Mariel Garza, the editorial chief of the Los Angeles Times, has resigned following the newspaper’s decision not to endorse Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris for president. Garza’s resignation comes after the newspaper’s owner, Patrick Soon-Shiong, blocked the editorial board’s plans to endorse Harris, leading Garza to express her discontent with the newspaper’s silence during what she described as “dangerous times.”
“I am resigning because I want to make it clear that I am not OK with us being silent,” said Garza in an interview with the Columbia Journalism Review. “In dangerous times, honest people need to stand up. This is how I’m standing up.”
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Garza indicated that the editorial board had intended to endorse Harris and that she had already drafted a proposed editorial outlining this support.
Soon-Shiong clarified in a post on X that the editorial board was tasked with providing a factual analysis of both Harris’s and former President Donald Trump’s policies, allowing readers to make an informed decision. He noted that the board ultimately chose not to endorse any candidate, a decision he accepted.
The L.A. Times Guild Unit Council & Bargaining Committee expressed deep concern over the owner’s decision, criticizing him for unfairly placing blame on the editorial board for not endorsing. The guild is seeking further clarity from management regarding this situation.
Trump’s campaign reacted to Garza’s resignation, highlighting that the state’s largest newspaper had refrained from endorsing the Democratic ticket despite previously supporting Harris in her races for U.S. Senate and state attorney general.
Garza’s departure follows the earlier resignation of Executive Editor Kevin Merida, reflecting ongoing challenges within the organization, including unmet digital subscriber goals and the need for increased revenue to sustain operations.
