The Los Angeles Times' editorials editor, Mariel Garza, has resigned following the newspaper's decision to withhold an endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race.
The move came after the paper's owner, Patrick Soon-Shiong, blocked the editorial board's plan to publicly back Harris, citing a need for non-partisan analysis instead.
Garza's departure has sparked discussions on journalistic integrity and the role of media in political discourse.
In an interview with the Columbia Journalism Review, Garza said, "I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not OK with us being silent. In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I'm standing up."
Garza expressed frustration with the Times' silence on the presidential race, particularly in such a high-stakes election, and felt the newspaper's decision not to endorse a candidate was a failure to address important issues.
Garza had reportedly drafted an outline for an editorial supporting Harris before the decision was made to remain neutral.
The Times had previously endorsed Harris in her U.S. Senate and state attorney general races, making the decision not to endorse her for president particularly notable.
Owner Defends Non-Partisan Approach
Transplant surgeon-turned-businessman Soon-Shiong, who purchased the L.A. Times in 2018, defended his decision, stating that the editorial board had been asked to provide a balanced, factual comparison of the policies and actions of both Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump.
In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he said the board was instructed to evaluate the candidates' policies "side-by-side" to allow readers to make their own informed decisions. "The board chose to remain silent, and I accepted their decision," he wrote.
Soon-Shiong said that the intention was not to stifle an endorsement but to encourage objective analysis.
His comments, however, have led to concerns about the paper's direction and the degree of editorial independence under his ownership.
Newsweek has reached out to the L.A. Times for comment via email.
Guild Voices Concerns
The L.A. Times Guild Unit Council & Bargaining Committee expressed deep concern over the owner's decision, stating, "We are even more concerned that he is now unfairly assigning blame to Editorial Board members for his decision not to endorse."
The guild is pressing for answers from newsroom management, advocating on behalf of staff who feel sidelined by the endorsement block.
Trump Campaign Reacts
The Trump campaign quickly responded to Garza's resignation, noting that California's largest newspaper had declined to endorse the Democratic ticket.
This comes after the paper had previously supported Harris in her political career. Garza's resignation also follows the departure of former executive editor Kevin Merida, who left the paper about 10 months ago amid struggles to meet digital subscription goals and financial pressures.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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