Michael Steele

Michael S. Steele served as the first African-American Lt. Governor of Maryland in 2003, making significant historical strides as the first African American elected to statewide office in the state. He later served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from 2009 to 2011.

During his tenure as chairman of the RNC, Steele focused on revitalizing the Republican Party. Under his leadership, the committee broke fundraising records by raising over $198 million during the 2010 Congressional cycle. The Republican Party won 63 House seats in the 2010 elections, the most significant gain since 1938. Additionally, the party also captured 12 governorships and secured the greatest share of state legislative seats since 1928, with over 600 seats won.

As Lt. Governor, Steele placed a strong emphasis on reforming Maryland's Minority Business Enterprise program and enhancing the quality of the state's public education system. He championed the state’s historic Charter School law, which marked a significant step in improving educational options for families. His efforts also extended to expanding economic development and fostering collaboration between government and faith-based organizations to support community needs.

Steele’s skills as a communicator and commentator are reflected in his current role as a political analyst for MSNBC. He regularly appears on programs such as "Meet the Press," "Face the Nation," and HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher." Beyond television, Steele engages audiences through "The Michael Steele Podcast," and previously co-hosted "Steele & Ungar" on SiriusXM's POTUS Channel.

A prolific writer, Steele’s articles on legal, business, and political topics have been featured in notable publications including The Wall Street Journal, Politico, The Hill, and others. He is the author of "Right Now: A 12-Step Program for Defeating the Obama Agenda" and co-author of "The Recovering Politician’s Twelve Step Program to Survive Crisis."

Born at Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Steele was raised in Washington, DC. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 1981 and Georgetown Law Center in 1991. Steele also studied for the priesthood with the Order of St. Augustine and is recognized as an Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow in Public Leadership and a University of Chicago Institute of Politics Fellow.