ESPN's Stephen A Smith Tied With Low Fat Milk

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith has been generating significant buzz about the possibility of running for president in 2028, a topic that has evolved from casual speculation to a more serious conversation in recent months. 

Known primarily as a bombastic sports commentator and host of ESPN’s First Take, Smith has increasingly ventured into political commentary, leveraging his large platform and outspoken personality to weigh in on national issues. His flirtation with a presidential bid reflects both his personal ambitions and a perceived vacuum in Democratic Party leadership following the 2024 election.

Polling shows Smith at 2% but so was Trump ahead of 2016 victory. The poll asked 414 voters if the Democratic primary for president were held today who would they prefer and had expected names at the top such as former Vice President Kamala Harris who raked in 33% but also former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who pulled in 9% and 7% respectively.

Smith’s interest in a presidential run surfaced prominently after Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in November 2024. Disillusioned with the Democratic Party’s performance, he began critiquing its direction, arguing it had lost touch with working-class voters and failed to produce a compelling national figure. 

.@stephenasmith doesn’t shy away from any question on his podcast The Stephen A. Smith Show! #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/x8zFzLBCTs

— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) March 6, 2025

On his podcast, The Stephen A. Smith Show, and during appearances on shows like The View and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he has suggested that the party’s disarray could open the door for an outsider like himself. In a January 2025 McLaughlin & Associates poll, Smith garnered 2% support among Democratic voters for the 2028 primary—behind Harris (33%), Pete Buttigieg (9%), and Gavin Newsom (7%), but ahead of notable figures like Beto O’Rourke—fueling speculation about his viability.

His stance has oscillated between reluctance and confidence. Smith has repeatedly said he has "no desire" to be a politician, citing his lucrative ESPN career—where he recently signed a five-year, $100 million contract—and distaste for campaigning’s demands, like "shaking hands and kissing babies." Yet, he’s also claimed he could "beat them all" in a Democratic primary, pointing to his debate skills, media savvy, and appeal to a broad audience. 

Smith positions himself as a fiscal conservative and social liberal, favoring a "live and let live" approach while criticizing both parties’ extremes—Trump’s DEI rollbacks and Democrats’ focus on "woke" issues over kitchen-table concerns.