Los Angeles Times declines to endorse presidential candidate for first time since 2008: Report

The Los Angeles Times will not endorse a presidential candidate in the 2024 election, marking the first time the paper's editorial board has withheld its endorsement since 2008, Semafor reported on Tuesday.

The LA Times released its slate of endorsements last week, which included its stances on important state measures and state politicians. It also included its endorsement of Democratic California Rep. Adam Schiff, who is running for the Senate, along with other key Democrats in House races. But the presidential election was absent from the list.

The decision to withhold the endorsement in the presidential race reportedly comes from the paper's owner Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, two sources told Semafor. 

The paper has not publicly commented on the decision but admitted in its endorsements that next month's election could be the "most consequential election in a generation."

"From the top of the ticket to local ballot measures, California voters this year are grappling with major decisions that will shape their lives and communities for years to come," the paper said. "To help voters decide, the Times editorial board offers recommendations based on interviewing candidates, campaign committees and policy experts, examining facts and claims and doing research to inform our endorsements."

The lack of an endorsement is a blow to Vice President Kamala Harris, who has also failed to secure critical endorsements from two labor unions. 

The paper primarily endorsed Republican candidates for president from its founding in 1881 through the 1970s, when it declined to endorse a candidate following the late President Richard Nixon's resignation. The paper then withheld weighing in on the presidential elections until 2008, when it endorsed former President Barack Obama.

The LA Times has since endorsed Democratic candidates for president since 2008. However, in 2020, the paper refused to endorse a candidate during the Democratic primaries, but did endorse President Joe Biden when he became the party's nominee.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.