In a political landscape ever-more-shaped by division, frustration with conventional legislators and the yearning for new leadership, growing numbers of Democrats are looking outside the political matrix. People like Stephen A. Smith, the ESPN shoutaholic, and Mark Cuban, the billionaire entrepreneur and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, are drawing interest as plausible political leaders. But what’s fueling this wave of support for non-politicians?
The Never-Better Allure of Outsiders in American Politics
The Campaign Landscape is Totally Different
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, many Democratic voters have begun to feel like their party’s traditional leaders are failing to address the issues they care about most. Growing economic inequality, the healthcare crisis, climate change, and political gridlock have led voters to grow disillusioned with career politicians. This sense of discontent is prompting a growing number of Democrats to seek alternatives — individuals with a different vision and the capacity to disrupt the political status quo.
The allure of outsiders is hardly new, but it feels more pronounced than ever before. During the 2016 election, Donald Trump — a businessman with no political background — captured the support of Americans determined to turn to nontraditional leadership. Since then, people such as Cuban and Smith have presented themselves as possible candidates who could meet that challenge from the left.
Why Democrats Are Turning to Outsiders
Historically, the Democratic Party has depended on seasoned politicians and public servants to lead the charge for progressive policies. But with the party struggling to unite and unite, more voters are realizing that new approaches are needed to bring about real change.
Disillusioned with the political status quo, Democrats believe that outsiders possess a distinctive collection of attributes:
- Fresh Ideas: Outsiders don’t have to adhere to political norms and are often more open to creative, unconventional solutions to complex problems.
- Stirring Anti-Establishment Sentiment: In an era of soaring populism, a great many constituents seem exasperated with career politicians who appear more focused on preserving their own power than the needs of the average voter.
- Trust and Relatability: People like Smith and Cuban have built successful careers on trust with the audience that follows them, and they portray themselves as relatable, real people, not distant, career politicians.
Whether either of them — or Cuban himself — is serious about running remains to be seen, but the rising popularity of outsiders indicates that many Democrats are looking for a change in leadership.
Who Are Stephen A. Smith and Mark Cuban?
Is Stephen A. Smith the Next Political Leader of Our Time?
Stephen A. Smith is a well-known name, a sports commentator who works for ESPN. Smith is known for his aggressive and oftentimes controversial opinions, and has amassed an incredible fan base of millions of people worldwide. Yet Smith’s reach extends beyond the realm of sports. As the years went by, he became a leading voice on social and political issues, making no secret of his worries about the state of the nation.
Smith’s appeal is his no-nonsense approach and anyman persona. His public persona is one of not being afraid to call out both sides of the political spectrum. Also, many voters feel fed up with the standard political rhetoric and respond to the notion of a leader who tells it like it is and isn’t afraid to go against the grain.
While Smith has not officially declared his candidacy for office, many of his comments regarding politics have brought into question whether another run would be in the future. With his broad appeal, especially with younger voters, it isn’t hard to understand why some are projecting Smith as the voice of a new Democratic movement.
Creating a political platform, and what it looks like
Another billionaire outsider who came out of nowhere is Mark Cuban, the star of ABC’s Shark Tank. Cuban is known for his no-nonsense business approach, candid views, and inclination to buck the system. Throughout the years, Cuban has commented on various topics, covering everything from healthcare reform to government transparency, and he has often criticized both political parties for not addressing critical issues.
What distinguishes Cuban from most other prospective candidates is his business background. Cuban, as the owner of the Dallas Mavericks and a billion-dollar investor, has extensive leadership experience solving problems and overseeing large operations. He has been calling for government to be more business-minded — relying on data-based decision-making and practical solutions to complicated issues. Cuban’s consultant on the project, Michael Rounds, co-wrote the article and said Cuban’s focus on innovation and economic growth, as well as his status as an outsider, has made him attractive to voters seeking a change in leadership.
Though Cuban has flirted with a potential run for political office before, a move in 2024 is uncertain. But his increased presence on the political scene, coupled with a record of disregarding the establishment, make him a person to be noticed.
The Key Drivers Pushing Democrats Toward Outsiders
Discontent Over Political Stalemate
Among the big reasons so many Democrats are looking to outsiders now is because of the growing frustration that there are two parties unable to get anything done in Washington. And neither party was able to do it, a years-long failure to enact anything of significance on essential issues like health care, climate change and economic inequality. As a result, this class of traditional politicians has been unable to make significant progress, leading many voters to feel like they can no longer effect change on the things that matter to them through these politicians that have become entrenched within the system.
The Smiths and Cubans of the world are seen as change agents who can transcend that gridlock and take the bold steps that politics won’t. Their creative thinking and out-of-the-box ideation offers a welcome change for voters who feel overstuffed with partisan bickering.
The Desire for New Leadership
A second driving factor behind the outsiders shift is voter hunger for new leadership. Many voters expressed disgust over career politicians who seem more concerned about pursuing political ambition than solving the most pressing issues facing the nation in recent years. These are outsiders, like Smith and Cuban, who break with the political establishment as voters have known it, and that’s something many voters see as a good thing.
Such proclivity for seeing past political loyalties to make logical evidence-based decisions, has made both Smith and Cuban leaders in their fields, with their fans rewarding them with a devotion to the independent spirit they embody.
Influence of Celebrities and Social Media
In the present day’s digital era, social networking has provided celebrities a solution to contact millions of people instantly. This has blurred the distinctions between traditional politicians and public figures, allowing celebrities such as Smith and Cuban to become more viable candidates for political office. Smith and Cuban both have large social media followings that they use to frequently share their views on political issues. It’s this ability to communicate directly with the public that lets them reach voters in ways that traditional politicians can’t.
Also, celebrity culture has become a major force in contemporary politics. Those who have public identities that can motivate believers and capture media attention are in a special position to run for office, even without the support of political party machinery.
Outsider Brand — The Power of the Outsider
Over the past years, the outsider brand has gained huge power. With more voters believing Washington is broken and sick of the same old, same old, they’re ready to support leaders willing to take on the system. Cuban and Smith, with the successes they’ve had outside of politics, are symbols of the “outsider” brand. Such a persona has special resonance in a time of increasing cynicism toward the political establishment.
Obstacles Outsiders Face Trying to Get into Politics
While the draw of outsiders is evident, it does present a number of challenges that any outsider needs to overcome if they choose to run for office. The first and most obvious reason is that both Smith and Cuban have no traditional political experience. Running for public office is about navigating complex policy issues, managing vast government organizations and basic understanding of international diplomacy. And while, to be sure, their business and sports backgrounds are impressive leadership credentials, whether they can translate those skills to the political world remains an open question.
Neither figure, meanwhile, would be immune from intense scrutiny from the media and political opponents. On the one hand, Smith’s brash demeanor and occasional fiery comments could turn off moderate voters, while on the other, Cuban’s wealth and ties to the business world could be criticized as distanced from everyday Americans.
Final Thoughts: Outsiders and Democratic Politics Ahead
With the 2024 election just around the corner, it seems the discontent which led to the rise of outsiders like Stephen A. Smith and Mark Cuban also speaks to those within the party wishing for change. Increasingly unhappy with the establishment political class, voters want leaders who can bring new ideas and bold solutions to this nation’s challenges. As Smith and Cuban consider issues of running for office, their popularity already clears a path for a new political landscape, filled with the types of leaders the people feel are a lot closer to home than Washington D.C.
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What explains Democrats’ embrace of outsiders in 2024?
Democrats are unhappy with gridlock in Washington and want to see
