Michelle Steel Explained

Michelle Steel
Office:Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from California
Term Start:January 3, 2021
Predecessor:Harley Rouda
Constituency: (20212023)
(2023present)
Office1:Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors
Term Start1:January 1, 2020
Term End1:January 1, 2021
Predecessor1:Lisa Bartlett
Successor1:Andrew Do
Term Start2:January 1, 2017
Term End2:January 1, 2018
Predecessor2:Lisa Bartlett
Successor2:Andrew Do
Office3:Vice Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors
Term Start3:January 1, 2019
Term End3:January 1, 2020
Predecessor3:Shawn Nelson
Successor3:Andrew Do
Term Start4:January 1, 2016
Term End4:January 1, 2017
Predecessor4:Lisa Bartlett
Successor4:Andrew Do
Office5:Member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors
from the 2nd district
Term Start5:January 5, 2015
Term End5:January 3, 2021
Predecessor5:John Moorlach
Successor5:Katrina Foley
Office6:Member of the California State Board of Equalization
from the 3rd district
Term Start6:January 5, 2007
Term End6:January 5, 2015
Predecessor6:Claude Parrish
Successor6:Diane Harkey
Birth Name:Michelle Eunjoo Park
Birth Date:21 June 1955
Birth Place:Seoul, South Korea
Party:Republican
Children:2
Education:Pepperdine University (BA)
University of Southern California (MBA)
Module:
Child:yes
Hangul:박은주[1]
Hanja:朴銀珠
Mr:Pak Ŭn-ju
Rr:Bak Eunju

Michelle Eunjoo Steel (Park, born June 21, 1955) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for California's 45th congressional district since 2023, previously representing the 48th congressional district from 2021 to 2023.[2] A member of the Republican Party, she concurrently served as a member of House Minority Whip Steve Scalise's Whip Team for the 117th Congress.[3]

Steel served as the member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors from the 2nd district from 2015 to 2021 and of the California State Board of Equalization from the 3rd district from 2007 to 2015.[4] [5] Steel, fellow California Republican Young Kim and Democrat Marilyn Strickland of Washington are the first Korean-American women to serve in Congress. Steel and Kim, along with David Valadao, also became the first Republican congressional candidates since 1994 to unseat incumbent House Democrats in California.

Early life and education

Steel was born in Seoul, South Korea. Her father was born in Shanghai to Korean expatriate parents. Steel was educated in South Korea, Japan, and the United States. She holds a degree in business from Pepperdine University and an MBA from the University of Southern California. She is fluent in Korean and Japanese.[5]

California politics

Steel has been active in Republican Party politics and served on various commissions in the George W. Bush administration.[6]

California State Board of Equalization

Steel was elected to the California State Board of Equalization in 2006 when Republican incumbent Claude Parrish ran unsuccessfully for state Treasurer. Throughout her tenure, she served as the country's highest-ranking Korean American officeholder, and California's highest-ranking Republican woman.[4] She represented more than eight million people in the 3rd district, which then included all of Imperial, Orange, Riverside and San Diego Counties and parts of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. In 2011, she was elected vice chair of the Board of Equalization.[7]

Orange County Board of Supervisors

In 2014, Steel was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors representing the 2nd district, defeating state Assemblyman Allan Mansoor.[8]

In March 2018, Steel was the only elected official to greet President Donald Trump when he landed at LAX on his first official visit to California as president.[9] In 2019, Trump appointed her to the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.[10]

Steel chaired the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 2017 and again in 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she opposed mandatory face masks in Orange County.[11] [12] She voted against requiring face coverings for retail employees[13] and opposed mask mandates in public schools. She questioned masks' efficacy in preventing the virus spread.[14]

On September 15, 2020, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved plans that could lead to increased private jet traffic at John Wayne Airport. Steel was criticized by her Democratic opponent, Harley Rouda, for taking campaign contributions from ACI Jet, the corporation that was awarded the contract.[15] [16]

Steel and her husband Shawn supported the 2020-21 recall initiative against California Governor Gavin Newsom[17] and endorsed Larry Elder to replace him.[18]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2020

In 2020, Steel ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in California's 48th congressional district.[19] She received 34.9% of the vote to advance from the primary and defeated incumbent Democrat Harley Rouda in the November 3 general election with 51.1% of the vote.[20] Steel raised $200,000 more than Rouda.[21]

During her campaign, Steel spoke out against COVID-19 mask mandates. Her platform included opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, and the creation of a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.[22] A conservative, she aligned herself with President Donald Trump.[23]

2022

On December 23, 2021, Steel announced that she would run in California's 45th congressional district in 2022 due to redistricting. She was endorsed by Kevin McCarthy, Young Kim, Ken Calvert, Mimi Walters, Andrew Do, and the Republican Party of Orange County.[24]

Steel defeated Democratic nominee Jay Chen in the November 8, 2022, general election.[25]

2024

See main article: 2024 California's 45th congressional district election.

