Republicans Now Led by a Black Man

Michael Steele has been selected to lead the Republican Party. He is the first African-American to chair the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the second African-American to chair either of the two major party’s National Committee after Ron Brown, who chaired the Democratic National Committee.

Michael Steele was the first black to serve in a state-wide office in Maryland, as the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007. As Lt. Governor he chaired the Minority Business Enterprise taskforce and actively sought expanded affirmative action policies.

From 2003 to 2005, Steele and Lt. Gov. Jennette Bradley of Ohio were the highest-ranking elected black Republicans in the United States.