‘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 Shoo

"He's the real deal. Make no mistake about it. I've seen him battling with Democrats," Smith said.

Stephen A. Smith says Byron Donalds could make him a Republican, praising the Trump-backed Florida governor frontrunner ahead of the GOP primary.