Shawn Steel

Shawn Steel (born c. 1946) is an American politician serving as the Republican National Committee Member from California since 2008.^[1] He was voted by his colleagues to the executive committee of the Republican National Committee in 2018. Steel served as Sergeant at Arms at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2016.^[2] In 2012, he served as deputy permanent co-chairman of the convention.^[3] He served as the elected chairman of the California Republican Party from 2001 to 2003.^[4] He is the husband of former U.S. Representative Michelle Steel, who represented California's 45th congressional district from 2021 to 2025.

Shawn Steel
Republican National Committeeman from California
Incumbent
Assumed office 2008
Preceded by	Tim Morgan
Chair of the California Republican Party
In office February 25, 2001 – February 22, 2003
Preceded by	John McGraw
Succeeded by	Duf Sundheim
Personal details
Born	1946 (age 78–79) California, U.S.
Spouse	Michelle Steel
Education	California State University, Northridge (BA) University of Southern California (MA) Northrop University (JD)

As the California Republican Party Chairman, Steel was the co-founder of the successful recall of Governor Gray Davis in 2003.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9]} Gov. Davis was recalled via a Recall Petition in which Steel was the first signatory of over 1,000,000 signatures.^{[4][5][6][7][9][8]}

Steel is a frequent guest on CNN, Fox News, and local Los Angeles media. He published over 50 articles in a variety of publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal, San Diego Union, Sacramento Bee, Orange County Register, and Washington Times.^{[10][11][12][13][14]}

Steel is a trial attorney specializing in personal injury law and pioneered a specialty representing alternative health care providers, particularly chiropractors and acupuncturists.^[15] He regularly teaches at Palmer West Chiropractic, Life Chiropractic College West and Southern California University of Health Sciences and frequent lecturer for doctors re-licensing credit through California. Steel & Eisner, LLP,^[16] is located in Seal Beach, California.

Early life

Steel graduated from Van Nuys High School growing up in the San Fernando Valley. Steel's lifetime of conservative political activism began as a leader in the San Fernando Valley Youth for Goldwater (YFG). YFG was a youth group supporting Barry M. Goldwater of Arizona for the U.S. presidency. After the Goldwater defeat, he helped form numerous chapters of Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) in the Los Angeles region. Steel was statewide Chairman of Youth for Reagan for high school students. Steel became state Chairman of California of YAF.

Education

Steel received his Bachelor of Arts degree, with California state teaching credentials, from California State University, Northridge, his Master of Arts from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and his Juris Doctor from Northrop University in Inglewood, California.^{[citation needed]}

California Republican Party

As California Republican Party Chairman, Steel was a co-founder of the Recall Davis movement. Along with Ted Costa, of Peoples Advocate, they were responsible for organizing the recall campaign against Governor Davis. The success of the recall resulted in Arnold Schwarzenegger's election as governor.

Steel was criticized by senior California Republican leaders as well as national leaders. Corporate raider Gerry Parsky, and President George W. Bush's unofficial representative in California questioned the strategy of recalling Gray Davis. Some party leaders objected to Steel's efforts to unseat Davis, fearing it was too risky. Steel at the CRP convention in February 2003 convinced an overwhelming majority to endorse the Recall, thus turning the tide for the recall campaign.^[9]

Teaching

Steel teaches ethics and jurisprudence at Cleveland University-Kansas City in Los Angeles. He also is a regular lecturer at Palmer College of Chiropractic in San Jose and Southern California University of Health Services in Whittier.^{[citation needed]}

Public board service

He was appointed by Republican governor Pete Wilson to the California State Acupuncture Board.^[17] He was appointed in 1993 and served until 2000.^[18] Steel was elected by his peers as Chairman of the Acupuncture Board for two one-year terms.^[19]

Private practice

Steel's personal injury practice, Steel & Eisner, LLP,^[20] is based in Seal Beach, California.^[21]

Steel is known for having broken significant legal ground by representing family members of the notorious Jonestown massacre in Guyana in his early practice.^[22][23] More recently he has filed lawsuits against University of California, Berkeley seeking to protect First Amendment Freedom of Speech rights.^[24][25]

Chinese influence

In June 2020, Steel was linked by the Wall Street Journal to an effort by Chinese nationalists to influence the Trump administration. In May 2017, Steel held a gathering of GOP leaders to discuss campaign strategies and other issues. The meeting reportedly included Chinese nationals working closely with China's national-security apparatus, and Chinese military representatives. After the news was reported, the Republican National Committee said it had instructed Steel to break ties with the people identified in the reports, but did not return the donations because they did not believe them to be in violation of campaign-finance law.^[26] Steel responded to press by stating it would "false, defamatory, and offensive" to say he aided any Chinese efforts.^[27]

Personal life

Steel's wife is former Congresswoman Michelle Steel, who represented California's 45th congressional district from 2021 until 2025. They have two daughters.