In a historical move, The Detroit News announced it is endorsing Libertarian Gary Johnson for president. It is the first time in the newspaper's 143-year history that it has not endorsed a Republican candidate.
Since 1873, there have been only instances has the paper not endorsed anyone. That came twice during the Franklin Roosevelt election and during the 2004 election between John Kerry and George W. Bush.
"We abandon that long and estimable tradition this year for one reason: Donald J. Trump," the editorial board wrote. "Donald Trump is unprincipled, unstable and quite possibly dangerous. He can not be president."
While the paper says Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has an impressive resume and a presidential bearing, they say character still matters.
"Her career-long struggles with honesty and ethics and calculating, self-serving approach to politics trouble us deeply," they wrote.
As for why they endorsed Johnson, the editorial board named numerous reasons including cutting taxes while balancing the budget as governor of New Mexico, and was a champion of school of choice.
Editorial Page Editor Nolan Finley said they put a lot of thought into the decision, and in the end, said Johnson "best matched the values of this newspaper."