Steel has filed paperwork to run for reelection in the district in 2024.[26]

Tenure

Along with several other Republican U.S. House freshmen, Steel is a member of the Freedom Force, an informal group styled as a Republican counterpart to the Democratic group The Squad.[27]

Steel tested positive for COVID-19 in January 2021.[28] She referenced her own mild symptoms from her bout with COVID to advocate for opening up schools and businesses.[29]

Due to her COVID-19 quarantine, Steel missed voting on the certification of Joe Biden's Electoral College victory.[30] She voted against the second impeachment of Donald Trump on January 13, 2021.[31]

In early February 2021, Steel called for the reopening of schools in California.[32] [33] [34]

On February 25, 2021, Steel voted against the Equality Act, a bill that would prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation by amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act to explicitly include new protections.[35]

On February 27, 2021, Steel voted against the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief and stimulus bill.[36] [37]

In March 2021, Steel introduced a bill that would block federal funding from being used to support California's high-speed rail project, which she called a "failure."[38]

In June 2021, Steel was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the AUMF against Iraq.[39] [40]

In 2021, Steel joined a majority of Republican representatives in signing onto an amicus brief to overturn Roe v. Wade.[41]

In July 2022, Steel voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, which would require the U.S. federal government to recognize the validity of same-sex marriages.[42] [43]

As of December 2022, Steel had voted in line with President Joe Biden's stated position 21% of the time.[44]

In September 2023, Steel was among a bipartisan group of eight U.S. House members who co-sponsored a mental health focused bill aimed at integrating behavioral health services for Medicare beneficiaries in primary care settings.[45]

Life at Conception Act and in-vitro fertilization

Steel was a co-sponsor of the Life at Conception Act introduced in January 2023 during the 118th Congress.[46] The bill would declare a constitutional right to life "is vested in each human being at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization".[46] Unlike some previous Senate versions of the bill, the House version Steel co-sponsored did not include protections for IVF. After a 2024 Alabama court ruling made clear that the bill's language could endanger the ability to administer in-vitro fertilization, Steel said "I do not support federal restrictions on IVF." She added further, "As someone who struggled to get pregnant, I believe all life is a gift. IVF allowed me, as it has so many others, to start my family. I believe there is nothing more pro-life than helping families have children."[47], the Life at Conception Act had not been passed by the House.[46] In March 2024, Steel rescinded her co-sponsorship of the bill due to her support for IVF.[48]

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:[49]

Caucus memberships

Personal life

In 1981, Steel married Shawn Steel, who became California Republican Party chairman from 2001 to 2003 and Republican National Committeeman from California since 2008. They have two daughters and live in Seal Beach, California.[52] She is a Christian.[53]

At a 2014 political event Steel recounted that she had withdrawn her younger daughter from the University of California, Santa Cruz after her daughter voiced support for same-sex marriage and President Barack Obama. The daughter transferred to Loyola Marymount University and graduated from Vanderbilt University. An LGBTQ rights organization publicized this story during her 2020 campaign.[54]

