Steve Schmidt

The son of a schoolteacher and a telecommunications executive, Schmidt grew up in North Plainfield, New Jersey, where he became an Eagle Scout, a tight end on the high school football team,{{Cite news |last=Romano |first=Lois |date=August 21, 2008 |title=The Silver Bullet: Steve Schmidt Makes Sure His Candidate Knows Exactly What He Is Shooting For |newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/20/AR2008082003960_pf.html}} a two-year member of the National Honor Society, and senior class vice president. In 1988, he was one of two graduating seniors voted "most likely to succeed" by his classmates at North Plainfield High School.{{Cite news |date=September 7, 2008 |title=University of Delaware Delt plays pivotal role on McCain campaign staff |work=Home News Tribune |url=http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080907/NEWS/809070313/1098/POLITICS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424102307/http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080907%2FNEWS%2F809070313%2F1098%2FPOLITICS |archive-date=April 24, 2009 |df=mdy-all}} As a young boy, he distributed campaign materials for Democrat Bill Bradley's 1978 United States Senate election in New Jersey.{{Cite news |last=Marinucci |first=Carla |author-link=Carla Marinucci |date=February 12, 2006 |title=Governor's team adds former Rove protege:Political 'artillery shell' joins re-election effort |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}

Schmidt attended the University of Delaware from 1988 through the spring of 1993, majoring in political science. During this time, he registered as a Republican. He left three credits short of graduation because he did not pass a math course; Schmidt has said that he has been diagnosed with a learning disability that makes higher math difficult for him. He joined the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, and worked on the 1992 gubernatorial campaign of Delaware Republican B. Gary Scott.{{Cite news |last=Barrish |first=Chris |date=September 15, 2008|title=Another kingmaker has links to Delaware: McCain strategist was a student at UD |work=The News Journal |publisher=Gannett Company|location=Wilmington, Delaware|url=http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080915/NEWS02/809150337 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923044908/http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080915%2FNEWS02%2F809150337|archive-date=September 23, 2008 |df=mdy-all}} Schmidt completed his final math course and received his degree in 2013.{{Cite web |title=Udaily |url=http://www1.udel.edu/udaily/2013/may/schmidt-convocation-052513.html|access-date=18 November 2017 |publisher=University of Delaware}}

In 1995, Schmidt managed the unsuccessful campaign for Kentucky Attorney General of Will T. Scott, who is formerly a Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court.[http://courts.ky.gov/supremecourt/justices/scott.htm Justice Will T. Scott] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303100712/http://courts.ky.gov/supremecourt/justices/scott.htm |date=March 3, 2012 }}, courts.ky.gov. Retrieved November 15, 2015. This Kentucky campaign's advertising strategy was featured in the second edition of George Magazine.

From 1997 to 1998, Schmidt was communications director for California State Senator Tim Leslie.{{Cite news |first1=Dan|last1=Morain|first2=Bob|last2=Drogin|date=October 6, 2008 |title=Steve Schmidt: The driving force behind John McCain |work=The Los Angeles Times |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-schmidt6-2008oct06,0,7177006,full.story|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007163558/http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-schmidt6-2008oct06,0,7177006,full.story|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 7, 2008}} In 1998, he was the communications director for California State Treasurer Matt Fong's unsuccessful campaign to unseat U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer.{{Cite news |last=Cillizza |first=Chris |date=September 7, 2008 |title=Sunday Reading: Steve Schmidt Examined |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/09/sunday_reading_steve_schmidt_e.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519111544/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/09/sunday_reading_steve_schmidt_e.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 19, 2011}} In 1999, he was the communications director for Lamar Alexander's presidential run, leaving in June when the campaign reduced its senior staff.{{Cite news |last=Firestone|first=David |date=June 4, 1999 |title=Alexander Cuts Staff And Travel |work=The New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D03E3DD1639F937A35755C0A96F958260 |access-date=November 15, 2015}}

File:President Bush Congratulates Judge Alito on Senate Confirmation.jpg in January 2006]]

