Columnist Nicholas Kristof quits New York Times to consider run for Oregon governor

Columnist Nicholas Kristof is leaving the New York Times as he considers running for governor in Oregon. His departure is the surest sign yet that he plans to make a full  pivot from journalism to politics. 

Kristof has been on leave from his column as he mulled the bid. According to The New York Times, the paper's opinion editor Kathleen Kingsbury praised Kristof in an email to staff for "elevating the journalistic form to a new height of public service with a mix of incisive reporting, profound empathy and a determination to bear witness to those struggling and suffering across the globe."

Kristof, an Oregon native, joined the newspaper in 1984 and is the recipient of two Pulitzer Prizes. In a statement sent to the paper's staff, Kristof said working for the Times "has been my dream job" and added that he was resigning "very reluctantly."