By The Daily Caller (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-15 16:21:15 | Updated at 2026-08-15 17:12:09
1 hour ago
Stephen A. Smith says Republican Florida Rep. Byron Donalds is the one politician who could pull him into the Republican Party, and he offered the endorsement days before the state’s GOP gubernatorial primary.
The ESPN personality made the comments Thursday on his SiriusXM show “Straight Shooter with Stephen A. Smith.” Smith, a longtime Democrat, praised the Trump-backed frontrunner without reservation.
“And I ain’t no d— Republican. But that mean if anybody could make me one, it would be him. I’m just going to keep it a buck. I’m just letting you know,” Smith said. “He’s the real deal. Make no mistake about it. I’ve seen him battling with Democrats. I’ve seen him battling with people on different shows, whatever. He ain’t backing up. He knows his stuff.” (RELATED: Byron Donalds’ Gubernatorial Campaign Touts $81.1 Million Fundraising Haul)
Donalds welcomed the comment Friday night during an appearance on “Just The News, No Noise.”
“I do believe that resonates with people. So to hear Stephen A. Smith say that, really means a lot to me,” Donalds said. “He’s a good guy. We’ve gotten a chance to know each other over the last year or so, and that really means a lot.”
Donalds holds a commanding lead heading into Tuesday’s contest. A James Madison Institute poll released Aug. 6 put him at 49% among likely Republican voters, 31 points clear of Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, according to Fox News Digital. His campaign has raised more than $90 million while Collins, former state House Speaker Paul Renner and investor James Fishback trail. DeSantis, barred from a third term, has stayed out of the primary.
President Donald Trump endorsed Donalds early, and figures including Elon Musk, Ted Cruz and Rep. Chip Roy later followed, according to Florida Politics.
Smith has warmed to Republicans in recent months. Two days before the Donalds remarks, he called Secretary of State Marco Rubio “the real deal” and credited Vice President JD Vance and DeSantis as strong talents, according to The Washington Times.
