The Washington Post will not endorse a candidate in this year’s election or “in any future presidential election,” breaking a tradition that dates back to 1992.
“We recognize that this will be read in a range of ways, including as a tacit endorsement of one candidate, or as a condemnation of another, or as an abdication of responsibility. That is inevitable. We don’t see it that way. We see it as consistent with the values The Post has always stood for and what we hope for in a leader: character and courage in service to the American ethic, veneration for the rule of law, and respect for human freedom in all its aspects,” Will Lewis, the newspaper’s publisher and CEO, said in a statement about the decision published on The Post’s website.
The Post has endorsed a presidential contender in every general election since 1992. Lewis said his newsroom is “going back to” the practice of not formally backing a presidential candidate.
The Post made similar moves during various presidential campaigns, including in 1960 or 1972.
The Post’s decision not to endorse a candidate comes after the Los Angeles Times announced a similar decision. The Times opinion section editor resigned after the decision was made public.