See also

External links

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: November 13, 2020 . '영옥씨' 영 김 후보도 당선…한국계 4명 미 의회 입성 (... Four Korean-Americans Enter U.S. Congress) . . ko . 2021-01-08 . August 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810032309/http://m.koreatimes.com/article/20201113/1337082 . live .
  2. Web site: Rep. Harley Rouda Concedes to Republican Challenger in 48th District Congressional District Race. 2020-11-10. NBC Los Angeles. 2022-08-09. March 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210302061921/https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/politics/decision-2020/harley-rouda-republican-challenger-michelle-steel-congressional-district-48-orange-county/2457734/. live.
  3. RepSteel . 1356737639114813442 . February 2, 2021 . Today I joined @SteveScalise on our first Whip Team call of the 117th Congress! I am so honored to join this team and am ready to get to work supporting policies that help #CA48 families & businesses thrive. . February 2, 2021.
  4. Web site: Steel . Michelle Park . Board Member Michelle Steel . . February 20, 2007 . December 20, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141220082932/http://www.boe.ca.gov/members/msteel/about_member.html . dead .
  5. News: 亞裔支持朴銀珠選稅委. Asian Americans support Park's election to tax board. August 23, 2006. February 20, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225846/http://www.singtao.com/index_archive.asp?d_str=20060823&htmlpage=oversea&news=0823ao13.html. September 26, 2007.
  6. News: Hall . Madison . Panetta . Grace . Neilson . Susie . Results: Republican Michelle Steel defeats first-term Rep. Harley Rouda in California's 48th Congressional District . Business Insider . November 10, 2020 . 10 November 2020 . November 10, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201110214906/https://www.businessinsider.com/california-48th-district-house-election-harley-rouda-michelle-steel-2020 . live .
  7. News: Michelle Steel Named Vice Chair of the State Board of Equalization. Arie Dana. California Board of Equalization. January 26, 2011. dead. 2011-02-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20110208040642/http://www.boe.ca.gov/news/2011/13-11-S.pdf.
  8. Web site: Two new faces join Board of Supervisors. Shine. Nicole. The Orange County Register. November 5, 2014. November 10, 2014. November 10, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141110063924/http://www.ocregister.com/articles/county-641102-steel-board.html. live.
  9. Web site: Gerda . Nick . OC Supervisor Michelle Steel Welcomed President Trump at LAX . Voice of OC . March 15, 2018 . July 23, 2020 . July 23, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200723125533/https://voiceofoc.org/2018/03/oc-supervisor-michelle-steel-welcomed-president-trump-at-lax/ . live .
  10. Web site: Trump names Michelle Park Steel co-chair of president's advisory commission on AAPIs. The Rafu Shimpo. February 3, 2019. April 26, 2019. April 26, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190426191957/http://www.rafu.com/2019/02/trump-names-michelle-steel-co-chair-of-presidents-advisory-commission-on-aapis/. live.
  11. News: June 18, 2020. Californians must wear face masks in public under coronavirus order issued by Newsom. Los Angeles Times. July 23, 2020. July 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200722232832/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-18/california-mandatory-face-masks-statewide-order-coronavirus-gavin-newsom. live.
  12. Web site: Green. Miranda. October 21, 2020. The Mask Backlash That Could Oust a Democratic Congressman. Intelligencer. en-us. October 30, 2020. October 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201029230907/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/10/orange-county-mask-backlash-could-defeat-harley-rouda.html. live.
  13. Web site: April 22, 2020. OC Supervisors Vote To Require Face Coverings For Many Retail Employees. MyNewsLA.com. July 23, 2020. July 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200723090555/https://mynewsla.com/business/2020/04/21/oc-supervisors-vote-to-require-face-coverings-for-many-retail-employees/. live.
  14. Web site: Custodio. Spencer. May 26, 2020. Orange County Public Health Officials Under Fire Over Mask Order. Voice of OC. October 21, 2020. October 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201024033418/https://voiceofoc.org/2020/05/orange-county-public-health-officials-under-fire-from-over-mask-order/. live.
  15. Web site: Brandon Pho. 2020-09-15. Private Jet Plan for John Wayne Airport Sparks Resident Concern and Corruption Allegations. Voice of OC. 2020-12-06. November 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201129105557/https://voiceofoc.org/2020/09/private-jet-plan-for-john-wayne-airport-sparks-resident-concern-and-corruption-allegations/. live.
  16. Web site: Siebenmark. Jerry. With New SNA Lease in Hand, ACI Plans $85M Project. Aviation International News. 2020-12-06. October 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201019163634/https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2020-09-17/new-sna-lease-hand-aci-plans-85m-project. live.
