When Southern California residents go to fill out their ballots in the Nov. 5 election, they might rely on the Los Angeles Times’ endorsements for guidance.
But if you’re looking for a recommendation for president from the Times, you’re out of luck.
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, the owner of the Times, will not allow the editorial board to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump, Semafor reports.
No reasoning was provided for the decision, which marks the first time since 2004 that the paper has not endorsed a presidential candidate.
A spokesperson for the Times told Semafor that “we do not comment on internal discussions or decisions about editorials or endorsements.”
While the paper almost assuredly wouldn’t endorse Trump, the absence of an endorsement for Harris is notable, given her ties to the community and state.
Harris lives in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles with her husband, Doug Emhoff, and previously served as the state’s attorney general and one of California’s two U.S. senators.
A request for comment from the Harris campaign was not immediately returned, but the Trump campaign called the Times’ decision a “humiliating blow.”
“Even her fellow Californians know she’s not up for the job,” the campaign added.
