Rich Lowry stepping down as editor of National Review magazine

Veteran conservative journalist and author Rich Lowry is set to step down as editor of National Review. 

Lowry on Tuesday confirmed his plans to step down from the role he’s held since the late 1990s to Axios, which reported that he will take a new role to focus on more strategic long-term initiatives and serve as the magazine’s editor-in-chief. 

Ramesh Ponnuru, a longtime editor at National Review, will replace Lowry as editor of the magazine. 

“A few years ago, we had an overall operating loss of almost $2 million,” Lowry told Axios, saying revenue at the company has been up about 20 percent over the last year. “We have closed the gap considerably the last couple of years and are now much closer to break even.”

National Review, which has published for more than a half century, has around 110,000 subscribers, Axios reported. About half those are digital, an area the company says has increased 30 percent over the last year.

In his new role, Lowry will still have control over the overall editorial tone and standards of the magazine and website, but will spend more time building relationships within the conservative movement including elected officials, donors and advocacy groups. 

Ponnuru, who has been with National Review for two decades, is also a visiting fellow at the conservative think tank the American Enterprise Institute. 

“I’m excited to be taking the helm of the magazine at a time when there are so many fundamental debates going on among conservatives,” Ponnuru told Axios. “One of the things that’s great about this moment is that we’re in great financial condition, which opens up new possibilities.” 

Unlike other leading conservative outlets, National Review has routinely criticized former President Trump for his statements since losing the 2020 election to President Biden, with its editorial board saying his unfounded claims of voter fraud and a rigged election are “disgraceful.”