Abby Huntsman is leaving “The View” after a year and a half as co-host at the ABC daytime talk show. She will be exiting the show to help run her father Jon Huntsman Jr.’s campaign for governor of Utah, and to spend more time with her family, an individual familiar with the situation told TheWrap on Monday.
Huntsman — who will act as her father’s senior advisor in his gubernatorial race — announced her departure from “The View” on today’s show. She said that Friday will be her final appearance co-hosting alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin and Meghan McCain.
See her announcement in the video below.
"Today, I'm saying goodbye."@HuntsmanAbby announces she is leaving @TheView to help run her father's campaign for governor of Utah: "It's not often in life that you get these moments to go fight for something that you are so passionate about." https://t.co/VTJUxjEuW6 pic.twitter.com/XsGahw3VPc
— The View (@TheView) January 13, 2020
Formerly a Fox News anchor, Huntsman joined “The View” in September 2018 as a replacement for Sara Haines. Her addition marked the first time “The View” had two conservative co-hosts, herself and McCain.
“I’m thrilled @huntsmanabby has decided to join our campaign team full time as a senior advisor!,” Jon Huntsman tweeted, following his daughter’s announcement. “Her years of experience on the national stage will be an enormous asset to our campaign. Excited to have her energy on the trail. Family is everything!”
“The View” executive producers Hilary Estey McLoughlin, Candi Carter and Brian Teta revealed Huntsman’s departure internally with this note to staff on Monday.
Team,
We have some bittersweet news to share. Abby Huntsman is leaving The View to help run her father’s campaign for Governor of Utah and to spend more time with her young family. As you will see in her note below, she made the tough decision to move on over the holiday break.
From the moment Abby joined us a year and a half ago, we knew how important her big family is to her. Isabel charmed us each time she came to the show and we shared Abby’s journey as she welcomed her twins, William and Ruby. Her dedication to family is what is launching Abby’s next exciting chapter. When your father asks you to help run your campaign, it’s a hard one to say no to.
We thank Abby for her unique, intelligent, insightful and relatable voice that she brought to the show both in front of and behind the camera. We will truly miss her and her great spirit professionally and personally.
We will cheer her on as she embraces her family’s long history in public service and we’ll welcome her back to hear about her future projects.
Hilary, Candi and Brian
And here’s Huntsman’s message to her colleagues at ABC News:
To the Best Team in TV,
ABC has been my family for a long time and I am so thankful to have had a seat at the table on an iconic show like The View. After much deliberation over the holidays, I have decided to leave the show to dedicate myself full-time in support of my dad and his campaign for Governor of Utah.
You know I think the world of all of you. You’re some of the most talented, hard-working and genuine people I’ve ever worked with. The staff is the engine of the show and you never get enough credit for what you do. I applaud you and thank you for welcoming me to the family on day-one. You always made me look much better than I ever could have on my own. Thank you for believing in me and for all the laughs along the way.
ABC will always hold a special place in my heart, and so will all of you.
I hope you will be in my life for years to come.
Abby