district and went on to raise over $2.3 million.{{cn|date=August 2022}} He was named to the DCCC's "Red to Blue" program and was endorsed by President-Elect Joe Biden{{cn|date=September 2022}} and former president Barack Obama.{{cite web |title=Former President Barack Obama Endorses Alan Cohn, Democratic Candidate for Florida's 15th Congressional District |url=https://orlando-politics.com/2020/09/25/former-president-barack-obama-endorses-alan-cohn-democratic-candidate-for-floridas-15th-congressional-district/ |website=orlando-politics.com |access-date=6 September 2022 |date=25 September 2020}}
Cohn is the recipient of the 2007 George Foster Peabody Award, one of journalism's highest honors, for uncovering that defective parts were being installed on Black Hawk helicopters built by Stratford-based Sikorsky Aircraft. He was the anchor and managing editor of ABC7 at 7 on WWSB in Sarasota, where he interviewed people including Donald Trump and Jerry Springer.{{cite news|last=Rufty|first=Bill|title=Alan Cohn Announces Candidacy for Congress|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20130829/news/130829141?p=1&tc=pg|accessdate=September 7, 2013|newspaper=The Ledger|date=August 29, 2013}} Cohn also worked for WFTS-TV in Tampa ABC.{{cite news|last=Perry|first=Mitch|title=Investigative news reporter Alan Cohn to take on Dennis Ross in Fla. CD-15 race|url=http://cltampa.com/dailyloaf/archives/2013/08/29/investigative-news-reporter-alan-cohn-to-take-on-dennis-ross-in-fla-cd-15-race#.UirLMcbrxP0|accessdate=September 7, 2013|newspaper=Creative Loafing|date=August 29, 2013}} Cohn won the Peabody Award for a multi-year investigation of quality control issues at Sikorsky Aircraft.{{cite news|last=Kaufman |first=Debra |title=WTNH-TV: Defective Parts In Sikorsky Helicopters |url=http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/06/wtnhtv_defective_parts_in_siko.php |accessdate=September 7, 2013 |newspaper=TelevisionWeek |date=June 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017011121/http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/06/wtnhtv_defective_parts_in_siko.php |archivedate=October 17, 2007 }} While at WTNH, Cohn uncovered a scandal involving DMV employees illegally selling driver's licenses, as well as security gaps in Metro North. Cohn has also worked for NBC, New England Cable News (where he won an Emmy Award for uncovering a convicted killer's attempt to become a Boston Police officer), the Boston Globe, WTIC-TV, WGGB-TV, and WAMI-TV in Miami, Florida (where he won an Emmy Award for winning back benefits for a forgotten Vietnam veteran).
Cohn ran in the 15th district in the 2020 election. In the Democratic primary election, Cohn defeated state representative Adam Hattersley and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jesse Philippe, earning 41% of the vote.{{cite web |last1=Nuñez |first1=Gabriella |title=Alan Cohn wins Democratic primary for US House District 15|url=https://www.clickorlando.com/news/politics/2020/08/13/meet-the-candidates-here-are-the-democrats-running-for-us-house-district-15/ |website=WKMG |language=en |date=August 19, 2020}} In the general election, Cohn faced Republican Scott Franklin, a Lakeland city commissioner who had previously defeated incumbent Ross Spano in the Republican primary. Ultimately, Franklin defeated Cohn, 55%-45%.{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Madison |last2=Panetta |first2=Grace |last3=Choi |first3=Inyoung |title=Republican Scott Franklin is projected to win Florida's 15th Congressional District |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/florida-15th-district-house-election-alan-cohn-scott-franklin-2020 |website=Business Insider}}
In the 2022 election, Cohn won the Democratic primary for the newly redrawn 15th district, finishing first out of a five-candidate field with 33.1% of the vote.{{Cite news |date=2022-08-23 |title=Florida 15th Congressional District Primary Election Results |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/08/23/us/elections/results-florida-us-house-district-15.html |access-date=2022-12-18 |issn=0362-4331}} He went on to lose the general election for this district to Republican nominee Laurel Lee by 17 percentage points.{{Cite news |date=2022-11-08 |title=Florida 15th Congressional District Election Results |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/11/08/us/elections/results-florida-us-house-district-15.html |access-date=2022-12-18 |issn=0362-4331}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20220119182113/https://cohnforflorida.com/ Cohn for Congress]}} campaign website
- {{C-SPAN|67394}}
{{CongLinks|votesmart=146147|fec=H4FL15155}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cohn, Alan}}
Category:21st-century American journalists
Category:American television reporters and correspondents
Category:Candidates in the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections
Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections
Category:Hofstra University alumni
Category:Peabody Award winners
Category:Year of birth uncertain
Category:The Lawrence Herbert School of Communication alumni