32 Facts About Michelle Steel

Michelle Eunjoo Steel is an American politician who served as the US representative for California's 45th congressional district from 2023 to 2025, previously representing the 48th congressional district from 2021 to 2023.

Michelle 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.

Michelle Steel's father was born in Shanghai to Korean expatriate parents.

Michelle Steel was educated in South Korea, Japan, and the United States.

Michelle Steel holds a degree in business from Pepperdine University and an MBA from the University of Southern California.

Michelle Steel was elected to the California State Board of Equalization in 2006 when Republican incumbent Claude Parrish ran unsuccessfully for state Treasurer.

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

In March 2018, Michelle 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.

Michelle Steel chaired the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 2017 and again in 2020.

Michelle Steel voted against requiring face coverings for retail employees and opposed mask mandates in public schools.

Michelle Steel questioned masks' efficacy in preventing the virus spread.

Michelle Steel was criticized by her Democratic opponent, Harley Rouda, for taking campaign contributions from ACI Jet, the corporation that was awarded the contract.

In 2024, Michelle Steel was criticized for her management of $1.2 million allocated for food aid during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Michelle Steel awarded the contract to a marketing company she was using for her campaign, a company that reportedly had no prior experience with this type of government funding.

In 2020, Michelle Steel ran for the US House of Representatives in California's 48th congressional district.

Michelle Steel's platform included opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, and the creation of a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

On December 23,2021, Michelle Steel announced that she would run in California's 45th congressional district in 2022 due to redistricting.

Michelle Steel was endorsed by Kevin McCarthy, Young Kim, Ken Calvert, Mimi Walters, Andrew Do, and the Republican Party of Orange County.

Michelle Steel defeated Democratic nominee Jay Chen in the November 8,2022, general election.

Michelle Steel referenced her own mild symptoms from her bout with COVID to advocate for opening up schools and businesses.

Michelle Steel did not vote on the certification of Joe Biden's Electoral College victory.

Michelle Steel voted against the second impeachment of Donald Trump on January 13,2021.

In early February 2021, Michelle Steel called for the reopening of schools in California.

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

In June 2021, Michelle Steel was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the AUMF against Iraq.

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

In July 2022, Michelle Steel voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, which would require the US federal government to recognize the validity of same-sex marriages.

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

Michelle Steel was a co-sponsor of the Life at Conception Act introduced in January 2023 during the 118th Congress.

In 1981, Michelle Steel married Shawn Michelle Steel, who became California Republican Party chairman from 2001 to 2003 and Republican National Committeeman from California since 2008.

At a 2014 Tea Party event in Newport Beach, Michelle Steel said she had withdrawn her younger daughter from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and sent her to Loyola Marymount University for a one-year "brainwash" after her daughter voiced support for same-sex marriage and President Barack Obama.