LA Times Editor Resigns Following Blocked Endorsement of Harris
Mariel Garza argues that the outlet's decision not to support the Democratic presidential candidate may come off as “sexist and racist.” Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Mariel Garza, the head of editorials at the Los Angeles Times, has resigned following the outlet’s owner vetoing plans by the editorial board to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for the upcoming US presidential election. Garza expressed her discontent with the publication's decision to remain silent during “dangerous times,” stating that she was “not okay” with it.
Historically, the LA Times has endorsed a Democratic presidential candidate in every election since Barack Obama's campaign in 2008. However, in their recent voting recommendations for the 2024 election, the paper did not reference any presidential candidates, merely remarking that this election is “the most consequential election in a generation.”
In contrast, the paper endorsed over twenty candidates, primarily Democrats, for various positions ranging from school boards to the US Senate.
According to the Semafor news outlet, the LA Times editorial board had intended to back Harris until Executive Editor Terry Tang intervened, directing that no endorsement be published. This directive reportedly originated from Patrick Soon-Shiong, the paper’s owner and executive chairman.
In a post on X, Soon-Shiong explained the outlet's decision to refrain from endorsing a presidential candidate this year by stating that the editorial board did not provide a non-partisan analysis of both nominees.
He wrote, “The Editorial Board was provided the opportunity to draft a factual analysis of all the POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE policies by EACH candidate during their tenures at the White House, and how these policies affected the nation. Instead of adopting this path as suggested, the Editorial Board chose to remain silent and I accepted their decision.”
In her resignation letter, published by the Columbia Journalism Review, Garza criticized the decision to block the editorial board’s endorsement of Harris, calling it “craven and hypocritical, maybe even a bit sexist and racist.” She questioned how they could “spend eight years railing against [former President Donald] Trump and the danger his leadership poses to the country” and then fail to endorse “the perfectly decent Democrat challenger – who we previously endorsed for the U.S. Senate,” adding that “staying silent isn’t just indifference, it is complicity.”
In light of the LA Times’ choice to forgo a presidential endorsement, the Trump campaign issued a statement claiming that even Harris’ “fellow Californians know she’s not up for the job.”
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
Historically, the LA Times has endorsed a Democratic presidential candidate in every election since Barack Obama's campaign in 2008. However, in their recent voting recommendations for the 2024 election, the paper did not reference any presidential candidates, merely remarking that this election is “the most consequential election in a generation.”
In contrast, the paper endorsed over twenty candidates, primarily Democrats, for various positions ranging from school boards to the US Senate.
According to the Semafor news outlet, the LA Times editorial board had intended to back Harris until Executive Editor Terry Tang intervened, directing that no endorsement be published. This directive reportedly originated from Patrick Soon-Shiong, the paper’s owner and executive chairman.
In a post on X, Soon-Shiong explained the outlet's decision to refrain from endorsing a presidential candidate this year by stating that the editorial board did not provide a non-partisan analysis of both nominees.
He wrote, “The Editorial Board was provided the opportunity to draft a factual analysis of all the POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE policies by EACH candidate during their tenures at the White House, and how these policies affected the nation. Instead of adopting this path as suggested, the Editorial Board chose to remain silent and I accepted their decision.”
In her resignation letter, published by the Columbia Journalism Review, Garza criticized the decision to block the editorial board’s endorsement of Harris, calling it “craven and hypocritical, maybe even a bit sexist and racist.” She questioned how they could “spend eight years railing against [former President Donald] Trump and the danger his leadership poses to the country” and then fail to endorse “the perfectly decent Democrat challenger – who we previously endorsed for the U.S. Senate,” adding that “staying silent isn’t just indifference, it is complicity.”
In light of the LA Times’ choice to forgo a presidential endorsement, the Trump campaign issued a statement claiming that even Harris’ “fellow Californians know she’s not up for the job.”
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
