The sports commentator Stephen A. Smith assumes a new role in democratic policy while the party seeks his identity after his loss against President Trump in November.
Smith expressed his interest in politics well before election day, but was particularly critical of the party after Trump’s victory, calling on him to get back on the main problems of voters during the past cycle, including inflation and immigration.
His political involvement has even been talked about as a presidential candidate in 2028. Although he rejected this idea, this shows how political attention receives attention for his vision of the party’s location.
“It’s great to have someone outside the policy that makes convincing arguments for the Democratic Party,” said Democratic Stratege Jared Leopold. “I think we have seen that many people, that the majority of swing voters treat politics not like entry but as a parallel route, and sports are definitely an entry point.”
Smith has worn several hats throughout his career, organizing a radio program and co-hosting “First Take” on ESPN. But he also explored external sports commenting on and postponing, running into the theater and commenting on new national policies.
He has been open to discussing politics for years, but he has become an increasing voice throughout the 2024 cycle with a large part of his political commentary on his podcast, “The Stephen A. Smith Show” and appearances on news talk shows.
Independently recorded, Smith said that he had liberal and conservative opinions but identifies as moderately on the left as a whole. He supported former vice-president Kamala Harris in the 2024 elections and said he would plan to vote for a republican but “never” Trump.
He scheduled for September that Harris would win and Sparred with Fox News host Sean Hannity just before the elections.
But he then expressed his regret for having supported Harris after his loss and reprimanded the party for having lost his way and not focusing on the main problems that the voters cared throughout 2024, as he did.
He described Trump’s victory one “Referendum on the Democratic Party», Totage in the frustration of those who say that the party needs the correction of courses rather than simply improving communication.
With the Democratic Party without a clear leader, some Democrats said that the party could use all the help it can get the ship.
“Democrats are looking for someone who will forcefully argue our points and not back down,” said Leopold. “And it was not in politics, but Stephen A. Smith had this career.”
The hill contacted Smith via ESPN to comment.
The democratic strategist, Joe Zepecki, said that the party needed as many communicators as possible.
“Each person in America with a platform that can communicate the cost that the Trump administration makes us all pay, enter, water is fine,” he said. “Welcome to the party.”
Smith did not take on the Democratic label and patience On one of Trump’s signatures, plans to reduce the size of the federal government with Elon Musk’s efforts, but it seemed to focus on the place where the Democratic Party must go after Trump’s victory.
In recent weeks, he has made Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro (D), a rumor candidate in 2028, and the minority head of the Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) minority on his podcast, discussing a range of subjects, including the state and the management of the party.
Black-smith Also recently jostled With the longtime democratic strategist James Carville, claiming that he resonates more with voters than Carville and could “wreak havoc” on politics if he studied him as he does sport.
Smith expressed his interest in Shapiro and the governor of Maryland, Wes Moore (D), the candidates of 2028, but he was also the subject of speculation of the presidential ambitions himself.
He was asked the question a few times in recent months, generally saying no but sometimes with a warning.
“I am half a joke, but I think in a way. … If you came to me and you told me that I had a legitimate shot to win the presidency of the United States of America, I would certainly consider it ”, Smith said “the view” In November after responding first “Hell no” on the possibility.
He said at the time that if he presented himself, he would present himself as an independent, although he declared in a podcast at the end of last month that he would be “probably” a moderate democrat if he was running.
Smith was even included in a few Histothetic stables still For democratic appointment, receiving support of 1 or 2%.
The Antjuan Seawright Democratic strategist said Smith was in the discussion of the future of the party in its place, because the current media environment shows that people receive information from a wide range of sources.
“If there is one thing that we have learned from previous elections, it is because different people obtain information from different places, whether the information is exact or not … and that different people process information in different ways,” he said. “And so I think it is certainly not unusual for an external voice to withdraw attention.”
Seawright said that chatter in 2028 is “premature” and that the party’s goal should be more on the now. But he said that Smith had a responsibility if he had to be involved in the conversations on party leadership, arguing that certain statements that Smith made during the electoral cycle “had nowhere an ounce of truth”.
But he drew a line between sports and politics having a similar dynamic.
“It is important to note that sports and politics have a lot of similarities,” he said. “Contact by being one of them, the competition being the other, and the fact that in sports, either you win, or you learn, and the same thing about (politics) that you do not always lose when they learn.”
“And so I think there are similarities, but I think everything in its place is important for people,” he added.
Zepecki argued that Smith’s call to Democrats to focus more on the issues of the economy and immigration is not as simple as it presents it, saying: “What a new idea. I am sure that none of the consulting lessons he wants (in) Fire suggested this or thought it was a good idea. »»
“He sees an opportunity for himself to silence the sweetest target in the United States, the Democratic Party,” he said. “If someone thinks that running triumphs, comics insults for the president is a good idea, direct the fucking dog.”
Smith himself argued that observers should not consider him as a candidate now, but the fact that they had spoken to the party state without a clear leader.
“I’m not in the news because I’m here,” said Smith during a Recent Podcast episoderaising his arm above his head.
“I am in the news because the Democratic Party is there,” he said, lowering his arm.
Smith added that it did not care about the “noise” around him even if he does not plan to be a candidate, hoping that this will make the party “uncomfortable” enough to “collect your act”.
“If not it is, shouting in three years,” he concluded. “I might have changed my mind by then.”
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material cannot be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.