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>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 Hussein 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>

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===

===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>

Despite saying he holds [[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>

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>