By Stephen A. Smith’s slow-motion breakup with the Democratic Party may have just taken another step.
The ESPN star and longtime Democrat says there is at least one Republican who might actually convince him to switch parties: Florida Rep. Byron Donalds.
“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 Thursday on his SiriusXM program Straight Shooter with Stephen A.
“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.”
That is some pretty high praise from a man who still describes himself as a Democrat.
It also comes at a very good time for Donalds, explained The Daily Caller.
Florida Republicans head to the polls Tuesday to choose their nominee to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Donalds enters the final days as the overwhelming frontrunner. President Donald Trump endorsed the congressman early in the race, while Elon Musk, Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Chip Roy are among the other prominent Republicans who have backed him.
Donalds apparently appreciated the assist.
“I do believe that resonates with people. So to hear Stephen A. Smith say that, really means a lot to me,” Donalds said Friday on Just The News, No Noise. “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.”
The two have developed a friendship, with Smith saying they speak regularly.
And Smith’s comments about Donalds are increasingly part of a pattern.
Earlier this week, Smith offered similarly glowing reviews of some of the Republican Party’s biggest names, declaring Secretary of State Marco Rubio “the real deal” while also describing Vice President JD Vance and DeSantis as formidable political figures.
Back in March, Smith went even further.
Despite his Democratic affiliation, he said he would vote for Rubio over prominent Democrats including former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, describing Rubio as an “adult in the room” whose qualifications could not be questioned.
Smith has also spent months publicly challenging Democrats over their relationship with Black voters. In March, he argued that the party should earn their support through effective policies rather than simply warning voters about Republicans.
That dissatisfaction has repeatedly surfaced on Straight Shooter, which has increasingly become a forum for conversations about what went wrong for Democrats. Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin used an appearance on Smith’s show in June to call for “significant new leadership” in her own party and declare that its old political model was no longer working.
Smith, meanwhile, appears increasingly comfortable giving Republicans credit when he thinks they deserve it.
Donalds certainly does not appear to need much help in Tuesday’s primary.
A James Madison Institute poll released Aug. 6 found Donalds with 49% support among likely Republican primary voters, compared with 18% for Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, 8% for former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and 4% for investor James Fishback.
Donalds has also amassed an enormous financial advantage. His campaign and allied political committee have raised more than $100 million during the gubernatorial race, according to recent reporting.
Popular incumbent Governor Ron DeSantis has remained neutral in the primary.
If Donalds survives Tuesday as expected and wins in November, he would become the first Black governor in Florida history.
And apparently, he might pick up one very loud Republican convert along the way.
[READ MORE: Democrat Crosses Major Line In Michigan Senate Race]