  17. Web site: Some of the biggest names in the California GOP are staying quiet on recalling Gavin Newsom. Sacramento Bee. April 22, 2021. Lara Korte. David Lightman. September 6, 2021. May 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210505192301/https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article250793854.html. live.
  18. Web site: Orange County GOP chair endorses Larry Elder for governor. August 17, 2021. spectrumnews1.com. D'Urso. William. September 6, 2021. September 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210906033303/https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/politics/2021/08/17/republican-party-of-oc-convenes-to-endorse-larry-elder-for-governor-. live.
  19. News: O.C. Supervisor Michelle Steel to challenge Rep. Harley Rouda in 2020 election. May 3, 2019. Associated Press. May 29, 2019. May 29, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190529161645/https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-steel-20190503-story.html. live.
  20. Web site: Michelle Steel. Ballotpedia. August 31, 2020. November 1, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201101062251/https://ballotpedia.org/Michelle_Steel. live.
  21. Denkmann, Libby. Four Lessons From The Southern California House Seats Republicans Reclaimed In 2020, KPCC, 89.3 FM, Southern California Public Radio, Pasadena, California, December 3, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  22. Web site: September 14, 2020. Race Heating Up For California's 48th District Seat As Rouda, Steel Face Off. October 30, 2020. October 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201004212117/https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2020/09/14/california-48-district-orange-county-election-2020-michelle-steel-harley-rouda/. live.
  23. Web site: 2020-11-20. California Republican leaders go all in on Trump's election subterfuge, but some are more vocal than others. Los Angeles Times. 2020-11-22. November 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201122203353/https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-11-20/how-have-california-republicans-responded-to-trumps-claims-about-the-election-with-silence. live.
  24. Web site: 2021-12-23. Rep. Michelle Steel to Run in California's New 45th Congressional District. 2022-01-01. Orange County Breeze. en-US. January 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104200927/https://www.oc-breeze.com/2021/12/23/207108_rep-michelle-steel-to-run-in-californias-new-45th-congressional-district/. live.
  25. Blood, Michael. California wins leave GOP poised to seize US House control, Associated Press, November 11, 2022.
  26. Web site: Michelle Steel Statement of Candidacy . . December 6, 2022 . May 1, 2023.
  27. News: Noor . Poppy . The 'Freedom Force': Republican group takes on the Squad and 'evil' socialism . November 30, 2020 . The Guardian . December 29, 2020 . November 30, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201130190808/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/30/republicans-freedom-force-squad-burgess-owens . live .
  28. News: Ke . Bryan . California Congresswoman Who Once Questioned Mask-Wearing Catches COVID-19 . news.yahoo.com . NextShark . January 8, 2021 . January 9, 2021 . January 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210109225043/http://www.yahoo.com/news/california-congresswoman-once-questioned-mask-194722523.html . live .
  29. News: 2021-01-28 . Surfside Rep. Michelle Steel Scolded For COVID Joke By Political Opponent Harley Rouda . CBS Los Angeles . 2021-05-28 . en-US . July 31, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210731221417/https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2021/01/28/surfside-rep-michelle-steel-scolded-for-covid-joke-by-political-opponent-harley-rouda/ . live .
  30. News: Nixon . Nicole . January 7, 2021 . Here's How California Representatives Voted On Certifying Biden's Election, And Who Is Calling For Trump's Removal . Capital Public Radio . Sacramento, Calif. . 2021-01-20 . January 14, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210114074026/https://www.capradio.org/161195 . live .
  31. News: Cai . Weiyi . Daniel . Annie . Gamio . Lazaro . Parlapiano . Alicia . January 13, 2021 . Impeachment Results: How Democrats and Republicans Voted . en-US . The New York Times . 2021-01-20 . March 2, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210302224121/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/13/us/politics/trump-second-impeachment-vote.html . live .
  32. News: Staggs . Brooke . February 9, 2021 . Here's what local House members are doing, so far, in the legislative fight against COVID-19 . Orange County Register . Anaheim, Calif. . 2021-02-11 . February 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210210024433/https://www.ocregister.com/2021/02/09/heres-what-local-house-members-are-doing-so-far-in-the-legislative-fight-against-covid-19/ . live .
  33. RepSteel . 1359604695870889984 . February 10, 2021 . How it started vs. How it's going: #opentheschools . February 11, 2021.
  34. RepSteel . 1359923358939414528 . February 11, 2021 . The science is clear: there is little evidence schools contribute meaningfully to increased community transmission of #COVID19. I joined over 60 of my @HouseGOP colleagues in a letter to @POTUS urging him to follow the science & #opentheschools. It's time to put our kids first. . February 11, 2021.
