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) Georgetown University (JD)
Signature

Michael Stephen Steele (born October 19, 1958) is an American politician and a well-known TV commentator. He made history as the first African-American to serve as the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007. Later, he became the first African-American to lead the Republican National Committee (RNC) from 2009 to 2011. The RNC is a group that helps guide the Republican Party across the country.

Before his political roles, Steele worked as a lawyer. He also appeared on TV as a political expert. As Lieutenant Governor, he worked to help minority-owned businesses. He also focused on improving education in Maryland. After his time as RNC Chair, Steele became a writer for The Root magazine. He also works as a political analyst for MSNBC, a news channel. In 2018, he joined Brown University as a Senior Fellow. In 2020, he supported Joe Biden for president. Today, he co-hosts a show on MSNBC called The Weekend. He also co-hosts MSNBC Prime during the week.

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.

Political Journey

Steele listens during then-Vice President Dick Cheney's address at the Second Annual African American Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, April 28, 2004.

Michael Steele joined the Republican Party. He became the chairman of the Republican group in Prince George's County. In 1993, he helped start the Republican Leadership Council. This group focused on careful spending and including all people. In 1995, the Maryland Republican Party named him their Republican Man of the Year. He also helped with several political campaigns. He was a delegate at the Republican National Conventions in 1996 and 2000.

In December 2000, Steele was chosen to lead the Maryland Republican Party. He was the first African-American to lead any state Republican Party.

Serving as Lieutenant Governor of Maryland

Steele watches a video and discusses Seaduck Research with Edward Lohnes (left) and Dr. Matthew C Perry (right)

In 2002, Robert Ehrlich was running for governor of Maryland. He chose Michael Steele to be his running mate for lieutenant governor. The lieutenant governor is like a vice-governor. They work closely with the governor. Maryland usually votes for Democrats. However, Ehrlich and Steele won the election in November 2002. They were the first Republicans to win the governor's office in Maryland in almost 40 years.

As Lieutenant Governor, Steele worked on important projects. He helped improve a program for minority-owned businesses. He also led a group focused on improving education in Maryland. In 2005, he received an award for his work in education.

At the 2004 Republican National Convention, Steele gave a speech. This was his first big appearance on the national stage. In 2005, President Bush asked him to join a U.S. group. They attended a special event for Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City.

Running for U.S. Senate in 2006

In March 2005, Senator Paul Sarbanes announced he would not run again. He was Maryland's longest-serving U.S. Senator. Many Republican leaders wanted Steele to run for the open Senate seat. In October 2005, Steele officially announced he would run.

Steele won the Republican nomination easily. He ran against Democrat Ben Cardin and Independent Kevin Zeese. The candidates had three debates. Steele focused on lower taxes, less government spending, and national security. He lost the election to Ben Cardin on November 7, 2006.

After the Senate Race

After the Senate election, Steele became the chairman of GOPAC in February 2007. GOPAC is a group that helps train and support Republican candidates. They focus on state and local elections. In April 2007, Steele also joined an international law firm.

Steele often appeared on TV shows. He was on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher and The Colbert Report on Comedy Central. He also hosted a Republican Primary debate for PBS. During the 2008 Republican National Convention, he used the phrase "Drill Baby Drill". This phrase supported getting more oil from the ocean.

Leading the Republican National Committee (RNC)

Becoming RNC Chairman in 2009

On November 24, 2008, Michael Steele announced he would run for RNC chairman. The RNC chairman leads the Republican Party's daily operations. On January 30, 2009, Steele won the election. He became the first African-American to lead the RNC. Many Republicans saw him as a strong voice for the party.

     Candidate won that Round of voting

     Candidate withdrew

     Candidate won RNC Chairmanship

The "Fire Pelosi Bus Tour"

In the fall of 2010, Steele started the "Fire Pelosi Bus Tour." The goal was to help Republicans win enough seats to take control of the United States House of Representatives. This would mean Nancy Pelosi would no longer be the Speaker of the House. The tour lasted six weeks and visited many states. Steele encouraged party unity during the tour.

The RNC raised a lot of money during this time. In November 2010, Republicans won 63 House seats. This was a very big gain for the party. They also won more Senate seats, governorships, and state legislative seats.

2011 RNC Election

In December 2010, Steele decided to run for RNC chairman again. The election was held on January 14, 2011. Steele withdrew from the race after the fourth round of voting. Reince Priebus was then 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

Steele in 2016

After leaving the RNC, Michael Steele joined MSNBC in May 2011. He became a regular political analyst there. He also started writing columns for The Root, an online magazine focused on African-American news.

In 2018, Steele became a faculty fellow at Brown University. He leads seminars there. In August 2020, he joined The Lincoln Project, a political group. He also supported Joe Biden for president. In 2021, Steele thought about running for governor of Maryland. However, in January 2022, he announced he would not run. He attended the inauguration of Governor-elect Wes Moore in January 2023. In November 2023, MSNBC announced that Steele would co-host a new weekend morning show. He hosts it with Alicia Menendez and Symone Sanders-Townsend. Since February 2025, they also co-host a weekday evening newscast on MSNBC.

Political Views

Economic Ideas

As Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, Steele led a group. This group worked on improving programs for minority-owned businesses. He also criticized the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This was a large government spending bill.

Environment and Energy

Steele has expressed different views on climate change. He has said that the Earth is "cooling" rather than "warming."

Views on President Donald Trump

Steele openly disagreed with Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign. He continued to oppose President Trump during his time in office. In a January 2018 interview, Steele said he believed President Trump was "racist." He also expressed frustration with Trump's approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Social Views

..... He also said there was room for different views on this topic within the Republican Party.

Steele has also shared his thoughts on same-sex marriage. In 2008, he said he personally opposed a national ban on same-sex marriage. He believed states should make their own decisions. However, in 2012, Steele said that LGBT couples should have full legal rights and benefits.

Regarding gun control, Steele said in 2006 that society should set limits. He questioned the need for certain types of weapons for hunting. He also stressed the importance of enforcing existing gun laws.

On the topic of illegal immigration, Steele emphasized the need to "secure our borders first." He believed that addressing the concerns of people already in the country depended on controlling who enters.

Views on Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq

In July 2010, Steele made comments about the Afghan war. He called it "a war of Obama's choosing." He also said that engaging in a land war in Afghanistan has historically failed. These comments drew criticism from some Republicans. They pointed out that the war began under President George W. Bush. However, Ron Paul, a Congressman known for his anti-war views, supported Steele's comments.

In contrast, Steele supported the Iraq War. He also supported President George W. Bush's strategy for the war. He criticized President Obama for his views on the Iraq War.

National Popular Vote Interstate Compact

Steele supports the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. This idea would make the presidential election winner the candidate who gets the most votes nationwide. He believes this system would make every vote count more.

Right Now Book

Michael Steele wrote a book called Right Now: A 12-Step Program for Defeating the Obama Agenda. It was released on January 4, 2010. In the book, Steele discusses his views on President Barack Obama's policies. He describes them as a "roadmap to failure." He also talks about government spending and climate change. Steele suggests ways for the Republican Party to regain public trust. He believes they should show the problems with liberal policies. He also thinks they should explain conservative solutions.

Honors and Awards

Michael Steele has received several honors and awards for his work. These include:

• 2003 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