Changes

In late 2000, Steele was elected Chair of the Maryland Republican Party and in 2002, he was elected as Maryland's Lieutenant Governor. He ran for Senate in 2006 against Democrat [[Ben Cardin]] but lost with 44% of the vote compared to Cardin's  54%.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/elections/2006/maryland/Maryland_US_Senator.html Washington Post, "Election Profile - U.S. Senate, Maryland"]</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/08/AR2006110801368.html Washington Post, Matthew Mosk and Ann E. Marimow, November 9, 2006, "Governor and U.S. Senate Losses Just the Tip of State GOP Collapse"]</ref> After his loss, he was thought to be a leading candidate for chairman of the [[Republican National Committee]],<ref>[http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/11/steele_for_rnc.html Washingtonpost.com's Politics Blog, Chris Cillizza,  November 8, 2006, "Michael Steele for Republican NationalChairman?"]</ref> but [[Florida]] Senator [[Mel Martinez]] was picked instead.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/13/AR2006111300636.html Washington Post, Jim VandeHei, November 14, 2006, "Florida Senator Will Be a Top RNC Officer"]</ref>

In late 2000, Steele was elected Chair of the Maryland Republican Party and in 2002, he was elected as Maryland's Lieutenant Governor. He ran for Senate in 2006 against Democrat [[Ben Cardin]] but lost with 44% of the vote compared to Cardin's  54%.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/elections/2006/maryland/Maryland_US_Senator.html Washington Post, "Election Profile - U.S. Senate, Maryland"]</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/08/AR2006110801368.html Washington Post, Matthew Mosk and Ann E. Marimow, November 9, 2006, "Governor and U.S. Senate Losses Just the Tip of State GOP Collapse"]</ref> After his loss, he was thought to be a leading candidate for chairman of the [[Republican National Committee]],<ref>[http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/11/steele_for_rnc.html Washingtonpost.com's Politics Blog, Chris Cillizza,  November 8, 2006, "Michael Steele for Republican NationalChairman?"]</ref> but [[Florida]] Senator [[Mel Martinez]] was picked instead.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/13/AR2006111300636.html Washington Post, Jim VandeHei, November 14, 2006, "Florida Senator Will Be a Top RNC Officer"]</ref>

In Feb. 2009, in the wake of Barack Obama's election, Steele was selected as the new Republican National Committee chairman over then-current Chairman, Mike Duncan.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/30/republicans-pick-new-party-chief</ref><ref>http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/</ref>

In Feb. 2009, in the wake of Barack Obama's election, Steele was selected as the new Republican National Committee chairman over then-current Chairman, Mike Duncan.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/30/republicans-pick-new-party-chief</ref><ref>http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/</ref>

Steele serves on the Administrative Board of the Maryland Catholic Conference and is a member of St. Marys Catholic Church in Landover Hills, MD, where he attends mass regularly with his wife Andrea and their two sons. His essays on law, business and politics have appeared in The Washington Times, Politico.com, Townhall.com, and The Journal of International Security Affairs, among others.

Steele serves on the Administrative Board of the Maryland Catholic Conference and is a member of St. Marys Catholic Church in Landover Hills, MD, where he attends mass regularly with his wife Andrea and their two sons. His essays on law, business and politics have appeared in The Washington Times, Politico.com, Townhall.com, and The Journal of International Security Affairs, among others.