Washington Post Breaks Decades-Long Tradition by Not Endorsing Presidential Candidate

In a significant shift from its long-standing practice, The Washington Post has announced that it will not endorse a presidential candidate in the upcoming 2024 election. This decision, made public by the newspaper’s publisher Will Lewis on Friday, marks a return to the publication’s foundational principle of not endorsing candidates.

Historically, The Washington Post has endorsed a candidate in every presidential election since 1980. However, Lewis emphasized that the Editorial Board is reverting to its earlier stance of abstaining from endorsements. This move is part of the newspaper’s commitment to values such as integrity, bravery in serving the American ideal, respect for the rule of law, and a commitment to human freedom.

Lewis acknowledged that this decision could be interpreted in various ways, including as an implicit endorsement or a critique of another candidate, or even as a relinquishment of duty. However, he clarified that the newspaper views this decision as aligned with its core values and aspirations for leadership.

This announcement comes on the heels of a similar controversy involving The Los Angeles Times, where the owner intervened to prevent an endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, leading to the resignation of three members from the editorial board).