Stephen A. Smith President Odds: Will the First Take Star Really Run in 2028?

Stephen A. Smith has an opinion on everything, and for a while, one of those opinions was that he might run for president. Then, in March, he settled the matter with the kind of honesty you rarely hear in politics: “If I have to give up my money, it’s not happening.”

The sportsbooks aren’t convinced. BetOnline still has a full set of Stephen A. Smith 2028 markets, from whether he’ll appear on a Democratic primary ballot to who he’d pick as his running mate. And yes, Skip Bayless is on the list.

Odds from BetOnline as of Nov 8, 2026.

Stephen A. Smith 2028 Odds

Market	Yes
On a Democratic primary ballot	+400
On the 2028 general election ballot	+800
To win any 2028 Democratic primary	+1600
To win the 2028 Democratic nomination	+20000

Look closely and something doesn’t add up. BetOnline makes Stephen A. a bigger chance to appear on the general election ballot (+800) than to win a single Democratic primary (+1600). The only way that works is if he skips the primaries and runs as an independent. He hasn’t suggested that, but it’s the kind of thing he’d announce live on air.

Is Stephen A. Smith Running for President?

No, at least according to Stephen A. himself. He spent much of 2025 teasing a run, telling anyone who would listen that he’d think about it if the people wanted him. Then, on the first episode of Sean Hannity’s podcast in March 2026, he called it off: “Let me put the presidential aspirations to bed.”

The reason was refreshingly simple. Running for president would mean walking away from his media career, and in 2025 he signed a five-year extension with ESPN reportedly worth at least $100 million, plus a SiriusXM deal worth $36 million over three years. “I gotta give up my money,” he explained, “and I ain’t giving up my money.”

As political reasoning goes, it’s hard to argue with. The market has priced it in, too. At +400, BetOnline gives him around a 20% chance of even appearing on a primary ballot.

Stephen A. Smith says he believes he could win the presidency in 2028 if he puts his mind into it pic.twitter.com/wWUEkWl5v0

— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) October 10, 2025

Is Stephen A. Smith a Democrat or a Republican?

This is one of the most searched questions about him, and the answer is that it’s complicated. Stephen A. has said that if he ever did run, it would be as a Democrat, and BetOnline lists his markets on the Democratic side.

But he doesn’t follow party lines. In the same Hannity interview, he named the three people he’d most want to see as president in 2028: Democratic governors Wes Moore and Josh Shapiro, and Republican Marco Rubio, whom he called “an adult in the room.” He said he’d pick Rubio over Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris.

Stephen A. Smith Running Mate Odds

This is where the market really gets fun. BetOnline has priced up who Stephen A. would pick as his vice president, and the board looks a lot like a sports-debate show:

Running mate	Odds
Shannon Sharpe	+2500
Charles Barkley	+3300
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo	+3300
Skip Bayless	+3300
Colin Cowherd	+4000
Kyrie Irving	+5000
Tiger Woods	+5000
Dwyane Wade	+5000
Chris Cuomo	+10000
Sean Hannity	+10000
LeBron James	+10000
Colin Kaepernick	+10000
Cory Booker	+25000
Hakeem Jeffries	+25000
Michelle Obama	+25000

Shannon Sharpe, his First Take co-host, is the favorite at 25-1. But the price that jumps out is Skip Bayless at 33-1. The two spent years arguing on First Take, and the idea of them sharing a ticket, and presumably arguing about everything all the way to the White House, is worth the price of admission on its own.

At the other end, Michelle Obama, Cory Booker and Hakeem Jeffries are all 250-1, which is about right for anyone who’d have to share a debate stage with Stephen A.

Who Is Stephen A. Smith?

Stephen A. Smith is one of the biggest names in sports media, best known for ESPN’s First Take, where he has been making loud, confident and occasionally correct predictions for years. He’s 59, and since the 2024 election, he has spent more and more time talking politics, which is how he ended up on BetOnline’s board in the first place.

For the real race, including every serious contender, see our 2028 Democratic nominee odds, where Stephen A. is priced at +20000.

How to Bet on Stephen A. Smith Odds

State-licensed sportsbooks in the US don’t offer political or novelty specials like these, so you won’t find Stephen A. Smith odds on the big domestic apps. BetOnline does, as part of its 2028 election specials, and it’s the only major sportsbook we’ve found pricing these markets.

Sign up at BetOnline and make your first deposit to claim the welcome bonus. The Stephen A. Smith markets sit with the political specials, under Politics in the sports menu. Choose your market, enter your stake and confirm.

These markets settle on different dates, some not until 2028, so check the rules for each one before you bet. And keep your stake fun-sized. After all, the man himself has said he’s not running.

Where to Bet on Stephen A. Smith Odds

BetOnline is the place for these markets, with every Stephen A. Smith special on this page, from the ballot markets to the running mate odds. It also has one of the deepest political boards around, covering the 2028 election, Trump specials and more.

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