By late 2000, Schmidt was communications director of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.{{Cite web |date=July 4, 2008 |title=Steve Schmidt biography |url=http://rncnyc2004.blogspot.com/2008/07/steve-schmidt-biography.html |access-date=October 8, 2008}}{{Cite news |last=Lilienthal |first=Steve |date=November 27, 2000 |title=Republican congressional exec quits for private work |work=PR Week USA |url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/113798 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425001419/http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/113798/ |archive-date=April 25, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}

In 2001, he became the communications director and chief communications strategist of the National Republican Congressional Committee.{{Cite news |first=Philip|last=Shenon|date=March 29, 2001 |title=While Senate Debates, It's Fund-Raising as Usual |work=The New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E07E5D9173FF93AA15750C0A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all}}

Schmidt joined the Bush administration as a deputy assistant to the president and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney. In 2004, he was a member of the senior strategic planning group, led by White House adviser Karl Rove, that ran President George W. Bush's re-election campaign; Schmidt oversaw the reelection "war room". In 2005 and 2006, he was the White House strategist responsible for the U.S. Supreme Court nominations of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito .{{Cite news |last=Marinucci |first=Carla |author-link=Carla Marinucci |date=February 12, 2006 |title=Governor's team adds former Rove protege |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/12/BAGTNH78UU1.DTL}}

In 2006, Schmidt left the White House to become the campaign manager of the successful re-election campaign for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, following the firing of Mike Murphy, Rob Stutzman and Pat Clarey.{{Cite web |date=2008-07-16 |title=Mac And Murph |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mac-and-murph_b_111472 |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=HuffPost|language=en}} Prior to Schmidt's involvement, the governor's approval rating was 39%.{{Cite web |date=2006-04-13 |title=Schwarzenegger approval rating: 39 percent |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2006/04/13/schwarzenegger-approval-rating-39-percent/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}} Schwarzenegger was predicted to lose the 2006 election, having lost four ballot measures in 2005.{{Cite news |last=Glaister |first=Dan |date=2006-11-08 |title=Schwarzenegger terminates Democrat challenge |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/nov/08/midterms2006.usa11 |access-date=2023-03-10 |issn=0261-3077}} The media strategist for Schwarzenegger's opponent Phil Angelides said that Schmidt "was able to restore Arnold's original appeal." Countering a national anti-Republican wave, Schwarzenegger was re-elected in a landslide winning by a margin 17 percentage points in what was considered "a remarkable political turnaround."

From there, he became a partner in Mercury Public Affairs in charge of Mercury's operations in California.{{Cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Jonathan |last2=Allen |first2=Mike |date=July 3, 2008 |title=A dose of discipline for McCain's campaign |work=Politico |url=http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=E5FAF286-3048-5C12-0066483BBF8FB520 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 8, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026102317/http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=E5FAF286-3048-5C12-0066483BBF8FB520 |archive-date=October 26, 2008 |df=mdy-all}}

In 2007, Schmidt was named "Campaign Manager of the Year" by the American Association of Political Consultants.{{Cite web |last=Mellman |first=Mark |date=2008-10-21 |title=Don't blame Steve Schmidt |url=https://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/mark-mellman/7088-dont-blame-steve-schmidt/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}

{{See also|John McCain 2008 presidential campaign}}

John McCain called Steve Schmidt in 2007 as his campaign was faltering and a majority of campaign staff had resigned.{{Cite web |title=McCain lags in fundraising, cuts staff |url=https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/07/02/mccain-lags-in-fundraising-cuts-staff/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119200652/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/07/02/mccain-lags-in-fundraising-cuts-staff/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 19, 2008 |access-date=2023-04-27 |language=en}} McCain had gone from the Republican frontrunner on New Year's Day 2007 to last place and bankruptcy by July 2007 under the leadership of John Weaver and Rick Davis.{{Cite news |last1=Hulse |first1=Carl|last2=Nagourney|first2=Adam|date=2007-07-03|title=Short on Money, McCain Campaign Dismisses Dozens |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/03/us/politics/03mccain.html |access-date=2023-04-27 |issn=0362-4331}} After Schmidt joined the campaign as a volunteer, the McCain campaign moved from last place in the Republican primaries to win New Hampshire in January 2008, and then in South Carolina, Florida, California and other states, ultimately becoming the Republican nominee. McCain's comeback is regarded as among the greatest of the modern presidential era.{{Cite web |title=John McCain wins in New Hampshire |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/john-mccain-wins-new-hampshire-article-1.341794 |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=New York Daily News|date=January 9, 2008 }}

After securing the nomination, the McCain campaign was viewed as "unfocused." On July 2, 2008, Schmidt was appointed to head up day-to-day operations of the McCain campaign in response to concerns that the campaign lacked coordination and a clear message. Rick Davis retained the formal title of "campaign manager",{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |date=July 2, 2008 |title=Schmidt takes control of day-to-day operation |website=Politico |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0708/Schmidt_takes_control_of_daytoday_operation.html |access-date=September 7, 2008}} and was in charge of the vice presidential selection and vetting process,{{Cite news |first1=Dan|last1=Balz|author-link1=Dan Balz|first2=Michael D.|last2=Shear |date=July 2, 2008 |title=McCain Puts New Strategist Atop Campaign |newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/02/AR2008070203038.html |access-date=July 2, 2008}}{{Cite news |last=Nagourney |first=Adam |date=2008-07-03 |title=McCain Orders Shake-Up of His Campaign |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/us/politics/02cnd-manage.html |access-date=2023-02-16 |issn=0362-4331}} alongside attorney A.B. Culvahouse, resulting in the selection of Alaska governor Sarah Palin.{{Cite web |date=2011-04-21 |title=A.B. Culvahouse: The Man Who Vetted Sarah Palin – Washingtonian |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2011/04/21/ab-culvahouse-the-man-who-vetted-sarah-palin/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |language=en-US}}

He was dismayed after learning that Davis had promoted Palin as McCain's running mate, saying in an interview with Kyiv Post that "I thought she would bring down the entire campaign."{{Cite web |last=Smart |first=Jason Jay|title=Exclusive Interview with US political strategist Steve Schmidt: McCain, Russia, Ukraine, Palin and more |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/post/6725 |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Get the Latest Ukraine News Today – KyivPost|date=May 12, 2022 |language=en}} Schmidt's relationship with Palin was tumultuous, with Schmidt confronting her on multiple occasions.{{Cite web |last=Cummings |first=Jeanne |date=January 13, 2010 |title=Steve Schmidt's war against Palin |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/01/steve-schmidts-war-against-palin-031420 |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Politico|language=en}} He personally took charge of her debate preparations in the fall of 2008. On election night, Schmidt refused Palin's demands that she give a concession speech{{Cite web |last1=Snow |first1=Kate |last2=Hagan |first2=Kelly |date=November 3, 2009 |title=Sarah Palin's Never-Heard Victory, Concession Speeches|url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Politics/sarah-palin-speeches-heard/story?id=8988514 |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=ABC News |language=en}} and reminded her that vice presidential candidates do not traditionally speak on election night, out of concern that her speaking would debase the peaceful transition of power.{{Cite web |date=2009-06-30 |title=Palin Wasn't Just Being a Diva |url=https://observer.com/2009/06/palin-wasnt-just-being-a-diva/ |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Observer |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ben |title=Why Palin didn't get a concession speech |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/ben-smith/2009/04/why-palin-didnt-get-a-concession-speech-017822 |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Politico|date=April 26, 2009 |language=en}}

In 2008, Schmidt worked to handle accusations that McCain was having an affair with a lobbyist.{{Cite news |last1=Rutenberg |first1=Jim |last2=Thompson |first2=Marilyn W. |author2-link=Marilyn W. Thompson|last3=Kirkpatrick|first3=David D. |last4=Labaton |first4=Stephen |date=2008-02-21 |title=For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/us/politics/21mccain.html |access-date=2023-04-27 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Rebecca |title=Former John McCain aide says the late GOP senator 'lied to the American people' about his relationship with a lobbyist |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/john-mccain-relationship-lobbyist-ex-aide-alleges-lied-2022-5 |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} According to Schmidt, McCain afterwards revealed to him that the accusation was true. In a 2022 article posted on The Warning, Schmidt wrote that "John McCain's lie became mine."

