LA Times editor quits as Kamala Harris endorsement killed

Mariel Garza, editorial editor at the Los Angeles Times, has resigned to protest the paper's decision to cancel a presidential endorsement at the behest of its owner.

“A brave decision by a highly ethical editor and great boss,” wrote Karin Klein, a former member of the paper’s editorial board, as she shared the news in a Facebook group made up of current and former Times employees.

In her resignation letter, Garza wrote of the non-endorsement: “It makes us look cowardly and hypocritical, maybe even a little sexist and racist.” How could we rail against Trump and the danger his leadership poses to the country for eight years and it then fail to support the perfectly decent Democratic challenger – the one we previously supported for the US Senate?”

A spokesman for The Times did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Garza's resignation. When asked about the reasons for the non-endorsement, she replied via email: “We do not comment on internal discussions or decisions about editorials or endorsements.”

Soon-Shiong, who bought the Times in 2018, later addressed the controversy and how those policies affected the nation.”

“In this way, with this clear and impartial information, our readers could decide side-by-side who would be worthy of being president for the next four years,” Soon-Shiong wrote. “Instead of taking this route as suggested, the editorial team chose to remain silent and I accepted their decision.”

He did not deny blocking the newspaper from endorsing Harris.

In a statement Wednesday evening, the newsroom's union leadership said it was “deeply concerned” about Soon-Shiong's decision to stop the planned support.

“We fear all the more that he is now unfairly blaming the editorial board members for his decision not to support him,” Los Angeles Times Guild officials said. “On behalf of our members, we are still pressing for answers from newsroom management. The Los Angeles Times Guild stands with our members who have always worked diligently to protect the integrity of our newsroom.”