Mike Florio, founder of Pro Football Talk and a longtime NBC Sports NFL analyst, announced Tuesday morning that he would not vote in the 2026 midterm elections, calling the decision a “conscious protest against a system that is corrupt, ugly, and broken.”
The midterms will decide control of Congress along with a range of gubernatorial, state legislative, and local races. Florio’s statement suggested he believed withholding his vote was the more meaningful civic act.
By Tuesday afternoon, he had reversed course. Writing on X, Florio said he had decided it was “more important to exercise the right, and to hope that those who are elected will behave differently.”
The reversal came after a round of public mockery from figures in sports media. OutKick founder Clay Travis wrote, “Thanks for letting us know, Mike. I was waiting with bated breath to hear whether you were going to vote for far left wingers again.” OutKick Senior Editor of Content Development Joe Kinsey called it “a brave stance,” Barstool Sports host Kirk Minihane said “Thank God,” and OutKick’s Jon Root added, “Wow. You’re so brave, Mike. Truly stunning.”
Florio has spent years using his media platform to weigh in on political and social issues alongside football coverage, and has been described as one of the most prominently left-leaning voices in sports media. He has repeatedly voiced support for Colin Kaepernick, including a recent suggestion that the New York Giants should sign the former NFL quarterback to start for them in 2026, a decade after his last appearance in the league.
Florio’s reversal means West Virginia, where he is registered to vote, will see one more ballot cast this cycle than it would have otherwise.
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