ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith recently joined Megyn Kelly to weigh in on the Democratic Party’s future, suggesting that leadership faces a nearly impossible choice regarding Kamala Harris in 2028.
Smith argued that while the former Vice President’s recent loss to Donald Trump might typically disqualify a candidate from a second run, the optics of the party’s internal demographics create a complicated path forward.
During the interview, Smith highlighted the specific political pressure that led to Harris’s 2024 nomination after Joe Biden exited the race.
He noted that the party felt obligated to support the sitting Vice President rather than risk the backlash of “stepping over a Black woman,” given how vital that demographic is to the Democratic base. Smith told Kelly that if the party attempts to move on from her in the next cycle, they may face the exact same “identity politics” trap they tried to avoid in 2024.
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Smith didn’t hold back on Harris’s track record, pointing out that despite a $1.5 billion war chest and a 107-day sprint as an “upgrade” from Biden, she still fell short. He referenced her unsuccessful 2020 primary run—where she withdrew before the Iowa caucuses—as evidence that she has already had multiple “bites at the apple.”
To Smith, another Harris ticket would be a mistake, yet he questioned how the party could realistically bypass her for a “white guy” like Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro or California Governor Gavin Newsom without alienating core voters.
The discussion comes at a time of significant transition for Harris. On July 30, 2025, she officially announced she would not seek the governorship of California, despite heavy speculation that she would use the role as a stepping stone for a 2028 comeback.
This decision leaves her future role in the party uncertain as other potential contenders, such as Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, begin to find their footing.
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Smith’s primary concern centered on the optics of a 2028 primary. He questioned what would happen if Harris were to lose a fair contest to a candidate like Newsom.
“If she gets bypassed, in other words, doesn’t win, and she loses to the guy who’s in the number two position, who is a white straight male Christian… are they in the same position of having to look like they cast her aside?” Smith asked.
For now, the Democratic Party remains at a crossroads, balancing the desire for a fresh face with the complicated internal loyalty to the former Vice President.
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