USA Today Joins Washington Post, LA Times In Declining To Endorse Kamala Harris For President
In a surprising move, USA Today has decided not to endorse a presidential candidate in 2024, including Kamala Harris, despite having backed President Joe Biden in the last election. USA Today explained its approach to The Daily Beast, stating it would provide readers with “the facts that matter and the trusted information they need to make informed decisions.”
This decision comes alongside similar choices from The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times, which have also refrained from endorsements this cycle, despite the liberal reputations of both outlets. In contrast, The New York Times has endorsed Harris, though the Post and LA Times have reportedly seen resignations and subscriber drops following the non-endorsement decisions.
Lark-Marie Anton, USA Today spokesperson, said, “Our public service is to provide readers with the facts that matter.” Gannett, which owns USA Today and numerous other papers, is taking a unified stance by refraining from presidential endorsements, though they are free to endorse local candidates.
This change marks a return to tradition for USA Today, which had historically remained neutral until it endorsed Biden in 2020. At the time, the paper’s editorial board described Biden as the best choice to restore calm and stability after Trump’s term, which they criticized as divisive. The reversal highlights a shift in the paper’s stance on endorsing presidential candidates, especially with Trump as the likely Republican candidate.
