The newspaper picked one progressive and one moderate candidate, marking a change in tradition.
For the first time in its history, The New York Times editorial board, a group of opinion journalists and editors, has chosen to support two separate candidates for presidency. The New York Times announced its support of both Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren, who are both a part of the Democrat Party.
The New York Times believes that America is being presented with three models on how to govern the country and that the Democratic party is currently split on which is the superior model. The paper wants to frame the choices that Democrats have, rather than making the choice for them.
In a statement about their choices, The New York Times said, “It’s a fight the party itself has been itching to have since Mrs. Clinton’s defeat in 2016, and one that should be played out in the public arena and in the privacy of the voting booth. That’s the very purpose of primaries, to test-market strategies and ideas that can galvanize and inspire the country.”
The process of choosing their endorsements is done through lengthy interviews with the candidates. The board interviewed Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Andrew Yang, Cory Booker (who has since dropped out of the race), Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, Elizabeth Warren, Deval Patrick and Amy Klobuchar. The only candidate that failed to meet with the paper was Michael Bloomberg. The paper states that he said he did not yet have positions “on enough issues.”
One reason for their support of Warren is because of her desire to improve foreign policy, specifically NATO relations. They also support her endeavors to combat climate change. Finally, they also like her ideas for expanding government support, free public college and expanded Social Security. Warren is considered by the paper to be the more progressive candidate.
The paper’s support Klobuchar can be attributed to her also wanting to improve foreign policy. The paper additionally supports her plans to combat climate change, promote gun safety and provide help to the narrowing middle-class. Klobuchar is considered by the paper to be the emerging centrist candidate.
The paper also states, “her lengthy tenure in the Senate and bipartisan credentials would make her a deal maker and uniter for the wings of the party — and perhaps the nation.”
It has now become a long tradition of the newspaper to choose an endorsement for the election. The New York Times first started endorsing candidates in the election of 1860. The first candidate they ever endorsed was Abraham Lincoln.
The first Democrat endorsed by the paper was Grover Cleveland in 1884. The most recent endorsement was for Hillary Clinton in 2016.
As mentioned before, the first Republican candidate that the New York Times endorsed was Abraham Lincoln. In fact, the paper has not endorsed a Republican candidate since 1956; the last being Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Only once in its history has the paper nominated a third party candidate; The New York Times nominated John M. Palmer in 1896, who happened to be a member of the National Democratic Party.
This makes the first time in the paper’s history that it has decided to endorse two candidates for an election. The paper’s statement finishes with, “Ms. Klobuchar and Ms. Warren right now are the Democrats best equipped to lead that debate. May the best woman win.”