In 2022, Schmidt revealed he was deeply disillusioned with McCain by the end of the campaign and did not vote for him, and instead left his presidential vote blank.{{Cite web |last=Lizza |first=Ryan |title='He absolutely betrayed me': Steve Schmidt tells all about John McCain |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/13/steve-schmidt-john-mccain-presidential-campaign-00032268 |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=Politico |date=May 13, 2022 |language=en}} He describes the entire campaign as "an insane asylum, a cauldron of chaos all the way through."{{Cite web |title=Interview with Steve Schmidt |url=https://www.maxraskin.com/interviews/steve-schmidt |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Interviews with Max Raskin |language=en-US}}

The New York Times described Schmidt's management as having transformed the McCain campaign into "an elbows-out, risk-taking, disciplined machine", crediting him with aggressive responses to press criticism and creative methods of manipulating the news cycle.{{Cite news |last1=Rutenberg |first1=Jim |last2=Nagourney |first2=Adam |date=September 6, 2008 |title=An Adviser Molds a Tighter, More Aggressive McCain Campaign |work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/us/politics/07schmidt.html |access-date=September 17, 2008}}

Time's Michael Scherer, in an opinion piece from September 15, 2008, relating to Schmidt's involvement with John McCain's presidential campaign, stated that Schmidt, the "lord of outrage, has a long and prosperous career ahead of him".{{Cite magazine |last=Scherer |first=Michael |date=September 15, 2008 |title=McCain's Outraged and Outrageous Campaign |magazine=Time |publisher=Time, Inc.|location=New York City |url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1841131,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916092755/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1841131,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 16, 2008 |access-date=September 16, 2008}}

On September 22, 2008, Schmidt accused The New York Times of bias against McCain in favor of his opponent, Barack Obama, calling the Times "a pro-Obama advocacy organization that every day impugns the McCain campaign, attacks Senator McCain, attacks Governor (Sarah Palin)" and saying "Whatever The New York Times once was, it is today not by any standard a journalistic organization."{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/topic/Steve_Schmidt/|title=Steve Schmidt News {{pipe}} Quotes {{pipe}} Wiki |website=UPI.com}}

Schmidt turned down all public appearances during the 2008 Republican convention as a protest against the party's stance on gay marriage. His only appearance was before the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay Republican group, during which he voiced his support for gay rights. He said: "I just wanted to take a second to come by and pay my respect and the campaign's respect to your organization and to your group. Your organization is an important one in the fabric of our party" and "I admire your group and your organization and I encourage you to keep fighting for what you believe in because the day is going to come."{{Cite web |last=Eleveld |first=Kerry |date=September 4, 2008 |title=McCain's Top Strategist Addresses Log Cabin Republicans |url=https://www.advocate.com/news/2008/09/04/mccain39s-top-strategist-addresses-log-cabin-republicans |access-date=September 29, 2008 |website=The Advocate}}

Schmidt said about his sister and her (lesbian) life partner: "On a personal level, my sister and her partner are an important part of my life and our children's life."

While leading the 2008 John McCain presidential campaign, the McCain campaign stated that "gay adoption is a state issue and does not endorse any federal legislation."{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.samesexmarriage.html|title=Same-sex Marriage – Issues – Election Center 2008 |website=www.cnn.com}}

In February 2013, Schmidt, along with 74 other Republicans, co-signed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court of the United States in support of overturning Proposition 8. "The die is cast on this issue when you look at the percentage of younger voters who support gay marriage", he was quoted as saying. "As Dick Cheney said years ago, 'Freedom means freedom for everybody.{{'"}}{{Cite news |last=Stolberg |first=Sheryl Gay |author-link=Sheryl Gay Stolberg |date=February 25, 2013 |title=Republicans Sign Brief in Support of Gay Marriage |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/us/politics/prominent-republicans-sign-brief-in-support-of-gay-marriage.html?hp&_r=0 |access-date=February 26, 2012}}

