Michael Steele facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Steele
Steele in 2019
Chair of the Republican National Committee
In office January 30, 2009 – January 14, 2011
Preceded by	Mike Duncan
Succeeded by	Reince Priebus
7th Lieutenant Governor of Maryland
In office January 15, 2003 – January 17, 2007
Governor	Bob Ehrlich
Preceded by	Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
Succeeded by	Anthony Brown
Chair of the Maryland Republican Party
In office December 10, 2000 – July 1, 2002
Preceded by	Joyce Lyon Tehres
Succeeded by	Louis Pope
Personal details
Born	(1958-10-19) October 19, 1958 (age 66) Andrews Field, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Andrea Derritt ​ (m. 1985)​
Children	2
Education	Johns Hopkins University (BA) Villanova University Georgetown University (JD)
Signature

Michael Stephen Steele (born October 19, 1958) is an American politician, lawyer, and political expert. He served as the 7th Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007. He was also the chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from 2009 to 2011. Michael Steele was the first African-American to hold both of these important positions.

Before entering public office, Steele worked as a lawyer and appeared often on TV as a political commentator. As lieutenant governor, he worked to help minority-owned businesses. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 2006 but did not win. After his time as RNC Chair, he became a writer for The Root and a political analyst for MSNBC. In 2020, he supported Joe Biden for president.

Early Life and Education

Michael Steele was born on October 19, 1958, at Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George's County, Maryland. He was adopted as a baby by William and Maebell Steele. His father passed away when Michael was four years old. His mother, who grew up in a farming family, worked hard as a laundress to support her children. She believed in working hard and did not want government help.

Michael and his sister, Monica, grew up in the Petworth neighborhood of Northwest, Washington, D.C.. Steele described his community as stable and diverse. His sister later married and divorced the famous boxer Mike Tyson.

Steele attended Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C. He was active in the glee club, the National Honor Society, and school plays. In his final year, he was elected student council president.

In 1981, Steele earned a bachelor's degree in international studies from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore City, Maryland. After college, he taught world history and economics for a year at a high school in Pennsylvania. He then spent three years studying to become a Catholic priest at Villanova University but decided to enter public service instead.

Steele later attended Georgetown Law School, where he earned his law degree in 1991. He passed the Pennsylvania bar exam, which allowed him to practice law. From 1991 to 1997, he worked as a corporate lawyer in Washington, D.C. He then started his own business and legal consulting firm.

Starting in Politics

Michael Steele listening to Vice President Dick Cheney in 2004.

Michael Steele joined the Republican Party. He became the chairman of the Republican Committee in Prince George's County, Maryland. In 1993, he helped create the Republican Leadership Council. This group focused on saving money and including all people. In 1995, the Maryland Republican Party named him their Republican Man of the Year.

He worked on several political campaigns. He was also a delegate at the Republican National Conventions in 1996 and 2000. In December 2000, he made history by becoming the first African-American chairman of any state Republican Party when he was elected to lead the Maryland Republican Party.

Serving Maryland as Lieutenant Governor

Michael Steele discussing research in 2004.

In 2002, Robert Ehrlich, who was running for governor of Maryland, chose Michael Steele as his running mate for lieutenant governor. They ran against the Democratic team of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Charles R. Larson.

Ehrlich and Steele won the election in November 2002. This was a big win because Maryland usually votes Democratic. It had not elected a Republican governor in nearly 40 years.

As lieutenant governor, Steele worked on important projects. He reformed the state's program for minority-owned businesses. He also led the Governor's Commission on Quality Education in Maryland. In 2005, he received an award for his efforts to improve education in Maryland.

At the 2004 Republican National Convention, Steele gave a speech that gained him national attention. In April 2005, President Bush chose him to be part of the U.S. team at the ceremony for Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City.

Running for U.S. Senate

In 2005, Paul Sarbanes, a long-serving U.S. Senator from Maryland, announced he would not run again. Top Republican leaders encouraged Steele to run for the open Senate seat. Polls showed he would be a strong candidate. Steele officially announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate on October 25, 2005.

Steele won the Republican nomination easily. In the general election, he ran against Democrat Ben Cardin and Independent Kevin Zeese. The candidates held three debates. Steele focused on lower taxes, less government spending, and national security.

On November 7, 2006, Steele lost the election to Ben Cardin. Cardin won with 55 percent of the vote, while Steele received 44 percent.

