Republicans have built a bench of future stars that could compete for the Presidency.
There is one that already has Democrats worried.
And Chris Cuomo was shocked to hear one rising GOP star was bad news for Democrats.
Byron Donalds touted as a future Presidential contender
Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) built his political profile by being an effective defender of President Donald Trump on cable news.
He became one of Trump’s top surrogates on the campaign trail last year and helped with outreach to black voters who shifted toward the President in the 2024 Election.
Donalds took the next step in his political career by announcing that he was running for Florida Governor in the 2026 Midterm Elections with the backing of Trump.
The 46-year-old is quickly rising the political ranks after being first elected to the House in 2020.
ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith predicted that Donalds would be a serious Presidential contender in the future during an appearance on The Chris Cuomo Project podcast.
Smith has been branching out into politics by interviewing Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) and Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D), who are considered rising stars in the Democrat Party, on his podcast.
He said that Donalds is a force to be reckoned with.
“I interviewed Josh Shapiro on my podcast. I’ve interviewed Wes Moore. I’ve interviewed Byron Donalds, I just interviewed Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). There are Republicans that I’m going to interview down the pike as well,” Smith began.
Smith has been rumored to be a potential Democrat Presidential candidate in 2028.
“I’ve always been fascinated about that as it pertains to the world of politics, but that doesn’t mean that I have a strong desire to be a politician,” Smith said. “I’d prefer to stay with what I’m doing, even if it is in the political stratosphere.”
Byron Donalds has rare talent for a politician
Host Chris Cuomo asked Smith if he thought he could beat Donalds in a Presidential contest.
“I don’t think so,” Smith replied. “Listen, I’ve watched him get interviewed, I’ve watched him speak, and although I don’t like his flagrant support of Trump, where he shoves aside just anything that Trump has done.”
Smith praised Donalds for being able to articulate and sell conservative values.
“When you get into the weeds talking politics with this man about what conservatives offer compared to Democrats, I find it very difficult to imagine a Democrat in front of him being able to beat him on the issues,” Smith added.
Donalds has a unique ability to connect with voters, according to Smith.
“Because I think he knows what he’s talking about, and I think he speaks in a way that resonates with an audience,” Smith explained. “So he has the facts, he has inside knowledge about what takes place, and on top of it all, he has the personality where he’s feisty enough to come back at you and resonate with a viewing audience. I don’t see a lot of that on the Democratic side.”
Smith predicted that Donalds would defeat Shapiro in a hypothetical future Presidential election.
Byron Donalds could become a future Presidential contender if he wins the Governor’s race in Florida next year.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
