With President Trump omnipresent on television and social media — just as he was during his first term in office — Republicans flaunting their control of both the House and Senate, and conservative talk ruling terrestrial radio, it’s enough to make those following politics ask, “Where have all the Democrats gone?”
One place many have gone is to sports radio shows and podcasts. Among those calling into talk shows, guesting on podcasts, or appearing with ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith are Minnesota Governor and 2024 Democratic Vice President nominee Tim Walz, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, current New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (the latter currently running for mayor of New York City), House Democratic leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, and California Rep. Ro Khanna.
Some Democrats have gone beyond just talking up their home NFL, NBA and MLB teams. In February, Shapiro served as an analyst during coverage of a University of Pittsburgh Panthers game, while Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says he plans to have a presence on radio shows and podcasts leading up to the 151st Kentucky Derby in May.
For the Democrats’ strategy behind these appearances, look no further than Trump’s success with apolitical young men during his campaign to win back the White House. By talking sports, especially with passion for hometown teams, Democratic leaders hope to win back voters with authenticity, reaching listeners that might not want to engage with them in a more typical political setting, according to a report in The New York Times.
“It takes the politics out of it,” says Walz, who during his VP campaign often mentioned his leadership skills as a high school football coach. “When I go on those shows, it shows you’re a real human being, and it connects with people on something they care about.”
Beshear agrees that voters want “candidates and people serving who don’t just sound like normal human beings but are normal human beings. Talking about sports, going to watch sports, and talking to people as you meet them about sports, just shows that you too are a normal human being.”
That normality comes through with these politicians’ on-air comments, such as Walz saying “I hate the [Green Bay] Packers,” Moore’s declaration that “Lamar Jackson was robbed” when the Baltimore Ravens quarterback did not win the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award, or Shapiro’s pre-Super Bowl prediction that the Philadelphia Eagles would be able to contain Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Democrats’ current level of activity on sports audio stands in stark contrast with Vice President Kamala Harris’ few sports show appearances during her 2024 presidential campaign. According to a source reporting in the Times, the Harris campaign was not successful in booking her on sports commentator Bill Simmons’ or the “New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce” podcast.
Meanwhile, Trump clearly understands the power of the sports audience, having attended both the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500, and currently speaking out about giving a posthumous pardon to baseball player and manager Pete Rose, who was banned from the sport for betting on games, and has been excluded from induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
“It’s very important for politicians — especially Democrats, if they want to try to reach the sports radio audience — to be who they are,” Kentucky Sports Radio and ESPN host Matt Jones says. “In the sports world, people don’t like fakes. They’re fine with you not rooting for their team, but you better not lie about who you root for.”