Stephen A. Smith may not be launching a presidential campaign, but for the first time, he’s not shutting the idea down either.
Speaking at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, the outspoken ESPN commentator revealed that the growing buzz around his political potential has gotten too real to ignore.
“Over the last few weeks, I’ve had no choice but to get more serious about it,” Smith said according to Barrett Media. “I’ve been approached by people on Capitol Hill. I’ve been approached by people who are elected officials in office, whether it’s governors or mayors or what have you. People have legitimately, seriously, asked me about it. I have no desire to be a politician, but I’ve decided that I’m no longer going to close that door. I’m gonna keep my options open. I’m going to entertain the possibility. If it comes in late 2026, 2027, where I look at this country and think it’s an absolute mess and there’s legitimate reason to believe … that I indeed have a legitimate shot to win the presidency of the United States. I am not going to rule it out.”
The comments mark a major shift from Smith, who’s spent months brushing off rumors about a potential presidential run. Now, with big names in politics reportedly reaching out, he’s taking the idea more seriously.
Smith emphasized that he’s enjoying his current life. With a new $100 million contract at ESPN, plus radio, podcast, and media deals in the mix, politics isn’t a move he’s looking to make lightly. But if he ever did run, he made one thing clear: he wouldn’t be doing it for attention. He’d be doing it to win.
He also noted that not having a political record might work in his favor. If he ever hit the debate stage, he said, he’d hold other candidates accountable for their pasts while staying clear of attacks on his own.
Smith even mentioned likely Democratic challengers like Wes Moore, Josh Shapiro, and Gavin Newsom, while keeping an eye on the Republican field too.
For now, he says a final decision won’t come until late 2026 or early 2027.
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