7 Conservative Papers That Couldn't Endorse Trump

Something unusual has been happening throughout this presidential election. Newspapers across the country, including several which have historically endorsed mostly or exclusively Republican candidates, have broken with tradition to endorse anybody other than Donald Trump. Conservative editorial boards are coming out of the woodwork to warn against the Republican nominee, and that’s something that just doesn’t happen in normal elections. On Thursday, USA Today announced that, for the first time in its history, it would be issuing an endorsement in the presidential race. It wasn’t an endorsement of a specific candidate, but against one: The paper told readers to vote for anybody other than Trump, explaining that the editorial board unanimously agreed that he is “unfit for the presidency.”

“Our bottom-line advice for voters is this: Stay true to your convictions,” the editorial board wrote, noting that it was not endorsing Hillary Clinton or anybody else in the race. “Whatever you do, however, resist the siren song of a dangerous demagogue. By all means vote, just not for Donald Trump.”

USA Today isn’t the only news organization to break with a longstanding tradition in order to oppose Trump. Several local newspapers have done the same.

The Detroit News

Gary Johnson received the Detroit News endorsement. This was the first time in the paper’s 143-year history that it endorsed someone other than the Republican candidate.

The Arizona Republic

Never since its founding in 1860 has The Arizona Republic endorsed a Democrat over a Republican for president. That changed in September, when the paper’s editorial board determined that Trump was “not qualified” for the presidency, and endorsed Clinton instead.

The Cincinnati Enquirer

Calling Trump a “clear and present danger to our country,” The Cincinnati Enquirer has endorsed Clinton. The last Democratic presidential candidate to receive the paper’s endorsement was Woodrow Wilson, 100 years ago.

The Dallas Morning News

Similarly, The Dallas Morning News hasn’t endorsed — or “recommended,” to use its parlance — a Democratic presidential candidate since before World War II. It endorsed Clinton in early September, citing Trump’s “astounding absence of preparedness” for the presidency.

The Houston Chronicle

The editorial board of The Houston Chronicle announced in July that it usually waits until late in the general election to endorse a presidential candidate. But the paper made an exception this year, concluding that Trump is “a danger to the Republic” and endorsing Clinton for president. It endorsed Mitt Romney in 2012.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch

In every presidential election since 1980, The Richmond Times-Dispatch has endorsed the Republican candidate. This year, it endorsed Johnson, calling him “the most capable and ethical candidate running this year.”

The New Hampshire Union-Leader

For over a century, The New Hampshire Union-Leader has consistently endorsed the Republican candidate in presidential elections. But it too endorsed Johnson this year, explaining that Trump is “a liar, a bully [and] a buffoon.”