Stephen A. Smith has revealed the two Democratic politicians he’s backing to take on Donald Trump – and one of them, he says, is ‘the real deal.’
During a segment on his show ‘Straight Shooter’, the outspoken ESPN commentator responded to a caller named Mark from Wisconsin, who said he was a ‘lifetime lib’ but wasn’t sure who Democrats should be supporting heading into the next election.
‘It is looking like it will be Gavin Newsom,’ the caller said. ‘But I am not totally sold on that.’ Smith didn’t hold back in his response before naming his favorite candidates.
‘You shouldn’t be. Let me tell you something right now, first of all I’ve got two candidates that are my favorites. I’m not telling you to vote as I vote – I am just being honest and open with you about who are my two favorite candidates.’
He then made his picks explicit: ‘I love Governor Josh Shapiro for Pennsylvania and Governor Wes Moore from Maryland – those are my two and not necessarily in that order.’
Turning to Moore, Smith delivered his strongest praise: ‘Governor Wes Moore is the real deal – make no mistake about it. I doubt he’ll run but he is the real deal.’
Stephen A. Smith has revealed the two Democrats he’s backing to take on Donald Trump
Smith named Maryland’s Wes Moore and Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro as his candidates
He added: ‘When you talk about somebody that can walk and communicate across the aisle and fixate on getting things done, Wes Moore is somebody I would strongly advise you not to ignore – you better pay attention to this man.’
On Gavin Newsom, Smith was more nuanced. First, he noted his appeal: ‘As for Gavin Newsom – I like the look. My boy Jeff always says “boy does he look great in those blue suits” – he looks so presidential!’
He continued: ‘Gavin Newsom is smart, articulate, bright, very polished and can debate with best of them.’
But Smith cautioned that Newsom’s California record could haunt him in a national campaign. ‘Here’s the problem: when it comes [to the] general election, all anybody will do is point to the cost of living in California, the economy in California, homelessness.
They’re gonna point to a lot different things that have ravaged that state and then look at businesses that fled the state to go elsewhere because of the cost of living there. And I think ultimately that’s going to hurt him in a general election.’
He closed with a critique of Newsom’s leadership style: ‘Gavin Newsom is a kind man whose heart is in the right place and he just doesn’t want to say no to everybody.’
But he added: ‘But when you are in office, you have to say no sometimes. And it doesn’t seem to be his gift.’
While Smith didn’t explicitly tie his picks to 2028, his framing comes amid growing speculation that Governor Gavin Newsom is positioning for a presidential run in that cycle.
Smith also weighed in Gavin Newsom amid large speculation he will run in the 2028 election
The potential 2028 hopeful has also sued the Trump administration after he took over the California National Guard during the Summer to put down anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles
Following the 2024 election loss, Democrats remain rudderless in-search of a new leader to unite a demoralized party.
An Emerson College poll released last month indicated the California governor has leaped to favorite status among Democratic primary voters three years until the next presidential election.
The same poll conducted in June showed Newsom with just 12 percent support among likely Democratic voters. The latest Emerson survey has the slick-haired California leader boasting 25 percent support.
Newsom’s polling surge came after an intense month-long change to his social media presence that included mimicking the Truth Social candor of the 47th president.
The X account for Newsom’s press office sends daily posts now mimicking Trump’s all-caps posts and rants.
Meanwhile, Newsom himself has challenged Trump and GOP states seeking to redistrict ahead of the 2026 midterms by launching an effort to redraw California’s congressional map.
The potential 2028 hopeful has also sued the Trump administration after he took over the California National Guard during the Summer to put down anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles.