Michelle Steel

Michelle Steel – Life, Career, and Notable Quotes

Learn about Michelle Steel (born June 21, 1955) — Korean-born American politician. Explore her early life, immigrant journey, rise in California politics, congressional tenure, policy stances, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Michelle Eunjoo Steel is a Korean-American Republican politician who has held various offices in California, culminating in her service in the U.S. House of Representatives (2021–2025).

Her story is shaped by immigration, public service, fiscal conservatism, and attention on issues such as taxation, small business, and U.S.–China relations.

Early Life and Education

Michelle Steel was born June 21, 1955, in Seoul, South Korea.

Her family background and migration:

• Her father was born in Shanghai to Korean parents.

• She was educated in South Korea, Japan, and the United States as the family lived in multiple countries during her youth.

She later moved to the U.S. and earned degrees:

• Bachelor’s degree (Business) from Pepperdine University

• MBA from University of Southern California (USC)

She is multilingual: she speaks Korean, Japanese, and English.

In 1981, she married Shawn Steel, a political figure in California. They have two daughters.

Political Career

State & Local Service

California State Board of Equalization (2007 – 2015)

Steel was elected to the California State Board of Equalization (3rd district), serving from January 2007 to January 2015.

During her tenure, she emphasized tax reform, transparency, and returning funds to taxpayers.

Orange County Board of Supervisors (2015 – 2021)

She served on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, representing the 2nd district, from January 2015 to January 2021.

She also served as Chair of the Board in 2017 and again in 2020.

In that role, she was involved in local infrastructure (roads, buses, wastewater), fiscal policy, and COVID-19 responses at the county level.

She opposed mask mandates in Orange County, questioning efficacy and resisting mandates in retail and public schools.

U.S. House of Representatives (2021 – 2025)

Elections & Tenure

• In 2020, Steel ran for U.S. House in California’s 48th district and defeated incumbent Democrat Harley Rouda.

• Due to redistricting, she represented California’s 45th congressional district from 2023 to 2025.

• In the 2024 election, she was defeated by Derek Tran.

In Congress, her committee assignments included:

• Education & the Workforce

• Ways & Means

• Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party

She also was a member of Representative Steve Scalise’s Whip Team for the 117th Congress.

Policy Focus & Actions

Steel’s stated priorities and legislative actions include:

• Lowering taxes, reducing regulatory burdens, especially for small businesses and independent contractors.

• Enforcing strong border security and laws concerning immigration and sanctuary jurisdictions.

• Standing up to China / CCP: she has pushed measures to limit Chinese influence, restrict funding to institutions tied to the Chinese government, and support Taiwan.

• Opposing single-payer healthcare and advocating for market-based solutions that preserve private options.

• Veteran support, infrastructure, and cost control.

• During the COVID period, she opposed mask mandates and engaged in debates around public health restrictions.

• She has also been involved in audits and criticisms over use of COVID-relief funds, specifically a $1.2 million contract in Orange County for senior meals that was awarded to her campaign mail contractor.

Political Positions & Ideology

Based on her public statements and voting record:

• Fiscal Conservatism / Pro-Business: She promotes tax relief, deregulation, and free market principles.

• Immigration & National Security: Support for stricter border enforcement, opposition to sanctuary policies.

• Foreign Policy: Strong stance against human rights abuses by the Chinese Communist Party; support for U.S. allies like Taiwan.

• Healthcare: Opposes government-run (single payer) systems; favors private-market solutions.

• Social Issues: She has opposed some LGBTQ-inclusive legislation (e.g. she voted against the Equality Act).

• Gun control: She voted No on background checks for private gun transfers.

• Voter laws / Access: She has opposed expanding voter registration access and has resisted some election reform proposals.

Notable Quotes

Here are several quotes attributed to Michelle Steel that reflect her views:

• “The beauty of America is that everyone has the opportunity to build their own American dream.”

• “Independent contractors, entrepreneurs, and small businesses in my home state of California already understand the devastating affects AB-5 had…”

• “We must hold the CCP accountable and protect the freedoms of religion and speech for all.”

• “As the Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, I was committed to supporting business owners and workers, fighting against high and unfair taxes…”

• “The rise in discrimination and hateful targeting of the AAPI community has to stop.”

• “Some say my English is broken, but that implies there's something wrong with how I, and millions of other Americans, speak.”

These quotes illustrate her emphasis on opportunity, free enterprise, accountability (especially toward China/CCP), and her identity as an immigrant in public office.

Lessons & Reflections

From Michelle Steel’s life and career, one can derive several observations:

1. Immigrant narrative + public service: Her personal history as an immigrant shapes her political identity and often informs her policy focus on economic opportunity and fairness.

2. Fiscal and regulatory focus: She consistently prioritizes reducing taxes and regulatory burdens, especially for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

3. Strategic local-to-national trajectory: Her career moved from state-level boards, to county governance, then to Congress — illustrating how local experience can lead to national leadership.

4. Challenges of oversight and accountability: Her use of public funds (especially during the pandemic) attracted scrutiny, showing how public officials must maintain transparency.

5. Balancing identity and partisanship: As one of the first Korean-American women in Congress, she balances representation, cultural identity, and strongly partisan politics.

Conclusion

Michelle Steel’s biography is a testament to how personal history, public institutions, and political conviction can interweave. Born in Korea, educated in multiple countries, she built a path through tax boards and local government to the U.S. Congress. Her time in office emphasized fiscal conservatism, business advocacy, strong stances toward China, and a vision of service through her immigrant lens.