  35. News: Here's every Republican who voted against the Equality Act. Metro Weekly. February 25, 2021. February 26, 2021. February 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210226012255/https://www.metroweekly.com/2021/02/for-shame-heres-every-republican-who-voted-against-the-equality-act/. live.
  36. 1 March 2021 . Rep. Steel: "Relief should be targeted, temporary and tied to COVID" . Cong. Michelle Steele . Washington, DC . 2021-05-27 . April 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210426125231/https://steel.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-steel-relief-should-be-targeted-temporary-and-tied-covid . live .
  37. News: Staggs . Brooke . 2021-03-28 . Young Kim and Michelle Steel carve out different paths in Congress . 2021-05-27 . Orange County Register . en-US . June 9, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210609103234/https://www.ocregister.com/2021/03/28/young-kim-and-michelle-steel-carve-out-different-paths-in-congress/ . live .
  38. News: Orange County Republicans take aim at California's bullet train. Orange County Register. March 1, 2021. March 3, 2021. March 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210302121205/https://www.ocregister.com/2021/03/01/orange-county-republicans-take-aim-at-californias-bullet-train/. live.
  39. News: June 19, 2021 . Repeal the 2001, 2002 authorizations for use of military force . Los Angeles Daily News . 2021-06-30 . June 19, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210619181836/https://www.ocregister.com/2021/06/19/repeal-the-2001-2002-authorizations-for-use-of-military-force/ . live .
  40. Web site: 2021-07-17 . Final Vote Results for Roll Call 172 . Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives . June 17, 2021 . June 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210627182635/https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll172.xml . live .
  41. Web site: No. 19-1392. 2021. US Senate. 2022-08-09. live. 2021-10-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20211017053606/https://www.wicker.senate.gov/services/files/91b4f962-785b-4a88-b298-908ae76dd297.
  42. Web site: 2022-07-20 . These Are the 157 House of Representatives Members Who Voted Against Protecting Marriage Equality . 2022-07-21 . Katie Couric Media . en-US . July 21, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220721225959/https://katiecouric.com/news/politics-and-policy/which-republicans-voted-against-respect-for-marriage-act/ . live .
  43. Web site: H.R. 8404: Respect for Marriage Act -- House Vote #373 -- Jul 19, 2022 . 2022-09-18 . GovTrack.us . en . September 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220920172708/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/117-2022/h373 . live .
  44. Web site: Bycoffe . Aaron . Wiederkehr . Anna . Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden? . FiveThirtyEight . April 22, 2021 . 30 November 2022 . January 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220117175555/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/michelle-steel/ . live .
  45. News: Knight . Victoria . First look: Bipartisan behavioral health access bill . 27 September 2023 . Axios . September 26, 2023.
  46. Bill . H.R. 431 . January 20, 2023 . Life at Conception Act . . 2024-02-25.
  47. News: Raman . Sandhya . Alabama IVF ruling spurs a GOP reckoning on conception bills . 2024-02-25 . . February 23, 2024.
  48. News: Kapur . Sahil . Kaplan . Rebecca . GOP Rep. Michelle Steel rescinds her co-sponsorship of the Life at Conception Act after winning her primary . 14 March 2024 . NBC News . 7 March 2024 . en.
  49. Web site: Michelle Steel . Clerk of the United States House of Representatives . 1 May 2023.
  50. Web site: Conservative Climate Caucus. 2022-01-01. Congressman Curtis. en. December 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211214181451/https://curtis.house.gov/conservative-climate-caucus/. live.
  51. Web site: Homepage of Republican Governance Group. Republican Governance Group. December 14, 2019. December 23, 2021. December 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211224001858/https://republicangovernance.com/. live.
  52. Web site: Steel. Michelle Park. Vice Chair Michelle Steel. California State Board of Equalization. November 14, 2012. December 20, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141220082932/http://www.boe.ca.gov/members/msteel/about_member.html. dead.
  53. Web site: Steel. Michelle Park. Michelle Steel - House Candidate - California 48th District. Susan B. Anthony List. November 23, 2020. November 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201124173249/https://www.sba-list.org/candidate/michelle-steel. dead.
  54. Web site: July 8, 2020. California GOP congressional candidate claimed she withdrew her daughter from college for supporting gay marriage. Metro Weekly. August 21, 2020. August 22, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200822213515/https://www.metroweekly.com/2020/07/california-gop-congressional-candidate-claimed-she-withdrew-her-daughter-from-college-for-supporting-gay-marriage/. live.

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