ESPN sports television personality and analyst Stephen A. Smith has fueled speculation about running for president. In an interview on CBS on Sunday, he said that if he decides to, he will run as a Democrat, identifying himself as a "fiscal conservative, social liberal," and adding that he intends to be on the debate stage in 2027. He would not enter the race if he did not think he had a chance to win, he boasted.
Smith was asked by CBS whether he would make a decision by the end of 2026 to run for president. He said:
I will make a decision in early 2027, but I am not ruling it out, because I expect a lot of success to come my way. ... I will confess to you, I'm giving strong consideration to being on that debate stage for 2027.
High-profile ESPN and SiriusXM commentator and bestselling author @stephenasmith is a combative and colorful voice on sports. But now, with a weekly political show, in which he interviews government leaders, he is gaining notice in Washington, too.
— CBS Sunday Morning 🌞 (@CBSSunday) February 15, 2026
Smith talks with "Sunday… pic.twitter.com/oyUiAT77q6
Smith talks with "Sunday Morning" national correspondent @costareports about his journey and whether he might soon be on a debate stage.
Smith said he will have this year to study and better understand the topics, which could also play a factor in his decision to run for president and be on the debate stage. Whether people agree or disagree with Smith on politics and policies, if the current Democrat field holds true, based on the polling, where the overwhelming majority of candidates will be career politicians, Smith could make the argument that most of those candidates did not build their net worth off of hard work. Rather, they became politicians and profited off of taxpayers, and some through insider trading, while most importantly, not making the lives of the American people any better.
We know Smith does not shy away from speaking what is on his mind, and I don't expect that to change on the debate stage. He has already called out some of the "frontrunners" in the past, such as former Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA). On Wednesday, Smith called out Newsom again for refusing to go on his podcast and answer for his failures in California.
🚨NEW: Stephen A. Smith says Gavin Newsom still *DUCKING* his show🚨
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) February 19, 2026
"Still waiting, Gavin Newsom! ... I simply want you to answer for your state — about the homelessness, crime, defunding police, being a sanctuary city & state, billions in debt!" @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/1CniBFJ3ng
We know that Newsom is good at deflecting and getting away from these topics by saying he agrees with the interviewer, but of course, then does nothing to address his failures. On a debate stage, if Smith participates, he could flatten Newsom and any Democrat who has failed their people, whether in Congress or at the state level, which would be a nightmare scenario for the DNC. They will pull all the strings to try to keep Smith and other outsiders from being on that debate stage, just to protect their corrupt career politicians from being further exposed in front of millions of Americans.
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If Smith decides to run, and according to him, he is not running to lose, that will be bad news for Newsom, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), and any other leftist Democrat who has made promise after promise yet failed to deliver on even half of them, and is making life more difficult for their constituents.
🚨NEW: @BillOReilly urges Stephen A. Smith to run for president🚨
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) February 19, 2026
"I think you should run — & I'm being serious ... but don't have any expectation of winning ... you're exposing the charlatans — which would be an amazing historical achievement!"
SMITH: "I don't play to lose." pic.twitter.com/oyaviX1Yxz
There will be a couple of outsiders who will jump into the primary, but maybe nobody as well-known as Smith. He would be a thorn in the side of career politicians, and the DNC will try to keep him off the stage, but now more than ever, people know the shenanigans that the DNC plays and won't stand for it. Voters will want to hear from outsiders and would want them to participate in debates.
