Corey Stapleton

Stapleton was born on September 17, 1967, in Seattle. Nominated by the Secretary of the Navy, he attended the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, Rhode Island. Serving as battalion adjutant and earning the Most Inspirational Wrestler Award, he entered the United States Naval Academy{{cite web |url=http://www.crmw.org/News%20articles/DK_USNews_World_Report_8-9-08.htm |title=Western Voters Could be Up for Grabs for Obama and McCain - US News and World Report |publisher=Crmw.org |access-date=April 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303201602/http://www.crmw.org/News%20articles/DK_USNews_World_Report_8-9-08.htm |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }} in Annapolis, Maryland, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering.{{cite news |title=About Corey Stapleton |url=https://mtstandard.com/about-corey-stapleton/article_b0c9bd52-caa7-11e3-9c9b-001a4bcf887a.html |access-date=March 19, 2022 |work=Montana Standard |date=April 23, 2014 |language=en}}

He served as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) and the Aegis cruiser USS Hué City (CG-66). He voluntarily resigned his naval commission in 1997 to work in Billings, Montana, as a financial advisor.{{cite web |url=http://montana.therightfinancialadvisor.com/search_by_city/city/Billings/zip/59105/index.html |title=Financial Advisors in Billings, Montana (59101) |publisher=Montana.therightfinancialadvisor.com |access-date=April 17, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://coreystapleton.com/about-corey/ |title=About Corey |website=Corey Stapleton for U.S. Senate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209053806/http://www.coreystapleton.com/about-corey |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 9, 2013 |access-date=May 20, 2013}}

In 2000 he won a three-way Republican primary and then general election to become the first Generation X-er elected to the Montana Senate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=969127|title = Our Campaigns - MT State Senate 10 - R Primary Race - Jun 06, 2000}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=904525|title = Our Campaigns - MT State Senate 10 Race - Nov 07, 2000}} In 2004, he won re-election to a second term, defeating Democrat Chris Daem 57%–43%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=165165 |title=MT State Senate 27 Race - Nov 02, 2004 |publisher=Our Campaigns|access-date=April 17, 2015}}

Stapleton was elected Minority Whip{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/18/us/18montana.html|title=Montana Balance of Power Shifts With a Single Seat|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 18, 2006 |access-date=April 17, 2015|last1=Robbins |first1=Jim |last2=Johnson |first2=Kirk }} in 2006 until term-limited out of office in 2008. He served as Senate Minority Leader[http://www.queencitynews.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=6698] {{dead link|date=April 2015}} in the 2007 legislative session, which ended without a budget compromise between the Democratic-controlled senate and Republican-controlled House.

Stapleton sponsored several pieces of legislation including Otter Creek Coal development (SB409 2003)[http://opi.mt.gov/PDF/superintendent/2003LegSummary.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220012256/http://opi.mt.gov/PDF/superintendent/2003LegSummary.pdf|date=December 20, 2010}} the attempted creation of a Montana medical school (SB273 2005){{cite web |url=http://www.mtstandard.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_9b6856a0-749e-509a-a0d1-0485bfbe5a2f.html?mode=story |title=New laws left in the wake of the 2005 Legislature |publisher=Mtstandard.com |date=April 26, 2005 |access-date=April 17, 2015}} the Montana National Guard Relief Act (SB75){{cite web |url=http://www.mteang.org/publications/eangmtnewsjuly03.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.mteang.org |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727101407/http://www.mteang.org/publications/eangmtnewsjuly03.pdf |archive-date=27 July 2011 |url-status=dead}} and the demand for reorganization and replacement of the Montana Department of Revenue's computer system POINTS (SB271 2003).{{cite web|url=http://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/article_984c785d-371a-5523-8d19-ea67f43f1c23.html |title=Senate gets look at HB2 |publisher=Helenair.com |date=March 23, 2003 |access-date=April 17, 2015}}

