In a surprising move, The Washington Post has announced that it will not be endorsing a presidential candidate for the first time in decades. The newspaper's publisher, Will Lewis, made the announcement on Friday, stating that this decision marks a return to the publication's roots of not endorsing presidential candidates.
Since the 1980s, The Washington Post has endorsed a presidential candidate in every election. However, Lewis emphasized that the Editorial Board has the right to choose not to endorse, a right they are now exercising.
Addressing potential interpretations of this decision, Lewis acknowledged that it may be seen as a tacit endorsement of one candidate, a condemnation of another, or an abdication of responsibility. Nevertheless, he clarified that the decision is aligned with the values The Post has always upheld, emphasizing the importance of character, courage, respect for the rule of law, and human freedom in a leader.
This announcement comes shortly after The Los Angeles Times faced a similar situation when its owner, Patrick Soon-Shiong, prevented the newspaper from endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
