Michael Steele

Michael Steele, born on October nineteenth, nineteen fifty-eight, is a prominent American politician, attorney, and political commentator. He made history as the first African-American to serve as the lieutenant governor of Maryland from two thousand three to two thousand seven and later as the chair of the Republican National Committee from two thousand nine until two thousand eleven.

In the 1990s, Steele was a partner at the international law firm LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae and co-founded the Republican Leadership Council, a political action committee known for its fiscally conservative and socially inclusive approach. Before entering public office, he gained recognition as a political pundit, frequently appearing on Fox News and other media platforms.

During his tenure as lieutenant governor, Steele chaired the Minority Business Enterprise task force, advocating for the expansion of affirmative action in the corporate sector. He ran for the U.S. Senate in two thousand six but was defeated by Democrat Ben Cardin. Following his term as RNC Chair, which ended in two thousand eleven, he was succeeded by Reince Priebus after losing his bid for a second term.

Since two thousand eleven, Steele has contributed as a regular columnist for The Root and serves as a political analyst for MS NOW, where he began co-hosting the prime time program The Weeknight in two thousand twenty-five. In two thousand eighteen, he became a Senior Fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. Notably, in two thousand twenty, he endorsed Joe Biden for the presidency, following his appearance in an advertisement by The Lincoln Project.