Michael Steele

Michael Steele's political career began in Maryland, where he served as the seventh lieutenant governor from 2003 to 2007. His role in the political landscape extended nationally when he became the chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from 2009 until 2011, being the first African-American to hold this position. During his tenure, Steele co-founded the Republican Leadership Council, a "fiscally conservative and socially inclusive" organization, and chaired the Minority Business Enterprise task force, promoting affirmative action in the corporate world.

Steele's influence reaches beyond politics into the media sphere. He has appeared as a political pundit on major networks, including Fox News, and has contributed as a regular columnist for the online magazine "The Root." His television appearances extend to shows such as HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" and Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report." He is a co-host on MSNBC's "The Weekend" alongside Symone Sanders-Townsend and Alicia Menendez. Furthermore, Steele hosted a PBS Republican Primary debate in Baltimore, Maryland.

Steele's commitment to public service and academia is evidenced by his role as a Senior Fellow at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, a position he took up in 2018. He has also demonstrated his capacity to engage with contemporary political discourse, endorsing Joe Biden for the presidency in 2020 and starring in an advertisement aired by The Lincoln Project.