Over the years, Abby Huntsman has worked with ABC News, MSNBC, HuffPost Live and Fox News. She also served as a media adviser and surrogate during her father's political campaigns. Her career has therefore existed at the intersection of journalism, politics and public communication.
Her decision to leave The View in 2020 attracted considerable attention because she stepped away from a highly visible television position to support her father's campaign for governor of Utah and spend more time with her young family.
This is the story of Abby Huntsman—her childhood, education, marriage, children, journalism career, political involvement, television success and the choices that shaped her public life.
Abby Huntsman Who She Is
Abby Huntsman, whose full name is Abigail Haight Huntsman, is an American
journalist and television personality. She was born on May 1, 1986, in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, although she grew up primarily in Utah. She later became known nationally through her work in television and political media.
Huntsman has worked across several major American media organizations. Her professional résumé includes HuffPost Live, MSNBC, NBC News, Fox News and ABC. She became a co-host of The View in 2018 and remained on the program until January 2020.
Her career has been particularly interesting because she did not follow a single straight path. She moved between traditional broadcast journalism, political commentary, digital media and daytime television.
She also became known for having a moderate Republican perspective on television. Her political background was partly shaped by her family, but her career was not limited to political campaigning. She developed a reputation as a television communicator capable of discussing politics, culture, current affairs and everyday issues.
Abby Huntsman's Age and Birth
Abby Huntsman was born on May 1, 1986, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
As of September 2026, she is 40 years old.
Although she was born in Pennsylvania, Utah played a major role in her upbringing and identity. Her father was deeply involved in Utah politics, and she spent much of her childhood in the state.
Growing up in a political household meant that public affairs were not distant subjects for Huntsman. Politics, government and international affairs were part of the environment in which she was raised.
Her childhood was also unusually international. Because of her father's diplomatic career, Huntsman spent periods living abroad and was exposed to different cultures and countries at a relatively young age. Sources describe her as having spent years in places including China and Singapore.
That international exposure would later become relevant to a career that involved politics, news and public affairs.
Abby Huntsman's Family Background
Abby Huntsman comes from a large and prominent American family.
Her father is Jon Huntsman Jr., a Republican politician and businessman who served as governor of Utah from 2005 to 2009. He later served as the United States ambassador to China and United States ambassador to Russia. He also ran for president of the United States in the 2012 Republican presidential primary.
Her mother is Mary Kaye Huntsman.
Abby is one of several children in the Huntsman family. The family has attracted attention not only because of Jon Huntsman's political career but also because of its international connections, philanthropy and public-service background.
Growing up as the daughter of a governor naturally brought public attention. However, Huntsman has spoken and written about the importance of establishing herself professionally rather than simply relying on her family's name.
In fact, when she was beginning her journalism career, she was aware that being the governor's daughter could make it difficult for people to judge her work independently. A 2007 profile of the young journalist noted that she had already thought about how her father's political position might affect her career in Utah.
That concern became an important part of her professional development.
Abby Huntsman's Childhood and Early Interest in Television
Huntsman's interest in television began relatively early.
While she was still a teenager, she obtained behind-the-scenes experience at Good Morning America. The experience was not immediately inspiring. According to accounts of her early career, she initially disliked working behind the scenes so much that she considered abandoning television altogether.
However, her experience changed as she encountered journalists and broadcasters who influenced her understanding of the profession.
During her college years, she interned with major news organizations and gained exposure to the practical side of broadcast journalism. She also worked around prominent journalists, including Diane Sawyer, whose professionalism and approach to presenting news made an impression on her.
Rather than entering television simply because of her family's political profile, Huntsman gradually developed an interest in journalism as a profession.
Her early experiences taught her that television was not simply about appearing in front of a camera. Research, interviewing, storytelling, preparation and communication were equally important.
Those lessons would eventually become the foundation of her professional career.
Abby Huntsman's Education
Abby Huntsman attended the University of Utah before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania.
She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008. Her studies were focused on political science and communications. The University of Pennsylvania's alumni profile identifies her as a 2008 graduate and describes her degree as a Bachelor of Arts in political science and communications.
Her academic background was particularly useful for the career she eventually built.
Political science gave her an understanding of government, elections, political institutions and public policy. Communications, meanwhile, gave her the tools needed to explain complicated subjects to a broad audience.
While at university, she was also involved in political activities and journalism-related experiences.
She became involved in campus political life and gained experience covering or participating in political discussions. Her college years therefore combined academics, politics and media—three areas that would later define her professional identity.
