J-L Cauvin
J-L Cauvin | |
|---|---|
Portrait of J-L Cauvin | |
| Born | Jean-Louis Cauvin New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Williams College Georgetown University Law Center |
| Occupations | Congressional candidate, attorney, comedian, impressionist, writer, podcaster |
| Height | 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) |
J-L Cauvin (pronounced koh-VAN) is an American anti-eviction attorney, stand-up comedian, impressionist, writer, podcaster, and candidate for Congress in New Jersey's 11th congressional district. He is best known for his political impressions—particularly his viral Donald Trump videos during the 2020 election cycle—and for appearances on television, radio, and national comedy podcasts. Cauvin has released several comedy albums and appeared in the sixth season of the Showtime drama Billions.
Biography
Cauvin was born in New York City to a Haitian father and an Irish-American mother.[1] He earned his undergraduate degree from Williams College, where he also competed in varsity athletics.[2] He later received a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.[3]
Legal career
Before pursuing comedy, Cauvin worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx County District Attorney's Office.[3] He continues to practice as an attorney in the anti-eviction space.[4]
Comedy
Cauvin began performing stand-up in the early 2000s in New York City.[5] Cauvin gained widespread attention during the 2020 United States presidential election for his Donald Trump impression videos, several of which received millions of views on social media platforms.[6][7][8]
He has appeared on podcasts including WTF with Marc Maron, The Adam Carolla Show, The Bulwark Podcast, and others.[9][10][11] He also hosted the his own podcasts including Righteous Prick, which ended in 2023,[12] and Rain on Your Parade.[13]
Political career
In November 2025, Cauvin announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in New Jersey's 11th congressional district for the 2026 special primary election.[14][15] Cauvin's campaign emphasizes constituent accessibility, grassroots engagement, and a critique of machine-backed politics in New Jersey. He participated in community signature-gathering events, local meetings, and public forums throughout Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties as part of his ballot access effort.[16]
Policy positions
Cauvin's campaign platform centers on several core issues:[16]
- Protecting seniors
- Affordable housing
- Artificial intelligence policy
- Democracy and ethics
- Community advocacy
Albums
Cauvin has released multiple comedy albums, including:
- Racial Chameleon (2012)
- Keep My Enemies Closer (2016)
- Famous Nobody (2019)
- Fireside Craps: The Deuce (2020)
- Half-Blackface (2024)
Television
Cauvin has appeared on:
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (stand-up)[17]
- CollegeHumor[18]
- Billions – cameo appearance in Season 6 (2023)
Personal life
Cauvin is based in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and tours nationally.[19]
References
- ^ Worden, Amy (December 2024). "Comedian who's won accolades as the best Trump impressionist returns to Harrisburg". PennLive. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ Tuthill, Matt (April 21, 2022). "INTERVIEW: J-L Cauvin". Chef Irvine Magazine. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ a b Yensi, Amy (May 11, 2020). "Aspiring Comedian from the Bronx Has Trump Impersonation Down Pat". NY1.
- ^ “Jean-Louis Cauvin”. "Jean-Louis Cauvin - Lawyer Directory". Justia Lawyer Directory. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ McCarthy, Sean L. (June 22, 2017). "Meet Me In New York: J-L Cauvin". The Comic’s Comic. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ Kiefer, Eric (March 26, 2020). "Bloomfield Comedian's Trump Impression Gets Millions Of Views". Patch.
- ^ McNulty, Charles (December 17, 2020). "What comes next for a Donald Trump impersonator? J-L Cauvin has thoughts". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Cavna, Michael (January 16, 2021). "The top Trump impersonators are asking themselves: What now?". The Washington Post.
- ^ Marc Maron (June 18, 2020). "Episode 1132 – Amber Preston / J-L Cauvin" (Podcast). WTF with Marc Maron. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ J-L Cauvin on The Adam Carolla Show. The Adam Carolla Show. July 28, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ "The Bulwark Podcast". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ "Righteous Pk Podcast". Podomatic. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ "Rain On Your Parade – Podcast". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ "Trump impersonator wants to fight back against Trump as next NJ-11 congressman". New Jersey Globe. November 21, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
- ^ Fernandez, Madison (December 1, 2025). "More than a dozen candidates file for NJ-11 special election". Politico. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
- ^ a b "Dem free-for-all engulfs NJ as 13 contenders scramble for Sherrill's House seat ahead of critical 2026 fight". Fox News. December 2, 2025. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
- ^ "Episode #4.18". The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Season 4. Episode 18. October 3, 2007. CBS. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ "GoldenEye Stand-Off (CollegeHumor)". YouTube. CollegeHumor. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ^ Laughran, Jason (March 30, 2020). "Jersey comic J-L Cauvin's career to rise again thanks viral Trump Easter video". The Associated Press. Retrieved November 20, 2025.