The Economist has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. The magazine follows another British outlet, The Guardian, in throwing its weight behind the Democratic candidate, as U.S. outlets, including The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and USA Today, opt out of making endorsements despite backing Joe Biden in 2020.
However, the endorsement is far from glowing. It notes, “It is hard to imagine Ms. Harris being a stellar president, though people can surprise you.” It says only that, unlike Trump, they cannot imagine her bringing about a “catastrophe.”
John Prideaux, the U.S. editor at The Economist, has defended the magazine’s partisan stance, arguing, “We don’t think being independent and being opinionated are in conflict with each other. Reporters have strong views on the subjects they cover because they’re experts. It’s odd to pretend they don’t.”
There may be ulterior motives for the British news outlet’s involvement in the U.S. election. The Washington Post and LA Times have seen walkouts over their owners’ instructions not to endorse, and the former has also suffered an exodus of digital subscribers.
However, when the far-left Guardian stepped in to endorse Harris, it claimed in a fundraising email that it was—in contrast to The Post and the LA Times—taking a “fearless” stand by doing so, raking around $2 million in the space of a week.
