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added officeholder template, organized and added information
{{Officeholder
'''Michael S. Steele''' was elected chairman of the [[Republican National Committee]] in January 2009. Previously he headed the [[conservative]] grassroots organization GOPAC. He served as [[Lieutenant Governor]] of [[Maryland]] from 2003 through 2007.
|name=Michael Steele
|image=Michael Steele.jpg
|party=[[Republican]]
|spouse=Andrea Derritt
|religion=[[Roman Catholic]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/misc
|office=Chair of the [[Republican National Committee]]
|terms=January 30, 2009 – January 14, 2011
|preceded=Mike Duncan
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Reince Priebus]]
}}
{{Officeholder/lieutenant governor
|state=Maryland
|governor=Bob Ehrlich
|terms=January 15, 2003 – January 17, 2007
|preceded=[[Kathleen Kennedy Townsend]]
|former=y
|succeeded=Anthony G. Brown
}}
}}
'''Michael Stephen Steele''' was elected chairman of the [[Republican National Committee]] in January 2009. Previously he headed the [[conservative]] grassroots organization GOPAC. He served as [[Lieutenant Governor]] of [[Maryland]] from 2003 through 2007.
Steele was the first [[African American]] elected to statewide office in Maryland when he was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2002, and is the first black GOP national chairman.
Steele was the first [[African American]] elected to statewide office in Maryland when he was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2002, and is the first black GOP national chairman.
Many of the criticisms of Steele are insubstantial and unjustified. For example, Steele was giving paid speeches, which sparked criticism by three former RNC chairmen. Others complained about blunt talk by Steele in his new book.<ref>Philip Rucker and Chris Cillizza, "Steele's book release, fiery rhetoric fuel dissatisfaction within GOP," [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/07/AR2010010703699.html ''Washington Post'' Jan. 9, 2010]</ref>
Many of the criticisms of Steele are insubstantial and unjustified. For example, Steele was giving paid speeches, which sparked criticism by three former RNC chairmen. Others complained about blunt talk by Steele in his new book.<ref>Philip Rucker and Chris Cillizza, "Steele's book release, fiery rhetoric fuel dissatisfaction within GOP," [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/07/AR2010010703699.html ''Washington Post'' Jan. 9, 2010]</ref>
==Political career==
==Early life, education, and business career==
Steele was born October 19, 1958 in Maryland. In 1981, he received a bachelor's degree in international relations from [[Johns Hopkins University]]. After considering becoming a Catholic priest and spending three years at the Order of St. Augustine seminary, he received a law degree when he graduated from [[Georgetown University]] Law Center in 1991. From 1991 through 1997 he was a corporate securities attorney at the international law firm of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton in Washington, D.C., specializing in sophisticated financial transactions on behalf of Wall Street underwriters.<ref>[http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/08conoff/html/msa13921.html Maryland State Archives, "LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: MICHAEL S. STEELE, Lt.Governor (Republican)"]</ref> He also was a corporate finance counsel for the Mills Corporation and founded his own company, The Steele Group, a business and legal consulting firm.
Steele was born October 19, 1958 in Maryland. In 1981, he received a bachelor's degree in international relations from [[Johns Hopkins University]]. After considering becoming a Catholic priest and spending three years at the Order of St. Augustine seminary, he received a law degree when he graduated from [[Georgetown University]] Law Center in 1991. From 1991 through 1997 he was a corporate securities attorney at the international law firm of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton in Washington, D.C., specializing in sophisticated financial transactions on behalf of Wall Street underwriters.<ref>[http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/08conoff/html/msa13921.html Maryland State Archives, "LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: MICHAEL S. STEELE, Lt.Governor (Republican)"]</ref> He also was a corporate finance counsel for the Mills Corporation and founded his own company, The Steele Group, a business and legal consulting firm.
==Political career==
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>https://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>
According to one recent report, under Steele's leadership, the Republican Party had serious trouble raising funds for the [[2010 Midterm Elections|2010 midterm elections]]: "When Steele was elected, the RNC had $22 million and no debt. At the end of November (2009), it had less than $9 million, which is a pittance of what the RNC possessed going into the midterms of 2002 and 2006."<ref>https://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-01-10/the-michael-steele-debacle/</ref>
===Opposition to Donald Trump===
Despite holding [[conservative]] views, Steele has opposed [[Donald Trump]] since the latter's 2016 presidential campaign,<ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/michael-steele-no-support-trump-230138 Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele won't back Trump]</ref> announcing then that he wouldn't vote for Trump nor [[Hillary Clinton]] in the [[2016 U.S. presidential election]]. Steele has also expressed disdain for [[evangelicals]] who support Trump, telling them to “shut the hell up”.<ref>[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/24/michael-steele-former-rnc-chair-blasts-evangelical/ Former RNC chair blasts Evangelical Trump supporters: 'Shut the hell up']</ref>
In February 2019, Steele has absurdly claimed that [[Donald Trump]] was “probably not happy” that the [[FBI]] arrested a white supremacist who plotted to attack liberal [[Democrats]].<ref>[https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bethbaumann/2019/02/23/watch-michael-steele-thinks-trump-is-probably-not-happy-the-fbi-stopped-a-terrorist-attack-against-dems-n2542104 WATCH: Michael Steele Thinks Trump Is 'Probably Not Happy' The FBI Stopped a Terrorist Attack Against Dems]</ref>
==Personal life==
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.
==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Steele, Michael}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Steele, Michael}}
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Conservatives]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:Republican Party]]
[[Category:Anti-Trump]]
[[Category:Black History]]
[[Category:Black History]]
[[Category:Maryland]]
[[Category:Maryland]]