Stapleton served as chairman of the Montana Republican Legislative Campaign Committee, and advocated for the party's "Handshake with Montana" plan{{cite web|url=http://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/article_97cb804e-fe49-59a8-9e34-64c52130a435.html |title=Battle looms over budget surplus |publisher=Helenair.com |date=July 8, 2006 |access-date=April 17, 2015}} which he compared to the 1994 Republican Party "Contract with America".[http://www.house.gov/house/Contract/CONTRACT.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100802031141/http://www.house.gov/house/Contract/CONTRACT.html|date=August 2, 2010}} Montana Republicans gained the majority of the State House and shared control of the Montana State Senate with the Democratic Party in the 2006 election.{{cite web|url=http://www.ktvq.com/news/gubernatorial-candidate-profile-corey-stapleton/ |access-date=May 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525185802/http://www.ktvq.com/news/gubernatorial-candidate-profile-corey-stapleton/ |archive-date=May 25, 2012 |title=Gubernatorial Candidate Profile: Corey Stapleton | KTVQ.com | Q2 | Billings, Montana }}{{cite web|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/keyword/Corey-Stapleton |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630141521/http://www.weeklystandard.com/keyword/Corey-Stapleton |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 30, 2013 |title=Corey Stapleton |publisher=The Weekly Standard |date=February 6, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2015}}

• Finance and Claims{{cite web|url=http://www.vote-mt.org/Intro.aspx?Id=MTStapletonCorey |title=Corey Stapleton, Previous Candidate for State Senator District 10, Montana |publisher=Vote-mt.org |access-date=April 17, 2015}}
• Legislative Audit[http://mtmemory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/p103401wdda&CISOPTR=8547&CISOBOX=1&REC=5]{{dead link|date=April 2015}}

{{See also|2012 Montana gubernatorial election}}

Stapleton ran for Governor of Montana with former state senator Bob Keenan as running mate in 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.kxlh.com/news/stapleton-announces-running-mate-in-governor-s-race/ |title=Stapleton announces running mate in governor's race | KXLH.com | Helena, Montana |access-date=May 20, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629154336/http://www.kxlh.com/news/stapleton-announces-running-mate-in-governor-s-race/ |archive-date=June 29, 2013}} He lost to former U.S. Congressman Rick Hill, who won the seven-candidate Republican primary with a plurality of 34% of the vote. Stapleton ranked second with 18% of the vote, sixteen points behind Hill. He won only two counties in the state: Yellowstone (33%) and Treasure (29%).{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=537706 |title=MT Governor - R Primary Race - Jun 05, 2012 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=April 17, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://sos.mt.gov/Elections/2012/Primary/2012_PRIMARY_STATEWIDE_CANVASS.PDF |title=Montana Secretary of State Linda McCulloch 2012 Statewide Primary Election Canvass |publisher=Sos.mt.gov |access-date=April 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121105908/http://sos.mt.gov/Elections/2012/Primary/2012_PRIMARY_STATEWIDE_CANVASS.PDF |archive-date=January 21, 2013 |url-status=dead}}

{{See also|2014 United States Senate election in Montana|2014 United States House of Representatives election in Montana}}

In early 2013, he decided to run for the U.S. Senate and challenge longtime Democratic incumbent Max Baucus. Stapleton criticized Baucus's record and started a petition to repeal Obamacare.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/obamacare-repeal-house-candidates-91440.html?hp=r3 |title=Obamacare repeal central for GOP primary field - Paige Winfield Cunningham |publisher=Politico.Com |date=May 15, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2015}} In April 2013, Baucus decided to retire.{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/24/max-baucus-senate_n_3145890.html |title=Max Baucus Senate Exit May Prompt Free-For-All In 2014 |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=April 24, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2015}} After it became clear that freshman Representative Steve Daines would seek the Senate seat, Stapleton withdrew from the Senate race to instead run for Daines' seat in the House. Stapleton lost the Republican primary to Ryan Zinke.

