Michael Steele, the former lieutenant governor of Maryland was voted the chair of the Republican National Committee Friday. His nomination came as a historic first as he is the first African American to head the party. In a speech to RNC members after his nomination, Steele hailed “conservative principles that have made us the strong and proud party that we are.”
He promised to expand the base of Republican party by changing the party’s strategy to appeal to voters in the northeast and other regions where the GOP has failed to gain traction in recent years.
“It’s time for something completely different and we’re going to bring it to them,” Steele said in remarks reminiscent of former Democratic National Committee head Howard Dean’s 50-state strategy.
“We’re going to bring this party to every corner, every boardroom, every neighborhood, every community.”
Steele’s nomination and his chairmanship of the RNC will be of particular import for the GOP as it tries to counteract the influence of President Barack Obama and his status as the first black U.S. president.
The Marylander’s victory came in the sixth round of voting where he defeated Kate Dawson current head of the South Carolina Republican party by a margin of 91 to 77.
Steele will be succeeding Robert “Mike” Duncan who had sought to retain his leadership position. Duncan dropped out early in the voting process after it became clear that he would not be able to muster sufficient support in light of his close association with former president George W. Bush and recent electoral failures of the party in 2006 and 2008.
As he left the race, Duncan thanked Bush and said of his two-year tenure: “It truly has been the highlight of my life.”
Taking the reigns of the party, Steele may have some difficulties with leaders of conservative organizations, many of whom were backing former Ohio secretary of state Ken Blackwell. While he is highly regarded among the GOP base, the telegenic Steele is disliked by some conservatives who see him as being too willing to make concessions to Democrats and liberals.
Steele became the first black candidate elected to statewide office in Maryland in 2003, and he made an unsuccessful Senate run in 2006. Currently, he serves as chairman of GOPAC, an organization that recruits and trains Republican political candidates, and in that role he has been a frequent presence on the talk show circuit.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
