The New York Times has broken its 64-year streak of supporting Democrats over Republicans for president by endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris.
The New York Times has ended its decades-long streak of endorsing Democratic candidates for president over Republicans, by throwing its support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
The endorsement marks a significant departure from the Times' previous stance, as it had consistently backed Democrats for the past 64 years. The last Republican the outlet endorsed was President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956.
New York Times Breaks Editorial Streak, Endorses Kamala Harris for President
In an editorial published on Monday, the Times' editorial board wrote that Harris is the "only patriotic choice" for president, citing her commitment to issues such as the economy, immigration, and America's international alliances.
"This unequivocal, dispiriting truth — Donald Trump is not fit to be president — should be enough for any voter who cares about the health of our country and the stability of our democracy to deny him re-election," the editorial board wrote.
New York Times Breaks Editorial Streak, Endorses Kamala Harris for President
The Times also acknowledged that Harris has faced criticism for her press avoidance strategy, but argued that it is a "disservice to the American people and to her own record" to shield her from tough questions.
The endorsement comes as Harris faces an uphill battle in the polls. A recent poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that Harris is trailing Trump by 10 points among registered voters.
New York Times Breaks Editorial Streak, Endorses Kamala Harris for President
The Trump campaign has dismissed the endorsement, with communications director Steven Cheung calling it "about as useful as a moldy old dishrag that hasn't been cleaned in years."
The Harris campaign has not yet commented on the endorsement.
The Times is not the only major newspaper with a Democratic-favoring editorial board. The Washington Post has never supported a Republican presidential candidate since it began endorsing candidates in 1976.
Despite its long streak of supporting Democrats, the Times has endorsed some unsuccessful candidates in the past. These include George McGovern in 1972, Walter Mondale in 1984, and Michael Dukakis in 1988, who all lost the popular vote by significant margins.