Abby Huntsman and Her Father's Political Campaign
Politics was not simply something Huntsman studied. She eventually became directly involved in political campaigns.
One of the most significant early examples came during her father's 2012 campaign for president.
Jon Huntsman Jr. entered the 2012 Republican presidential race, and Abby became involved as a media adviser and campaign surrogate. She and some of her sisters also became known for their social-media activity surrounding the campaign.
The experience gave Huntsman a different perspective on political communication.
Instead of simply reporting on politicians, she was helping a political campaign communicate with voters. She had to think about messaging, public perception and how political issues could be presented effectively to the public.
This experience later proved valuable when she returned to political work in 2020.
Her involvement in her father's campaigns also demonstrated that her relationship with politics was more complicated than simply being the daughter of a politician. She had firsthand experience with campaign strategy and political communication.
Abby Huntsman's Early Journalism Career
After university, Huntsman continued building her journalism career.
Her early professional experiences included work connected to ABC News and other media organizations. During college, she had interned with Good Morning America and World News Tonight. She also worked as a news desk assistant in Washington, D.C., and as an assistant booker for Good Morning America in New York.
These positions were important because they gave her an understanding of how a major television newsroom operates.
Before becoming a recognizable television personality, she spent time doing the less glamorous work behind the scenes.
That experience matters when looking at her career because television audiences often see the final product without seeing the years of preparation that happen beforehand.
Huntsman's early newsroom experience exposed her to breaking news, interviews, political coverage and television production.
Eventually, she moved into more visible on-camera roles.
Abby Huntsman and HuffPost Live
One of the important steps in Huntsman's career was her work with HuffPost Live, the streaming network associated with The Huffington Post.
As a host and producer, she interviewed politicians and celebrities and participated in discussions covering subjects ranging from international affairs to lifestyle.
This period was significant because digital media was rapidly changing the traditional television industry.
Unlike conventional television, streaming platforms allowed hosts to interact with audiences in different ways and experiment with formats that were more conversational and immediate.
Huntsman gained experience interviewing guests and discussing current events in a less traditional environment.
The work helped prepare her for the larger television roles that followed.
Abby Huntsman at MSNBC
Huntsman later joined MSNBC and became a co-host of The Cycle, an ensemble political program.
The show brought together commentators with different perspectives and gave Huntsman the opportunity to develop her voice as a political television personality.
Her role at MSNBC increased her national profile.
She was no longer simply a journalist working behind the scenes. She was becoming a recognizable television commentator with her own opinions and perspective.
Her career during this period also demonstrated her ability to operate in a politically charged media environment.
When The Cycle ended in 2015, Huntsman moved on to another major stage in her career.
Abby Huntsman at Fox News
In 2015, Abby Huntsman joined Fox News as a general assignment reporter.
Her responsibilities included covering news for the network's daytime and primetime programming. She also contributed to political and election coverage.
Her role expanded in December 2016 when Fox News announced that she would become a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend. The network described her as an energetic reporter who could connect with viewers.
The position gave Huntsman another major platform.
Fox & Friends Weekend reaches a large television audience and covers politics, breaking news, entertainment, sports and lifestyle stories. Her time on the program helped establish her as a familiar face in American cable news.
She remained with the program until 2018, when she moved to ABC's The View.
Forbes 30 Under 30 Recognition
Huntsman's growing media profile was recognized beyond television.
In 2013, she was named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in the media category.
The recognition came at a relatively early stage in her career and reflected her growing influence in American media.
By that point, she had already worked in digital media, television and political communications.
Her career trajectory was unusual because she had experience across different forms of media rather than remaining within one organization or one type of journalism.
Abby Huntsman Joins The View
One of the biggest moments in Abby Huntsman's career came in 2018 when she joined ABC's The View.
She became a co-host of the long-running daytime talk show in September 2018.
Joining The View represented a major change from her previous work in cable news.
Instead of primarily delivering reports or participating in a political news program, Huntsman became part of a panel where hosts discussed politics, entertainment, culture, family and other major issues.
The show's format required quick thinking.
Hosts had to respond to breaking developments, challenge one another's opinions and communicate their views while maintaining a connection with viewers.
Huntsman's political background made her a natural fit for many of the show's political discussions.
She was often described as a more moderate Republican voice on the panel.
Her time on the program also placed her alongside well-known television personalities including Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin and Meghan McCain.
What Was Abby Huntsman's Role on The View?
