Endorsements are losing their punch in politics, though local races are an exception

As the role of traditional news media commentary continues to evolve in the current political season, a great question yet to produce a clear answer is whether anyone really cares anymore about the fourth estate’s advocacy for candidates.

The recent track record around the country suggest that some opinions of editorial boards inside of both print and electronic newsrooms have lost their impact on voters.

Perhaps realizing that change is in the wind, the Dallas Morning News editorial board, as a local example, announced it would not be recommending a candidate for president this year.

“Rather than making a presidential recommendation, we will endorse ideas; rather than recommending one candidate, we will offer a vision for the country,” the board explained.

Meanwhile the New York Times came up with a decision to endorse both Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar – an interesting development from the publication that sees itself as the nation’s “newspaper of record” and, by extension, shaping public opinion across the country.

However valid that notion may have been in the past, it appears any influence the Times once had is no more. Democratic voters have chosen to reduce their field of presidential contenders to two elderly white guys.

Earlier, the national media focused a great deal of attention on Texas’ own Beto O’Rourke and Julián Castro, as well as California Sen. Kamala Harris and former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Upon each of their departures from the race, conclusive statements were made that none of them were ever going to be serious contenders for the Democratic nomination regardless of all the fawning coming from television and newspaper commentators.

There is, however, an exception to the apparent trend of lost interest in editorial opinion we can examine right here in this newspaper.

Facing the most significant challenge in her career, longtime Fort Worth area U.S. Rep. Kay Granger’s victory over former Colleyville City Council member Chris Putnam in the Republican primary may have been significantly influenced by the Star-Telegram editorial board.

During the campaign, it certainly appeared that the 13-term Granger was vulnerable to Putnam’s attacks on her record.

The buzz around town was that his focus on removing her from office over matters that ranged from the beleaguered Panther Island project to her earlier pro-choice position on abortion, her lack of support for President Donald Trump in 2016, and overall claims that she’s not conservative enough.

The paper’s endorsement of Granger aggressively addressed those issues pointing out that no one was in a better position to push for the needed funding to complete the flood control project, and that she had the support of a major national anti-abortion group, Trump’s endorsement, and a voting record that belied claims of insufficient conservative bonafides.

Most importantly, the editorial reminded voters of the imperative of having and wielding power in Congress. Power that comes from seniority – something Granger has acquired after more than two decades in office.

So, the choice was made clearer than just the question of whether or not it was time for a change for the sake of change. Too much is at stake with all that is pending in our community to risk the loss of the clout that she has, which no newcomer would achieve anytime in the near future.

In a follow-up to her victory, the editorial board noted: “Because even in these volatile political times, incumbency mattered to Kay Granger’s voters. They stood by her, and they deserve results.”

Public advocacy like that may support the conclusion that some people still care about the collective wisdom of at least one editorial board.