L.A. Times editorial editor quits after owner blocks plans to endorse Harris

SUMMARY

The Los Angeles Times editorial editor, Mariel Garza, resigned on Wednesday after the paper's owner, Patrick Soon-Shiong, blocked plans to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president. Garza explained her departure in a phone call with the Columbia Journalism Review (CJR), saying she could not remain silent during such a critical election, especially given the paper’s series of editorials criticizing former President Donald Trump. Garza believed that endorsing Harris was the natural next step. In her resignation letter, Garza expressed concern that readers might view the lack of endorsement as suspicious, given the paper's past support for Democrats, such as Barack Obama in 2008. Soon-Shiong responded on social media, stating that the editorial board was given the option to present a factual comparison of both candidates without endorsing either. The L.A. Times Guild criticized Soon-Shiong, accusing him of unfairly blaming the editorial board for the decision not to endorse.