After the Senate Race

After the Senate election, Michael Steele became the chairman of GOPAC in February 2007. This group helps fund and train Republican candidates for state and local elections across the country. He took over from former U.S. Congressman J.C. Watts. In April 2007, Steele also joined an international law firm in Washington, D.C.

Steele appeared on several TV shows, including Real Time with Bill Maher and The Colbert Report. He also hosted a Republican Primary debate for PBS in 2007.

During the 2008 Republican National Convention, Steele came up with the famous phrase "Drill Baby Drill". He used this phrase to promote drilling for oil in the ocean as a way to reduce reliance on foreign oil.

Leading the Republican National Committee

2009 Election

On November 24, 2008, Steele began his campaign to become the chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC). On January 30, 2009, Steele won the RNC chairmanship in the sixth round of voting. He became the first African-American chairman of the RNC. Many Republicans hoped he would be a strong voice after Barack Obama became the first Black president.

     Candidate won that Round of voting

     Candidate withdrew

     Candidate won RNC Chairmanship

Leadership Discussion with Rush Limbaugh

In March 2009, there was a public discussion about who spoke for the Republican Party. White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel suggested that radio host Rush Limbaugh was the voice of the party. Steele responded by saying that he, as RNC chairman, was the leader. He called Limbaugh an "entertainer" whose comments could be "incendiary."

Limbaugh then said that Steele was not fit to lead the party. Steele later apologized to Limbaugh, saying his words came out differently than he intended. He clarified that he had great respect for Limbaugh and did not mean to lessen his influence.

Fire Pelosi Bus Tour

In the fall of 2010, Steele launched the "Fire Pelosi Bus Tour." The goal was to help Republicans win enough seats to remove Nancy Pelosi from her position as Speaker of the House. The tour traveled to 48 states and over 100 cities, covering 14,000 miles.

The tour aimed to encourage people to vote for Republican candidates. Steele used his energetic speaking style to motivate local Republican supporters. He urged party unity as Republicans tried to take control of the House of Representatives.

The RNC raised a record-breaking $198 million during the 2010 election cycle. In November 2010, Republicans had a very successful election. They won 63 House seats, which was their biggest gain since 1938, and took back control of the House. They also gained six Senate seats, seven governorships, and more than 600 state legislative seats.

2011 Election

In December 2010, Steele announced he would run for re-election as RNC chairman. The election was held on January 14, 2011. Steele withdrew from the race after the fourth round of voting. After seven rounds, Reince Priebus was elected as the new RNC chairman.

     Candidate won majority of votes in the round

     Candidate secured a plurality of votes in the round

     Candidate withdrew

After the Chairmanship

Michael Steele in 2016.

After losing the RNC chairmanship election, Michael Steele joined MSNBC in May 2011 as a regular political analyst. He also became a columnist for The Root, an online magazine focused on African-American news and commentary.

In 2018, Steele became a Senior Fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. There, he leads seminars and teaches.

In August 2020, Steele joined The Lincoln Project, a political group, and supported Joe Biden for president. In April 2021, he considered running for governor of Maryland and formed a committee to explore the idea. However, in January 2022, he announced he would not run for governor. On November 30, 2023, MSNBC announced that Steele would co-host a new weekend morning show.

His Views on Key Issues

Michael Steele has shared his opinions on various important topics:

• Climate Change: In 2009, Steele expressed doubts about the scientific agreement on climate change. He claimed that the Earth was "cooling" instead of "warming."
• Same-Sex Marriage: In 2008, Steele stated that he personally did not support a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. He believed that states should be able to decide this issue for themselves.
• Gun Control: In a 2006 interview, Steele said that society should set limits on certain types of weapons. He questioned the need for "assault weapons" for hunting. However, he did not support a total ban on guns for activities like skeet shooting or hunting. He emphasized that existing gun laws should be enforced.
• Immigration: In 2009, Steele said that the U.S. should "secure our borders first." He believed that issues related to people already in the country could not be addressed until the borders were secure.

His Book

Michael Steele's book, Right Now: A 12-Step Program for Defeating the Obama Agenda, was released on January 4, 2010. In the book, Steele criticizes President Barack Obama's policies. He calls the $787 billion stimulus bill "reckless" and "wasteful." He also discusses his views on global warming. Steele suggests that the Republican Party should show the problems with liberal policies and explain conservative solutions to regain public trust.

Honors and Awards

Michael Steele has received several honors and awards for his political work:

• 2003 He received an Honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from Morgan State University.

See also

• List of African-American firsts
• List of African-American Republicans
• List of minority governors and lieutenant governors in the United States
• List of African-American United States Senate candidates