Tucker Carlson 2024? Despite Social Media Buzz, Political Odds Suggest Lengthy Chance

Posted on: April 25, 2023, 05:10h. 

Last updated on: April 26, 2023, 02:55h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Tucker Carlson, the face of Fox News Channel and the cable news network’s most recognizable personality, was let go by the media company on Monday in what was a shocking development to the prime-time host’s legion of fans.

Tucker Carlson 2024 odds Fox News
Tucker Carlson has left Fox News, his departure coming in a shocking fashion similar to the 2017 exit of his 8 p.m. predecessor, Bill O’Reilly. Some in Tucker’s fan base are encouraging the cable news personality to pursue public office and the White House next year. (Image: Fox News)

In a statement, Fox News said the network and Carlson “agreed to part ways,” but little explanation was additionally provided for the separation. The split-up comes as Fox News agreed to settle a lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for $787 million last week. Dominion sued the network for airing false claims, asserting conspiracies about the company’s integrity, and the unfounded allegations that Dominion helped tip the 2020 presidential election in Joe Biden’s favor.

Carlson was set to testify in the case before Fox News agreed to settle the lawsuit. Carlson was also recently named in a lawsuit against the network by a former female employee alleging that the host facilitated a “cruel and misogynistic” workplace.

Carlson replaced Bill O’Reilly in 2017  in the coveted 8 p.m. time slot on the cable news network.

Carlson’s Future

Immediately after Fox News announced it had canned its most popular host, speculation fueled on social media and online as to the future for the 53-year-old. With his nightly show no more, some of his supporters, as well as certain Republican strategists and conservative pundits, hope Carlson seeks public office.

“He had 3.5 million viewers. His show was a bigger cultural phenomenon than just that. He’s well known to 20 million people … and all of them are political watchers,” veteran Republican strategist Dave Kochel told Politico.

Mike Madrid, another GOP strategist who founded the anti-Trump “Lincoln Project,” said Carlson could challenge the former president for the Republican nomination.

“I think he’s really the only person who could beat Donald Trump. He’s truly the tip of the spear on defining what Republicans are going to be opposed to on literally any given night. He has the platform, he has the audience, he has the influence,” said Madrid.

Online political bettors, however, aren’t so convinced Carlson will run. But his departure from Fox News has encouraged at least some bettors to buy shares of a Carlson 2024 bid.

Carlson’s stock on the PredictIt market asking, “Who will win the 2024 Republican presidential nominee?” climbed two cents since Fox News let him go. But his shares are still trading at just three cents, far below the front-runner Trump at 54 cents. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is second at 26 cents. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is a distant third at just six cents.

No legal sportsbook in the US has been allowed to offer odds on political outcomes. State gaming regulators nationwide have decided to follow Nevada’s lead in believing that such novelty markets shouldn’t be included in sports betting. But overseas, oddsmakers in the UK have taken action on elections for decades.

In response to Carlson being shown the door at Fox News, several prominent UK bookmakers, including Coral, Ladbrokes, and BetVictor, slashed their 2024 odds on the former cable news host.

Carlson is as short as 40/1 to win the November 2024 election. That line, however, implies just a 2.4% likelihood. A $5 winning bet would net $200.

Fox News Past Weigh In

Several former Fox News personalities and hosts who also made abrupt exits from the network shared their opinion that Carlson is perhaps better off without his former employer.