Mike Flynn (editor)
{{Short description|American journalist (1967–2016)}}
{{other people|Michael Flynn}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Mike Flynn
|birth_date = {{birth date|1967|10|19}}
|birth_place = Quincy, Illinois, U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|2016|6|23|1967|10|19}}
|death_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.
|occupation = {{Hlist|Journalist|commentator}}
|education= University of Iowa
|spouse = Holly Pitt-Young
|children = 4
|party = Republican
}}
Mike Flynn (October 19, 1967 – June 23, 2016) was an American online journalist who was known as the original editor of the website Breitbart News.
Early life
Born and raised in Quincy, Illinois, Flynn was a sixth-generation native of central Illinois. He graduated from Quincy High School in 1985 and graduated from University of Iowa in 1989. From 1989 until 1992, Flynn was the general manager of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Keokuk, Iowa.
Career
According to the Quincy Herald-Whig, Flynn self-described "as a strongly conservative libertarian," and he emphasized the U.S. national debt, reducing government regulations, and border security.{{cite web | last1=Wilson | first1=Doug | title=Mike Flynn, Breitbart Editor, Dies | url=http://www.whig.com/article/20160624/ARTICLE/306249849# |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160625134617/http://www.whig.com/article/20160624/ARTICLE/306249849|archive-date = June 25, 2016| date=June 24, 2016 | publisher=Quincy Herald-Whig | accessdate=January 9, 2017}}
Flynn worked on the staff of the Illinois General Assembly from 1992 to 1997, and then for the American Legislative Exchange Council from 1997 to 2004. He was a lobbyist with the Reason Foundation. Flynn testified numerous times before the U.S. Congress and dozens of state legislatures. His research has been cited by publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.{{cite web|url=http://www.mikeflynnforcongress.com/#!meet-don/ctvq |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504012702/http://www.mikeflynnforcongress.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 4, 2015 |title=Flynn for Congress: Meet Mike |accessdate=June 24, 2016 }}{{Self-published source|date=February 2017}}
In 2015, Flynn ran for Congress during the Illinois's 18th congressional district special election to fill the remainder of the term of Republican Aaron Schock, who resigned on March 31, 2015. He was endorsed by conservative activists such as Ted Cruz, Mark Levin, Congressman Steve King, Congressman Louie Gohmert, Richard Viguerie, Stephen Moore, and Erick Erickson.{{cite web|url=http://www.mikeflynnforcongress.com/#!endorsements/c129n |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504012702/http://www.mikeflynnforcongress.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 4, 2015 |title=Flynn for Congress: Endorsements |accessdate=June 24, 2016 }}{{Self-published source|date=February 2017}} State Senator Darin LaHood defeated Flynn in the Republican primary on July 7, 2015, with 69.5% of the vote to Flynn's 27.7%.{{cite web | title=Election Results – Special Primary - 7/7/2015 | url=https://elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=yvvrTGlpIKQ%3d | website=elections.il.gov | accessdate=January 9, 2017 | archive-date=May 9, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509004225/https://elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=yvvrTGlpIKQ%3d | url-status=dead }}{{cite news|last=Kaergard|first=Chris|url=http://www.pjstar.com/article/20150707/NEWS/150709444|title=Darin LaHood easily wins GOP nomination for 18th District seat|newspaper=Journal Star|date=July 7, 2015|accessdate=September 10, 2015}}
In 2016, Flynn served as a member of the leadership team in Illinois for Cruz's presidential campaign,{{cite web |url=https://www.tedcruz.org/news/cruz-for-president-announces-illinois-leadership-team/ |title=Cruz For President Announces Illinois Leadership Team |date=January 7, 2016 |website=tedcruz.org |accessdate=June 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504164713/https://www.tedcruz.org/news/cruz-for-president-announces-illinois-leadership-team/ |archive-date=May 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }} and at the time of his death, was scheduled to be a delegate for Cruz at the 2016 Republican National Convention.{{cite web|url=http://www.wandtv.com/story/31751707/llinois-republicans-announce-delegates-to-convention |title=llinois Republicans Announce Delegates To Convention |date=April 18, 2016 |publisher=WAND |accessdate=June 24, 2016}}
Personal life
Flynn was married to his wife, Holly Flynn Pitt-Young, and had four children.{{cite news|url = http://www.wtad.com/breitbart-news-editor-mike-flynn-passes-away.html|title = Family: Flynn Died of Heart Attack|last = Moyers|first = Michael|date = June 2016|accessdate = June 25, 2021|work = WTAD}} He died from a heart attack in Washington, D.C., on June 23, 2016, aged 48.
References
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Category:21st-century American journalists
Category:21st-century American male writers
Category:American libertarians
Category:American political writers
Category:Breitbart News people
Category:Candidates in the 2015 United States elections
Category:American online journalists
Category:People from Quincy, Illinois
Category:University of Iowa alumni