During her time on The View, Huntsman participated in political debates, cultural conversations and discussions about everyday life.
Her position was particularly interesting because The View is built around contrasting perspectives.
Rather than having all hosts agree, the program often creates discussions around disagreement.
Huntsman's background allowed her to bring a Republican perspective while also presenting herself as someone willing to discuss issues beyond strict party politics.
Her experience as a mother also became part of her public identity during her time on the show.
While working on The View, she experienced significant changes in her personal life, including becoming the mother of twins.
She later described her time on the program positively in an ABC News interview, saying that she had many great experiences and that the job had in many ways been a dream job.
Abby Huntsman and the Daytime Emmy Awards
Huntsman's work on The View also brought professional recognition.
The program's hosts were nominated for Daytime Emmy Awards during her time on the show.
Her career had now moved from behind-the-scenes television work to major national broadcasts and award-recognized daytime television.
This progression illustrates how far she had traveled from her earliest experiences as a young intern.
Why Did Abby Huntsman Leave The View?
One of the most frequently searched questions about Abby Huntsman is why she left The View.
In January 2020, Huntsman announced that she would leave the program.
Her primary stated reasons were family and her decision to support her father, Jon Huntsman Jr., who was running for governor of Utah.
She became a senior adviser to his campaign. Her final appearance as a regular co-host came on January 17, 2020.
Huntsman explained that family had always been her number-one priority.
Her decision came at a time when she had three young children, including twins who had been born in 2019.
The decision therefore represented a significant career choice. She was leaving one of the most recognizable daytime television programs in America to return to political campaign work and spend more time with her family.
In an interview with Deseret News, Huntsman described the decision as essentially a no-brainer because of her relationship with her father and her desire to support him. She also explained that her communications background would be useful to the campaign.
Abby Huntsman's Relationship With Her Father
Huntsman's relationship with her father has been a recurring feature of her public life.
She has worked with him on more than one political campaign, but their relationship goes beyond politics.
When she joined his 2020 gubernatorial campaign, she described their relationship as one built on mutual respect. She explained that they listened to each other and that she felt comfortable disagreeing with him when necessary.
This is an interesting aspect of Huntsman's biography because her father's career could easily have overshadowed her own.
Instead, their professional relationship became an example of how family and career sometimes overlap.
She was not simply supporting her father as a daughter. She was bringing years of media and communications experience to the campaign.
Abby Huntsman's Political Views
Huntsman's political identity has generally been associated with the Republican Party, reflecting her family background and her father's political career.
However, her views have sometimes been more moderate than those associated with traditional partisan politics.
One example came in 2013 when Huntsman participated in a campaign supporting same-sex marriage alongside Margaret Hoover and Meghan McCain. Her participation reflected a willingness to publicly support positions that were not always aligned with the traditional Republican establishment.
Her time on The View also demonstrated her ability to occupy a more moderate position in political debates.
This complexity has contributed to her appeal as a television commentator.
Abby Huntsman and Her Husband
Abby Huntsman is married to Jeffrey Bruce Livingston.
The couple met while attending the University of Pennsylvania and later married in 2010.
Their wedding took place at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
Livingston has largely maintained a lower public profile than his wife.
Their marriage has lasted through major stages of Huntsman's career, including her transitions between different television networks and her decision to leave The View.
For someone whose professional life has frequently been in the public eye, Huntsman has generally kept much of her family life more private.
Abby Huntsman and Her Children
Abby Huntsman and Jeffrey Livingston have three children.
Their first child is a daughter, Isabel.
In 2019, Huntsman welcomed twins—a son named William and a daughter named Ruby.
The arrival of the twins happened while Huntsman was working at The View.
By the time she announced her departure from the program in January 2020, she was the mother of three very young children.
Her growing family played an important role in her decision to step away from daily television.
She wanted more time with her children while also supporting her father's campaign.
Her decision illustrates an important theme in Huntsman's life: career ambition and family responsibilities have repeatedly existed side by side.
Abby Huntsman's Experience as a Mother
Motherhood became an important part of Huntsman's public identity during her The View years.
She entered the show with a young daughter and later gave birth to twins while continuing to work on national television.
In interviews, she discussed how becoming a mother changed her perspective and helped her connect with other women.
Her experience also influenced the way she approached discussions on television.
Instead of discussing family issues only as abstract topics, she was able to speak from personal experience.
This became particularly relevant when she ultimately decided to leave The View.
