Democrats Find Their New Celebrity Candidate

Outspoken sports commentator and cultural critic Stephen A. Smith is suggesting he might toss his hat into the presidential ring — and he’s not holding back when it comes to placing blame for the current state of American politics.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Smith hinted at a potential White House run and voiced his frustration with the political establishment, particularly the Democratic Party, saying he’s keeping “all doors open” for 2028.

“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.

This is far from the first time the ESPN personality has dipped his toes into political commentary.

While often characterized by his blunt style and fierce opinions in the sports world, Smith has increasingly turned his attention to national politics, especially as the Democrat Party struggles to present a coherent vision in the wake of President Donald Trump’s resurgence.

Smith Slams Democrats for Trump’s Return

Despite being a vocal critic of President Trump, Smith made it abundantly clear that he believes it was the Democratic Party — not Trump supporters — who created the environment for the 45th president’s political comeback.

“Yes you did say beware, beware, beware,” Smith said on his podcast Saturday. “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’s comments resonate with a growing number of Americans — including some on the Left — who are fed up with the radical wing of the Democratic Party prioritizing fringe cultural battles over real-world concerns like inflation, border security, and crime.

No Confidence in Democratic Leadership

In an appearance on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” in March, Smith mocked the media buzz surrounding his name being floated as a 2028 presidential contender, but he didn’t dismiss the idea outright.

“Folks are nuts, number one,” Smith told Jimmy Fallon. “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 joked. “They’ve come to me.”

While Smith has not formally declared any party affiliation for a potential run, his name has already appeared in speculative 2028 Democratic primary polls, garnering a modest but notable 2% support.

The fact that a sports analyst — albeit one with sharp rhetorical skills and a large platform — is being considered in serious political discussions underscores just how dire the leadership vacuum is on the Left.

With names like Gavin Newsom, Pete Buttigieg, and Kamala Harris failing to excite the base or unify the party, Smith’s rising profile could be a symptom of the Democratic Party’s identity crisis more than anything else.