LA Times Editorial Editor Resigns Over Endorsements Ban

Los Angeles Times editorial page editor Mariel Garza resigned from the paper on Wednesday following the decision by owner Patrick Soon-Shiong not to endorse a political candidate for president.

“I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not okay with us being silent,” Garza told Columbia Journalism Review. “In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I’m standing up.”

The news was posted on a private Facebook page frequented by current and former LA Times staffers and shared with TheWrap.

Semafor reported on Tuesday the LA Times would not endorse either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, a decision made by the paper’s billionaire businessman owner. The editorial board was prepared to endorse Harris and has endorsed the Democratic candidate in each of the past four elections, going back to Barack Obama in 2008.

Soon-Shiong

Soon-Shiong, who bought the paper in 2018, said the board “chose to remain silent and I accepted their decision.”

Garza told the Columbia Journalism Review that the board had intended to endorse Harris and she had drafted the outline of a proposed editorial.

The LA Times Guild Unit Council & Bargaining Committee said it was “deeply concerned about our owner’s decision to block a planned endorsement in the presidential race.”

“We are even more concerned that he is now unfairly assigning blame to Editorial Board members for his decision not to endorse,” the guild said in a statement. “We are still pressing for answers from newsroom management on behalf of our members.”

TheWrap reported on Wednesday that a number of newspaper subscribers cancelled in anger over the decision. “Mrs. Doubtfire” screenwriter Randi Mayem Singer posted she had “just canceled” her subscription over the paper’s non-endorsement. “WTF is wrong with you?” she asked.

Many of those who read the news of the resignation cheered Garza for her stance. “A courageous and important statement,” wrote an X account @sebosokoff. “But you shouldn’t have had to resign. #LATimes used to be an esteemed Fourth Estate leader. Now it’s a barely dressed up tabloid.”