Schmidt was hired by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in June 2013 to help spearhead the campaign to strike down state-based laws prohibiting same-sex marriage.{{Cite web |title=ACLU Hires Steve Schmidt to Bring Republicans Into Same-Sex Marriage Push |url=http://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-hires-steve-schmidt-bring-republicans-same-sex-marriage-push |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=American Civil Liberties Union |language=en-US}}

In May 2018, when President Donald Trump moved the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, sparking violent Gaza border protests, Schmidt said Trump "has blood on his hands"."[https://www.nbcnews.com/video/steve-schmidt-there-is-blood-on-trump-s-hands-1233504323949 Steve Schmidt: There is blood on Trump's hands]". NBC News. May 14, 2018. The Embassy's opening coincided with the bloodiest day of the 2018 Gaza border protests, with more than 57 Palestinians killed.{{Cite news|first1=Meg|last1=Wagner|first2=Brian|last2=Ries|url=https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/jerusalem-embassy-gaza-protests/index.html|title=Dozens die in Gaza as US Embassy opens: Live updates|work=CNN|location=Atlanta, Georgia|date=May 14, 2018|access-date=May 15, 2018}} Despite initial violence after the decision, the United States under President Joe Biden has decided to keep the embassy in Jerusalem.{{cite web |title=US to keep embassy in Jerusalem: Biden's top diplomat |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/20/us-secretary-of-state-blinken-us-embassy-to-remain-in-jerusalem |website=aljazeera.com |access-date=30 March 2021}}

On June 19, 2018, Schmidt formally withdrew from the GOP over Trump's policy of separating immigrant families at the U.S. border with Mexico. He also cited Republican leadership for their failure to challenge the policy. Schmidt said of Trump, "We have in America{{snd}}right now, at this hour{{snd}}to understand that you have a lawless president, a vile president, a corrupt president, a mean, cruel president, who is seeking to remake the world order."{{Cite web |last=Hines |first=Nico |date=20 June 2018 |title=Steve Schmidt: Why I Quit the 'Vile' Republican Party|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/steve-schmidt-mccains-campaign-chief-quits-indecent-and-immoral-gop |website=The Daily Beast |language=en}}

In June 2018, he tweeted: "the Republican Party ... is fully the party of Trump. It is corrupt, indecent and immoral. With the exception of a few Governors like Baker, Hogan and Kasich it is filled with feckless cowards who disgrace and dishonor the legacies of the party's greatest leaders ... Today the GOP has become a danger to our democracy and our values." During an August 2018 television appearance, he characterized Trumpism as follows:

{{blockquote|We're seeing somebody go to mass rallies, constantly lie to incite fervor in a cult of personality base, we are seeing him make victimization honorable – they're all victims, right? We are seeing the allegation of conspiracy, the 'Deep State,' hidden, nefarious movements that only the leader can see. We see the scapegoating of minority populations, vulnerable populations, and lastly, the assertion that 'I need to exercise these powers that no president has ever claimed to have.' This is deliberate. This is an assault on objective truth. And once you get people to surrender their sovereignty, what is true is what the leader says is true, what is true is what the leader believes is true, even though what's true is staring you in the face. When that happens, you are no longer living in a democratic republic. Thirty-five percent of this country has checked out. They have joined a cult. They are obedient. They are obedient to the leader.{{Cite web|first=Joseph A.|last=Wulfsohn|url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/ex-goper-steve-schmidt-blasts-trump-supporters-35-of-this-country-has-checked-out-and-joined-a-cult/|title=Steve Schmidt Hits Trump Voters: 35% of US 'Has Checked Out'|website=Mediaite|date=August 4, 2018}}}}

Describing his new political orientation, he stated:

