ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith has reversed course on his potential political career, and just said he’s seriously considering running for the Democratic Party presidential nomination 2028 after previously dismissing the idea.
“Time to stop messing around. Life is great. Especially at ESPN/Disney. Hate the thought of being a politician. But sick of this mess. So I’m officially leaving all doors open,” Smith declared Monday in a post on X.
Speaking at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, Smith told interviewer Mike McVay that recent developments have forced him to reconsider his political future.
“Over the last few weeks, I’ve had no choice but to get more serious about it,” Smith said. “I’ve been approached by people on Capitol Hill, governors, mayors and other elected officials who have legitimately and seriously asked me about running.”
Smith, who has built his career on his brash sports commentary personality, now says he’ll make a final decision in late 2026 or 2027.
“If it comes to late 2026 or 2027, and I look at this country and think it’s an absolute mess, and there’s legitimate reason to believe I have a shot to win the presidency, I am not going to rule it out,” he said.
The outspoken media personality has been increasingly vocal about politics, particularly following the 2024 election. Smith has criticized Democrats for losing focus on key voter issues like immigration and inflation, suggesting the party’s emphasis on identity politics cost them the election.
“Yes you did say beware, beware, beware,” Smith said on his podcast. “You told us these things. But you still lived life allowing cancel culture and identity politics to be pervasive throughout our society. Y’all did that, as Democrats.”
Smith, a registered Independent who describes himself as “moderately to the left,” has sent mixed signals about which party banner he might run under. Last November on The View, he suggested he would run as an Independent, but later said on his podcast that he would “probably” run as a moderate Democrat.
During an appearance on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon in early March, Smith addressed the presidential rumors with his trademark candor.
“Folks are nuts, number one,” Smith told Fallon when asked about headlines suggesting he could be a future presidential candidate. “Number two, the Democrat Party, they lost. They had a bad few months. We all know this. And even though there’s a lot of qualified Democrats all over the country from a local perspective — governors, mayors, stuff like that — there’s no real national voice.”
“Enter moi,” Smith added. “They’ve come to me.”
While Smith supported former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, he later expressed regret, criticizing the Democratic Party for not focusing on voters’ primary concerns.
If Smith enters the race as a Democrat, he would likely face a crowded field that could include California Governor Gavin Newsom, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Smith believes his lack of political record would give him an advantage, allowing him to “eat other candidates alive” based on their existing records.
The sports commentator hasn’t limited his political critiques to Democrats. He recently took aim at Republicans regarding their stance on the Constitution, particularly concerning a potential third Trump term.
“Wait a minute, you’re a Republican voter out there. I thought your party was the party that preached about the Constitution. I thought your party was the party that said, ‘We’re not violating, we’re not circumventing, we’re not slithering our way through to get what we want,'” Smith said during a live discussion on March 31.