{{See also|2020 United States House of Representatives election in Montana}}

On June 15, 2019, Stapleton announced his 2020 candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives. He had initially been a candidate in the crowded 2020 Montana gubernatorial election.{{cite news|last1=Drake|first1=Phil|title=Stapleton announces run for U.S. House seat|url=https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2019/06/15/stapleton-run-montanas-u-s-house-seat/1464511001/|newspaper=Great Falls Tribune|date=June 15, 2019|access-date=June 15, 2019}} He lost the Republican primary to Matt Rosendale.

{{See also|2024 United States presidential election|2024 Republican Party presidential primaries}}

File:Corey Stapleton 2024 logo.png

On March 10, 2022, Stapleton announced that he was "testing the waters" for a 2024 presidential campaign.{{cite news|title=Corey Stapleton announcing that he is "Testing the Waters," to run for president in 2024|url=https://www.montanarightnow.com/top_story/corey-stapleton-announcing-that-he-is-testing-the-waters-to-run-for-president-in-2024/article_f370d24f-3beb-50fe-a5fb-7836fb8012ff.html|access-date=March 10, 2022 |work=ABC Fox MT|date=March 10, 2022 |last=Warren|first=Bradley }} Stapleton later confirmed he was running on November 11, 2022.{{cite news|title=Former Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton Says 'Pay It Forward', Announces Bid for U.S. President 2024|url=https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/11/11/2554085/0/en/Former-Montana-Secretary-of-State-Corey-Stapleton-Says-Pay-It-Forward-Announces-Bid-for-U-S-President-2024.html|access-date=November 16, 2022|work=Globenewswire.com (Press release) |date=November 11, 2022 |last=Stapleton for President }} He has been described as a "long-shot candidate" due to his lack of polling representation and media coverage.{{cn|date=October 2023}} Stapleton has raised $7,717 total for his campaign, all through individual contributions, as of March 31, 2023.{{Cite web |title=STAPLETON, COREY - Candidate overview |url=https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/P40009144/ |access-date=2023-06-30|website=FEC.gov |language=en}} He withdrew from the election on October 13, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.newswire.com/news/u-s-presidential-candidate-corey-stapleton-bows-out-of-race-22148886|title=U.S. Presidential Candidate Corey Stapleton Bows Out of Race|work=NewsWire|date=October 13, 2023|accessdate=October 13, 2023}}

In July 2017, Stapleton said that there had been 360 cases of voter fraud in Montana in the 2017 special congressional election.{{Cite news|url=http://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/montana-elections-chief-alleges-voter-fraud-in-may-balloting/article_da08c824-65e3-517b-aacc-d231fabff369.html|title=Montana elections chief alleges voter fraud in May balloting |last=Calvan|first=Bobby Caina|work=Helena Independent Record|access-date=September 16, 2017}}{{Cite news |url=http://helenair.com/news/politics/state/state-senator-demands-proof-of-voter-fraud-claims-from-secretary/article_31a5892e-42ab-5ab6-99f7-95c0da21a021.html|title=State senator demands proof of voter fraud claims from Secretary of State |last=Michels|first=Holly K.|work=Helena Independent Record|access-date=September 16, 2017}} When asked to substantiate his claims, Stapleton said that he had been "incorrectly" quoted by the Associated Press and Lee Newspapers.{{Cite news |url=http://helenair.com/news/politics/state/secretary-of-state-dings-media-for-incorrectly-saying-he-made/article_c9093246-97ed-5af6-8743-54d7dbd61c9f.html|title=Secretary of state dings media for 'incorrectly' saying he made claims of voter fraud |last=holly.michels@lee.net|first=HOLLY K. MICHELS|work=Helena Independent Record|access-date=September 16, 2017}}

