Stephen A. Smith has expressed doubts about Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-NY) appeal to centrist voters as a potential rival for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
On a recent episode of his podcast, **Stephen A. Smith Shaw**, Smith, who previously distanced himself from the 2028 race, stated that Ocasio-Cortez’s progressive stance may alienate the moderate voters essential for a successful campaign.
“If you’re a Democrat or a leftist challenging the system, and you think billionaire-driven capitalism is problematic or that higher taxes should be avoided, you might agree with some of her views,” Smith mentioned. “But there’s simply no question about this.”
He had concerns regarding AOC’s positions on border security and other key issues not aligning with what “centrist” Americans typically resonate with.
“The majority of people in this country are centrist—whether they lean Republican, Democrat, or are independent,” he remarked. “They’re not extreme; she’s quite progressive. It shouldn’t be taken too literally, but her viewpoint makes an impact.”
“In today’s world, discussing rights regarding transgender athletes competing in women’s sports isn’t going to resonate with everyone,” he added.
Smith also pointed out a lack of clear proposals coming from Democrats.
“The main issue I have with the Democrats right now is waiting to hear what their plans are,” he observed. “We can’t just oppose everything Trump does.”
“What are your plans? What’s your economic strategy? What are you proposing for immigration reform? What are your talking points on diplomacy? What’s your position on the Israeli-Palestinian situation? Do these issues really resonate with most Americans?”
Earlier this month, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Ca) mentioned that AOC and Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont are front-runners for the 2028 Democratic nomination.
