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Steele was the first [[African American]] elected to state-wide 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 state-wide office in Maryland when he was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2002, and is the first black GOP national chairman.

==Political Career==

==Political Career==

He 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.

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>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/elections/2006/maryland/Maryland_US_Senator.html Washington Post, "Election Profile - U.S. Senate, Maryland"]</ref><ref>[http://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>[http://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>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/elections/2006/maryland/Maryland_US_Senator.html Washington Post, "Election Profile - U.S. Senate, Maryland"]</ref><ref>[http://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>[http://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>