2016 Presidential Endorsements

For the first time in its 40-year existence, Foreign Policy endorsed a presidential candidate:

In the nearly half-century history of Foreign Policy, the editors of this publication have never endorsed a candidate for political office. We cherish and fiercely protect this publication’s independence and its reputation for objectivity, and we deeply value our relationship with all of our readers, regardless of political orientation.

It is for all these reasons that FP’s editors are now breaking with tradition to endorse Hillary Clinton for the next president of the United States.

Our readers depend on FP for insight and analysis into issues of national security and foreign policy. We feel that our obligation to our readers thus extends now to making clear the great magnitude of the threat that a Donald Trump presidency would pose to the United States. The dangers Trump presents as president stretch beyond the United States to the international economy, to global security, to America’s allies, as well as to countless innocents everywhere who would be the victims of his inexperience, his perverse policy views, and the profound unsuitability of his temperament for the office he seeks.

The litany of reasons Trump poses such a threat is so long that it is, in fact, shocking that he is a major party’s candidate for the presidency. The recent furor over his vile behavior with women illustrates the extraordinary nature of his unsuitability, as does his repudiation by so many members of his own party — who have so many reasons to reflexively support their nominee.

This endorsement made me want to look at the state of newspaper and magazine endorsements thus far. As of now, there is not a single newspaper or magazine that has endorsed Trump. None. Zero. And the following have more-or-less broken tradition:

• New York Daily News: pro-Clinton. Typically centrist; endorsed George Bush in 2004 and Mitt Romney in 2012 (Barack Obama in 2008).
• Houston Chronicle: pro-Clinton. Third time in 64 years to endorse a Democratic candidate.
• Tulsa World: No endorsement. Franklin Roosevelt in 1940 was the last Democratic candidate they endorsed.
• Richmond Times-Dispatch: pro-Johnson. Have endorsed every Republican nominee since 1980. First endorsement of a Libertarian.
• Dallas Morning News: pro-Clinton. First endorsement of a Democratic nominee since Roosevelt in 1944.
• New Hampshire Union Leader: pro-Johnson. First Libertarian endorsement and non-Republican in over 100 years.
• Cincinnati Enquirer: pro-Clinton. First Democratic endorsement since Woodrow Wilson in 1916.
• Arizona Republic: pro-Clinton. First Democratic endorsement in its 126-year history.
• Detroit News: pro-Johnson. First non-Republican endorsement in its 143-year history.
• USA Today: not Trump. First time to take a position on the presidential election in its 34-year history.
• San Diego Union-Tribune: pro-Clinton. First Democratic endorsement in its 148-year history.
• Desert Sun: pro-Clinton. First Democratic endorsement in 90-year history.
• Foreign Policy: pro-Clinton. See above.
• Wired: pro-Clinton. Magazine’s first presidential endorsement.
• Deseret News: not Trump. Has not endorsed a candidate in 80 years, but wrote an editorial saying Trump should drop out.

And much more. Check out the list here.