For Huntsman, the decision was not simply about leaving a television program. It was about deciding how she wanted to balance public success with private family life.
Abby Huntsman's Life After The View
Leaving The View did not mean that Huntsman disappeared from the media world.
She continued to remain connected to television, political discussion and public speaking.
In 2021, she returned to the conversation surrounding The View through the program's Behind the Table podcast series. During the discussion, she reflected on her experiences at the show and described many aspects of her time there positively.
Her professional background has also continued to make her relevant as a media commentator and speaker.
CAA Speakers currently describes Huntsman as a television journalist and anchor whose work has included ABC News, Fox News, MSNBC and HuffPost Live. The agency also notes her involvement in podcasting and public speaking.
This suggests that her career has evolved rather than simply ended with her departure from The View.
Abby Huntsman as a Public Speaker
Huntsman's experience across television, politics and journalism has also created opportunities for public speaking.
Her career gives her an unusual perspective on the relationship between politics and media.
She has worked as a journalist covering politicians, as a political campaign adviser and as a television personality discussing political issues.
That combination makes her experience particularly useful when discussing leadership, communication, media and public life.
Her speaking work has therefore become another part of her professional identity.
Abby Huntsman's Approach to Journalism
One of the defining characteristics of Huntsman's career is versatility.
She has worked in traditional newsrooms, digital media, cable news, daytime television and political campaigns.
Each environment requires a slightly different communication style.
A newsroom demands accuracy and speed. Political campaigns require strategic messaging. Cable television requires strong opinions and quick responses. Daytime talk shows require conversation, personality and the ability to engage viewers.
Huntsman's ability to move between these environments has been one of the strongest features of her career.
The Importance of Her International Childhood
Huntsman's childhood abroad also provides an interesting background to her worldview.
As the daughter of a diplomat, she experienced life outside the United States while growing up.
Living in different countries can expose a person to different political systems, cultures, languages and ways of thinking.
That experience complemented her academic study of political science and her later career in international and domestic political media.
Her father's diplomatic career also meant that international affairs were not abstract subjects in the Huntsman household.
This background likely contributed to the comfort she demonstrated when discussing politics and global affairs in television settings.
Abby Huntsman and Public Service
Although Huntsman became famous through journalism, public service has remained an important theme in her life.
Her father spent years in government and diplomacy, while she has repeatedly participated in political campaigns.
Her 2012 campaign work and 2020 Utah gubernatorial campaign role demonstrate that political communication has been a recurring part of her professional life.
However, Huntsman has largely pursued public service indirectly through communication rather than holding elected office herself.
Her career illustrates how political influence can extend beyond elected positions.
Journalists, commentators, campaign advisers and media professionals can all play important roles in shaping public conversations.
Abby Huntsman's Children's Book
Huntsman has also been associated with children's literature.
She created Who Will I Be?, a children's book designed to encourage young readers to think about different careers and the ways people contribute to society.
The book reflects another side of her public persona.
While much of Huntsman's television career has involved politics and current affairs, the children's project focuses on helping young people imagine their futures and understand the value of different professions.
What Makes Abby Huntsman's Career Unique?
Abby Huntsman's career is unusual because it combines three worlds that are often separate: politics, journalism and entertainment.
Her family gave her early exposure to politics, but she had to develop professional skills to succeed in journalism.
She worked behind the scenes before moving in front of the camera.
She worked for digital media before moving into traditional television.
She worked for MSNBC before joining Fox News.
She moved from Fox News to ABC's The View.
And after reaching one of the most visible points of her television career, she voluntarily stepped away to support her family and father.
That sequence tells a more interesting story than simply describing her as a television host.
Abby Huntsman's Career Timeline
A quick look at her professional journey shows how varied her career has been:
1986: Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Childhood: Raised largely in Utah and spent periods living abroad because of her father's diplomatic career.
University years: Studied at the University of Pennsylvania and gained early experience in television and political activities.
2008: Graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.
2012: Worked as a media adviser and surrogate during her father's presidential campaign.
2013: Named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in media.
2013–2015: Worked with HuffPost Live and later became associated with MSNBC's The Cycle.
2015: Joined Fox News as a general assignment reporter.
2016: Became a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend.
2018: Joined ABC's The View as a co-host.
2019: Welcomed twins, William and Ruby.
January 2020: Left The View to become a senior adviser to her father's Utah gubernatorial campaign and spend more time with her family.
2021: Reflected publicly on her The View experience through the show's Behind the Table podcast.
