The Washington Post on Friday announced that it will not endorse a candidate in this year’s presidential election, the first time since 1988.
The decision is a blow to Vice President Kamala Harris, as the newspaper has consistently backed Democratic candidates. It also comes on the heels of a similar decision by the Los Angeles Times, the largest newspaper in Ms. Harris’ home state.
In the aftermath of the decision, the Post Editor at Large Robert Kagan resigned. Mr. Kagan is one of the paper’s loudest anti-Trump voices, penning editorials saying former President Donald Trump’s second term would be a “dictatorship” and he would “destroy democracy if reelected.”
The Post also published an article Friday by two staff reporters saying that editorial page staffers had drafted an endorsement of Ms. Harris over Mr. Trump, but owner Jeff Bezos axed it.
“The decision not to publish was made by The Post’s owner — Amazon founder Jeff Bezos,” the paper reported, citing two sources briefed on events.
Since 1976, the Post has regularly endorsed candidates for president except for in 1988. In all of those years, the post endorsed the Democratic nominee.