The Los Angeles Times is declining to endorse a presidential candidate in the 2024 election despite previously endorsing Democratic candidates in every election cycle since 2008. Owner Patrick Soon-Shiong reportedly blocked the editorial board from endorsing Kamala Harris via executive editor Terry Tang.
The newspaper has not explained its decision, but Semfaor notes the LA Times has “raised eyebrows over several local endorsements it made in recent election cycles of candidates supported by Soon-Shiong’s daughter Nika.”
Nika Soon-Shiong promotes pro-Palestinian politicians and far-left policy positions on issues such as reparations. She frequently posts or reposts content jabbing at the Harris-Walz campaign and the Biden-Harris government for their stance on Israel and other issues on social media.
“Project 2025 is not responsible for FEMA’s $9 billion budget shortfall – announced alongside $8.7 billion in new military ‘aid’ to Israel,” she posted on October 2, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Harris’s failure to appeal to leftists like Nika Soon-Shiong could cost her the 2024 race, with voters with strong views on Israel and Palestinian issues staying home or voting third party rather than backing a candidate they regard as complicit in Israeli military action in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
Arab Americans, including the mayor of Muslim-majority Hamtramck, are increasingly backing Donald Trump, and the Michigan campaign group that urged Democrats to vote ‘Uncommitted’ rather than for the now-ousted Joe Biden in the Democratic primary is refusing to endorse Harris.