Stephen A. Smith is never one to hold back his opinions. He’s now thrown himself into the political ring—at least in theory. The ESPN analyst has been voicing his opinions in political discussions lately, leading to speculation that he could one day run for office.
Analyst Backs Himself To Run for the Oval Office
Although Smith has repeatedly dismissed the idea, his latest appearance on ‘The View’ on Tuesday has reignited the conversation about a potential presidential bid. On the show, panelist Alyssa Farah Griffin said to Smith, “Even now, you’re nearly tied with Pete Buttigieg, AOC, Governor Gretchen Whitmer; you have a higher favorability than John Fetterman and Vice President Harris. What do you make of this?”
Smith replied, ” I make of it that citizens, particularly on the left, are desperate.” He then backed it with a 7-word message to the political class, saying, “I think I can beat them all.”
"I mean when I say it. I think I can beat them all." – Stephen A. Smith addresses potentially running for president on The View pic.twitter.com/WtbNVkkYT9
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 4, 2025
Smith is becoming a rising voice in political discourse. He uses his podcast, ‘The Stephen A. Smith Show,’ and media appearances to critique both major parties, particularly the Democrats. A registered independent, he has acknowledged leaning left but has been critical of the party’s failures in the 2024 election.
“I have no desire whatsoever to run for office. I am not a politician. I am not qualified, but I know this much when you consider who’s on the other side and how he’s [Donald Trump] gotten away with saying very little in terms of being coherent and articulating his thoughts clearly and concisely and what have you. This is not something that he’s known to do yet, and still, he has owned the republican party since 2015,” Smith added to his list of criticisms for the POTUS.
Earlier, Smith backed former Vice President Kamala Harris but later regretted his support, calling Trump’s victory a “referendum on the Democratic Party.” Smith’s willingness to challenge the party has drawn praise from some strategists who believe his sports background helps him connect with everyday voters.
However, the 57-year-old insists he’s not a politician, but his name has popped up in early hypothetical 2028 Democratic primary polls. He has spoken highly of potential Democratic candidates like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore but hasn’t completely ruled himself out. In November, he told The View, “Hell no,” when asked about running—before quickly adding that he’d consider it if he had a real shot at winning.
His political takes have led to debates, including a recent clash with longtime Democratic strategist James Carville. Smith confidently stated that he “resonates with voters more” than Carville and could “wreak havoc” in politics if he studied it like he does sports. His ability to connect with audiences has made him a fascinating figure in the political arena, even if he has no concrete plans to run.
For now, Smith remains a sports analyst and commentator, but his growing presence in political conversations suggests he isn’t stepping away from the debate anytime soon.