For the first time in 36 years, The Washington Post announced it would not endorse a presidential candidate in the 2024 election—a surprising shift from its decades-long tradition of backing Democratic nominees.
The announcement, made on Friday by Publisher and CEO William Lewis, stated that the newspaper intends to “return to its roots” of not endorsing presidential candidates, a stance the Post last took during the 1960s and early 1970s.
“The Washington Post will not be making an endorsement of a presidential candidate in this election. Nor in any future presidential election,” Lewis wrote. “We are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates.”
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The Post’s decision marks a significant change in its long history of political endorsements, particularly as it has consistently supported Democratic candidates in recent decades, including Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden.
#BREAKING: The Washington Post WILL NOT be endorsing a candidate in the Presidential Election for the first time since the 1980s, per NPR
WOW!
Kamala is DONE! pic.twitter.com/QaQZJqfevZ
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 25, 2024
The editorial board’s decision, reportedly conveyed to staff on Thursday, cited the need to maintain independence and impartiality in an increasingly polarized media landscape.
In a statement, Lewis explained, “Our job at The Washington Post is to provide nonpartisan news for all Americans and thought-provoking, reported views from our opinion team to help our readers make up their own minds. Most of all, our job as the newspaper of the capital city of the most important country in the world is to be independent. And that is what we are and will be.”
The announcement comes as the Democratic campaign, led by Kamala Harris, faces challenges, including declining poll numbers and lack of key endorsements.
Kamala Harris – “He’s Hitler
Washington Post – “Yeah we’ve thought about it and we’re still not going to endorse you over Hitler. Sorry.”
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) October 25, 2024
For Harris, the absence of backing from The Washington Post represents a shift in support traditionally provided by prominent media outlets and could pose additional hurdles as her campaign seeks to mobilize voters and gain momentum.
David Shipley, the Post’s editorial page editor, briefed colleagues on the decision, indicating that it was made to ensure the paper provides an “independent space” in political discourse.
Shipley reportedly told staff that he “owns” the decision, which has drawn mixed reactions internally, with some staff expressing surprise at the paper’s departure from past practices. NPR’s David Folkenflik noted the reaction from newsroom sources as “uniformly negative,” with some staff reportedly “shocked” by the choice to step away from endorsements.
The decision was revealed in a tense meeting with people on the editorial staff
And it arrives at a time of heightened concern over whether news outles are pulling their punches in order to appease Trump in final days of a neck and neck presidential race agst VP Harris MORE
— David Folkenflik (@davidfolkenflik) October 25, 2024
Adding to the broader trend, The Washington Post’s decision follows a similar move by the Los Angeles Times, which also opted not to endorse a candidate this year.
This unexpected decision led to the resignation of Marzel Garza, the Times’ opinion editor.
Washington Post writer Jennifer Rubin praised Garza for quitting and wondered why more hadn’t quit. Now the newspaper she works for has also declined to endorse Kamala and that has some wondering if she will back up her own words with action and quit her job at the Washington Post.
She should do the right thing and quit.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 25, 2024
In addition, the Teamsters Union announced three weeks ago that it would not endorse a candidate after internal polling revealed a significant preference for former President Donald Trump among its members, with 58% favoring Trump and only 31% supporting Harris.
The Washington Post’s endorsement history includes mostly Democratic candidates, with only three Republican endorsements since 1928.
Observers are now questioning whether owner Jeff Bezos or Publisher Will Lewis influenced the decision, but neither party has confirmed involvement.
The Post’s choice to refrain from endorsing in the 2024 election underscores an evolving media landscape where news outlets are increasingly reassessing their roles in political campaigns.
With the absence of endorsements from both The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times, the Harris campaign is navigating a campaign season without some of the traditional media support typically enjoyed by Democrats.
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