Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith delivered a blunt warning to Democrats this week, arguing that the results emerging from California’s elections should serve as a serious wake-up call for the party nationwide.
Speaking about the ongoing vote count in the Golden State, Smith suggested that Republican gains in several high-profile races could signal broader political challenges for Democrats heading into future elections.
“A message has been sent and that message that’s been sent is very, very simple,” Smith said. “If people in a blue state like California are seriously entertaining putting Republicans in charge, could you imagine what other states in this union are contemplating doing?”
He framed the developments as a broader political judgment on Democratic leadership, questioning what it means for the party if voters in one of the nation’s most reliably Democratic states are increasingly open to Republican candidates.
“Could you imagine what an indictment that is against Democrats everywhere?” Smith added.
Smith’s remarks focused largely on California’s gubernatorial and mayoral contests, where conservative candidates have appeared to make notable gains as ballots continue to be counted.
In the race for governor, Trump-endorsed Fox News host Steve Hilton emerged as a leading contender in the state’s primary election. While the contest has not yet been officially decided and substantial numbers of ballots remain uncounted, Hilton appears likely to advance under California’s jungle primary system, which sends the top two finishers to the general election regardless of party affiliation.
As of Thursday morning, with 56 percent of the vote counted, Hilton held 27.6 percent support. Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra followed with 25.6 percent, while billionaire activist Tom Steyer stood at 19.8 percent, according to figures reported by the Associated Press.
Democrats entered the race hoping their large voter registration advantage and crowded field would be enough to prevent Republicans from securing a spot in the general election. Instead, the results so far suggest that strategy has fallen short.
However, election officials are still processing a large number of mail-in ballots, which historically have tended to favor Democratic candidates in California. Because of that, final outcomes remain uncertain.
Smith argued that a strong Republican performance could have implications far beyond the state’s borders, particularly for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s national political ambitions.
“Let me tell you something right now. If Hilton wins the gubernatorial race and Pratt wins the mayor’s seat, Gavin Newsom has NO chance at the presidency in 2028. ZERO!” Smith said.
The Los Angeles mayoral race remains highly competitive. Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass has already secured a place in November’s runoff after receiving nearly 35 percent of the vote.
Reality television personality Spencer Pratt and City Councilwoman Nithya Raman are battling for the remaining runoff position, with approximately 30 percent and 22 percent support, respectively. Roughly 700,000 ballots remain outstanding, and additional vote totals are expected.
Pratt has publicly expressed confidence that he will advance.
Smith maintained that any major Republican breakthrough in California would inevitably be tied to Newsom’s record as governor.
“If that happens, he has no chance,” Smith said regarding Newsom’s potential presidential hopes. “Because to indict California is to indict him. He’s been the governor since 2018. Fair or unfair, that’s how it is and everybody needs to accept that. That’s the way it goes.”
Newsom, who is approaching the end of his gubernatorial tenure, has been weighing a 2028 presidential bid while steadily increasing his national profile through public appearances, a book tour, and confrontations with President Donald Trump and the federal government.
Early polling places Newsom among the leading contenders for the Democratic nomination. An Emerson College survey recently found him at 16 percent support, just behind former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Smith, meanwhile, has occasionally discussed the possibility of entering politics himself. Though he has floated the idea of a presidential campaign, he has said he would run as a moderate and would seek the Democratic Party’s nomination if he ultimately decided to enter the race.
[READ MORE: California City Votes to Ban Data Centers as Local Resistance to AI Infrastructure Grows]
