Long-standing WaPo columnist Michele Norris resigns over paper’s refusal to endorse Kamala Harris for president

“As of yesterday, I have decided to resign from my role as a columnist for The Washington Post — a newspaper that I love. In a moment like this, everyone needs to make their own decisions,” Norris announced on X.

She criticized the paper’s decision as “a terrible mistake & an insult to the paper’s own longstanding standard of regularly endorsing candidates since 1976.” Norris argued that withholding an endorsement “abdicates [the paper’s] role in informing and guiding voters,” pointing out that the outlet has endorsed candidates in previous races, including those who ran against Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020.

“To be clear, a newspaper does not forfeit its independence in making endorsements,” Norris argued. “An endorsement provides guidance based on muscular and independent analysis. And it provides a window into an institution’s core values.”

“I am deeply disappointed by The Post’s decision to reverse course and withhold a presidential endorsement in this election cycle when the excellent reporting throughout the entirety of the paper makes clear all that is at stake in the election and around the world,” she added.

Reflecting on her time at the paper, Norris remarked, “I have been proud to write occasional columns for the Washington Post over the past five years. I have a long history at the paper, having worked as an award-winning staff writer for The Post in the late eighties and early nineties before starting a career in TV and radio.”

Norris’ announcement comes as the paper has faced criticism from many voices on the left for its decision to not endorse Harris for president. The decision by the paper resulted in high-profile individuals like author Stephen King publicly stating they would cancel their subscriptions.

Defending its decision, the outlet stated it will not be making an endorsement in this election nor in any future presidential election. “We are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates,” the paper said.

"Our job at The Washington Post is to provide through the newsroom non-partisan news for all Americans, and thought-provoking, reported views from our opinion team to help our readers make up their own minds. Most of all, our job as the newspaper of the capital city of the most important country in the world is to be independent,” it concluded.