Abby Huntsman leaves ‘The View,’ joins father’s gubernatorial campaign

SALT LAKE CITY — Abby Huntsman, the daughter of former Utah Gov. and Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr., announced Monday that she would be leaving ABC’s “The View” to join her father’s 2020 gubernatorial campaign.

“To the best team in TV,” Huntsman wrote to the show’s staff, “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.”

 “I hope you will be in my life for years to come,” she said in closing.

Huntsman began her 16-month tenure on the show at the beginning of the 22nd season in September 2018. Her last day on the show will be Friday.

A statement from ABC said she would always be welcomed back to the table.

“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,” said executive producers in a statement to “The View’s” staff.

In an interview with Deseret News at the beginning of her time with the show, Huntsman — a former “Fox & Friends” host — said the role of women in television was improving.

“Times have really changed, and I think in a lot of ways for the good. Women are speaking out and they are feeling comfortable to speak out,” Huntsman said.

Her new position with the campaign will be senior adviser. In a statement from Abby Huntsman and ABC, the new adviser said she would be commuting from New York City, for now, and any decision to move would be made as a family.