Abby Huntsman Net Worth
Abby Huntsman's exact current net worth is not reliably established through authoritative public financial records.
Because she has worked for major television networks and has also been involved in political consulting, public speaking and media projects, many websites publish estimates of her wealth.
However, these figures should be treated cautiously.
A person's television salary, investments, family wealth and private business interests are not necessarily publicly disclosed. Therefore, assigning a precise dollar figure to Huntsman's current net worth without reliable documentation would be speculative.
For a high-quality biography, it is more accurate to focus on her documented career achievements rather than repeat an unverified net-worth estimate.
Abby Huntsman's Legacy in Television
Abby Huntsman's career represents the journey of a modern media personality who moved through several different forms of communication.
She began with behind-the-scenes television work.
She developed experience in digital media.
She became a political commentator.
She worked for Fox News.
She became a co-host on Fox & Friends Weekend.
She then joined ABC's The View, one of the most recognizable daytime talk programs in the United States.
Her career also demonstrates how a person can move between journalism and politics without becoming an elected politician.
Perhaps most importantly, Huntsman's career decisions show that professional success is not always measured by how long someone remains in a high-profile position.
Leaving The View could have been viewed purely as a career setback, but Huntsman described the decision through the lens of family and public service.
She chose to step away from a national television platform at a time when she had three young children and an opportunity to work alongside her father.
Frequently Asked Questions About Abby Huntsman
How old is Abby Huntsman?
Abby Huntsman was born on May 1, 1986. She is 40 years old as of September 2026.
Where was Abby Huntsman born?
She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
Where did Abby Huntsman grow up?
Although born in Pennsylvania, Huntsman grew up primarily in Utah and also spent time abroad because of her father's diplomatic career.
Who is Abby Huntsman's father?
Her father is Jon Huntsman Jr., a former governor of Utah and former United States ambassador to China and Russia.
Who is Abby Huntsman's husband?
Abby Huntsman's husband is Jeffrey Bruce Livingston. They married in 2010 after meeting while attending the University of Pennsylvania.
How many children does Abby Huntsman have?
Abby Huntsman has three children: a daughter named Isabel and twins, William and Ruby.
What did Abby Huntsman study?
She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in political science and communications.
Was Abby Huntsman on Fox News?
Yes. She joined Fox News in 2015 as a general assignment reporter and later became a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend.
Was Abby Huntsman on MSNBC?
Yes. She was a co-host of MSNBC's The Cycle and also worked in political commentary.
When did Abby Huntsman join The View?
She joined The View in September 2018.
Why did Abby Huntsman leave The View?
She left The View in January 2020 to become a senior adviser to her father Jon Huntsman Jr.'s campaign for governor of Utah and to spend more time with her family. Her final appearance was January 17, 2020.
Is Abby Huntsman still a journalist?
Huntsman remains connected to journalism, television, public speaking and media-related work. Her professional activities have evolved beyond her former full-time role on The View.
Read Also:Conclusion
Abby Huntsman's biography is ultimately a story about building an identity while growing up in the shadow of a famous family.
Being the daughter of a governor and ambassador gave her unusual access to politics and public life, but it did not automatically create a successful journalism career.
She still had to learn the profession.
She worked behind the scenes, gained newsroom experience, developed interviewing skills and gradually moved into increasingly prominent television roles.
From HuffPost Live to MSNBC, Fox News and finally The View, Huntsman demonstrated a willingness to adapt to different media environments.
Her political involvement also remained a recurring part of her life. She worked on her father's presidential campaign in 2012 and later returned to political work in 2020.
Yet perhaps one of the most revealing decisions of her career was her choice to leave The View.
At a time when many television personalities would have been focused on maintaining their national platform, Huntsman chose to prioritize her family and support her father during his gubernatorial campaign.
That decision says something important about the way she has approached success.
For Abby Huntsman, a career has never existed completely separately from family, public service and personal values.
Today, her story remains interesting because it crosses several worlds: journalism, politics, television, motherhood and public communication.
From a young girl growing up around Utah politics to a nationally recognized television journalist, Abby Huntsman's journey demonstrates how a person can use the opportunities created by their background while still creating a professional identity of their own.
Her career is not simply the story of a politician's daughter who became a television host. It is the story of a journalist who moved through different forms of media, developed her own voice and repeatedly made choices based on what mattered most to her at different stages of life.
That combination of media experience, political knowledge and personal independence is what makes Abby Huntsman's biography worth exploring.
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