‘The Real Deal’: Stephen A Smith Says GOP Rep Could Turn Him Into Republican

August 15, 2026 11:29 AM ET 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