Could we soon be recognizing President Stephen A. Smith or at least candidate Stephen A. Smith? If we take cues from the oddsmakers, this isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds. According to Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports, Kalshi indicates that the ESPN personality currently has the fourth-best odds to be the Democratic nominee for 2028, with equal or better odds than several notable potential candidates.
“As of noon ET Saturday, a $100 bet on Smith would win you $1,241 if he becomes the nominee,” Glasspiegel reported. “You can also place a ‘no’ bet, wagering $100 to win $5. The implied odds of Smith earning the nomination stand at 7.26%. The bet loses if Smith doesn’t run or isn’t nominated.” Notably, Smith has the same odds as Pete Buttigieg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Gretchen Whitmer, while only Gavin Newsom, Josh Shapiro, and Wes Moore have shorter odds. Furthermore, Smith has better odds than several prominent figures like J.B. Pritzker, Andy Beshear, Kamala Harris, and even Mark Cuban.
The speculation around Smith’s candidacy has stirred significant discussion recently, attracting considerable backlash, which Smith has responded to. Interestingly, he has also garnered some support. Although Smith has publicly stated that he’s not planning to run, he’s kept the door open enough to spark ongoing speculation. Additionally, he is engaging in more projects beyond sports, notably in the political arena.
Ultimately, the election of Donald Trump in 2016 and again in 2024 exemplifies that a robust political background is not always necessary to attract voter support.