In October 2018, Stapleton came under scrutiny after it was revealed that a Voter Guide written, published, and mailed by the Montana Secretary of State office had failed to distinguish what changes proposed ballot initiatives would make to existing laws through underlining additions and striking deletions, instead printing the new laws without these distinguishing marks. Stapleton's office awarded the $265,000 contract to print and mail the corrections to all Montana voters to Ultra Graphics, a firm run by former state Republican Party Executive Director Jake Eaton.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/774bc7aa09bf4e0a9823d362767df6ff|title=Corey Stapleton announces his 2nd run for Montana governor|first=Amy Beth|last=Hanson|date=January 2, 2019|website=AP NEWS|access-date=March 29, 2019}} Stapleton claimed that Eaton's company was awarded the contract because it had submitted the lowest bid. After news reports indicated that a company in Arizona had submitted a bid for less money, Stapleton stated that the Eaton-led firm's bid was the cheapest, because it was the only one able to complete the printing and mailing on time due to being in Montana.{{cite web|url=https://flatheadbeacon.com/2018/11/13/stapleton-awarding-contract-friend-right-voters/|title=Stapleton: Awarding Contract to Friend was Right for Voters|date=November 13, 2018|website=Flathead Beacon|access-date=March 29, 2019}}

In June 2019, in response to a legislative audit that found he was improperly commuting in a state vehicle, Stapleton's staff claimed that he was not commuting but "teleworking." The matter was turned over to the Helena Police Department.{{cite news |last1=Staff |title=Staff: Stapleton used state truck to telework, not commute |url=https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2019/06/26/staff-secretary-of-state-corey-stapleton-used-state-truck-telework-not-commute/1577574001/ |access-date=15 March 2022 |work=Great Falls Tribune |agency=AP |publisher=Gannett}} A city attorney refused to file charges, referring to the expiration of a one year statute of limitations, although an AP investigation alleged further potential violations occurring after the period of the audit.{{cite news |title=Records Show Montana Official's Vehicle Misuse |url=https://flatheadbeacon.com/2019/10/13/records-show-montana-officials-vehicle-misuse/ |access-date=15 March 2022 |work=Flathead Beacon |agency=AP |date=October 13, 2019}}

In February 2019, Stapleton was fined $4,000 by Montana's Commissioner of Political Practices for four separate violations of State law in using resources from his secretary of state office to announce his gubernatorial campaign.{{cite web|url=https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/corey-stapleton-fined-for-using-state-email-to-announce-governor/article_caa08a8c-5392-595b-9351-3f0c3e964498.html|title=Corey Stapleton fined for using state email to announce governor campaign|first=HOLLY K. MICHELS|last=holly.michels@lee.net|website=The Billings Gazette|access-date=March 29, 2019}}

Stapleton married his wife Terry in 1992 in Great Falls. They had four children. The couple divorced in 2021. Stapleton has served on various community boards including Montana Manufacturing Extension board,{{cite web |url=http://www.mtmanufacturingcenter.com/PDFs/fall08.pdf |title=Forward Focus |date=2008 |publisher=Mtmanufacturingcenter.com |access-date=April 17, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203627/http://www.mtmanufacturingcenter.com/PDFs/fall08.pdf |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }} Rotary, American Legion, and the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind foundation.{{cite web|url=http://msdb.mt.gov/express/MSDBFall09.pdf |title=MSDB Express : Montana School for the Deaf and Blind |date=2009 |publisher=Msdb.mt.gov |access-date=April 17, 2015}}

Stapleton is part of country music band Corey Stapleton & The Pretty Pirates and released albums as recently as 2022.{{cite web | url=https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kvegnV1UNzHG8lU2qiGJc | title=Corey Stapleton & the Pretty Pirates | website=Spotify }}

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Category:1967 births

Category:Living people

Category:American adoptees

Category:Candidates in the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections

Category:Candidates in the 2024 United States presidential election

Category:Republican Party Montana state senators

Category:Politicians from Great Falls, Montana

Category:Politicians from Seattle

Category:Secretaries of state of Montana

Category:United States Naval Academy alumni

Category:21st-century members of the Montana Legislature