{{Blockquote|This Independent voter will be aligned with the only party left in America that stands for what is right and decent and remains fidelitous to our Republic, objective truth, the rule of law and our Allies. That party is the Democratic Party.{{Cite news |last=Gstalter |first=Morgan |date=June 20, 2018 |title=GOP strategist Steve Schmidt denounces party, will vote for Democrats |work=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/393170-gop-strategist-denounces-party-will-vote-for-democrats/ |access-date=June 30, 2018}}}}On December 14, 2020, Schmidt announced he was joining the Democratic Party on his podcast, Battleground.{{Cite web|title=Battleground with David Plouffe & Steve Schmidt: "What the Hell Have We Been Through?!" with Carl Bernstein on Apple Podcasts|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-the-hell-have-we-been-through-with-carl-bernstein/id1529896611?i=1000502307863|access-date=December 14, 2020|website=Apple Podcasts|language=en-us}}

On January 28, 2019, it was reported that Schmidt, along with Democratic consultant Bill Burton, had been hired to help shape a potential presidential run by former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz.{{Cite web |last1=O'Keefe |first1=Ed |last2=Montoya-Galvez |first2=Camilo |title=Howard Schultz makes political hires as he mulls 2020 bid |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/howard-schultz-makes-political-hires-as-he-mulls-2020-bid/ |date=January 28, 2019|access-date=January 29, 2019 |website=CBS News}} After Schultz decided to withdraw from the race, Schmidt returned to MSNBC.{{Cite web |title=Steve Schmidt returns to MSNBC, with plenty to say |url=https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/steve-schmidt-returns-to-msnbc-71641669848 |website=MSNBC|date=October 18, 2019}} Schmidt helped advise Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips on the launch of Phillips' 2024 presidential bid,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/steve-schmidt-advising-dean-phillips-1234864257/|title=The Man Who Brought You Sarah Palin Has a New Candidate: Dean Phillips|first=Tessa|last=Stuart|date=October 27, 2023|accessdate=January 8, 2024|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-date=October 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027141513/https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/steve-schmidt-advising-dean-phillips-1234864257/|url-status=live}} but was not a part of the campaign.{{Cite news |last=Ball |first=Molly |date=January 22, 2024 |title=In Long-Shot Challenge to Biden, Dean Phillips Goes Where Few Democrats Dare |url=https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/dean-phillips-new-hampshire-democrat-primary-b0cecb54 |access-date=2024-02-16 |work=WSJ |language=en-US}}

Schmidt serves on the board of the nonprofit research organization Just Capital alongside Arianna Huffington, Deepak Chopra, and others.{{Cite news |title=Board – JUST Capital |language=en-US |work=JUST Capital|url=https://justcapital.com/our-board/ |access-date=2017-11-22}}

In August 2018, Schmidt launched a podcast with Elise Jordan focused on the Trump presidency.{{Cite news |title=Steve Schmidt |work=wordsmattermedia.com |url=https://www.wordsmattermedia.com/steve-schmidt |access-date=September 17, 2018 |archive-date=September 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917110706/https://www.wordsmattermedia.com/steve-schmidt/ |url-status=usurped }} Schmidt parted ways with the podcast when Jordan and executive producer Adam Levine questioned Schmidt about his role as adviser to potential 2020 presidential candidate Howard Schultz.{{Cite news|last=Clift|first=Eleanor |title=Steve Schmidt Storms Off Own Podcast When Asked About Advising Howard Schultz |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/steve-schmidt-storms-off-own-podcast-when-asked-about-advising-howard-schultz |access-date=11 February 2019 |website=The Daily Beast|date=February 10, 2019 }}

Schmidt is a founding member of The Lincoln Project, a Super PAC organized in 2019 by former Republican operatives opposed to Donald Trump's 2020 campaign for re-election. He instead supported the 2020 campaign of Democratic nominee Joe Biden.{{Cite news|first=Martha|last=Pangelly|date=February 28, 2020 |title='Right makes might': Lincoln Project takes aim at Trump from Cooper Union |url=http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/28/lincoln-project-donald-trump-cooper-union-rick-wilson |newspaper=The Guardian}} As of 2020, the organization had raised over $100 million, making it one of the most successful Super-PACs in history. Schmidt and members of The Lincoln Project guest starred on Showtime's The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth in 2020, giving viewers an insight to their strategies.{{Cite web|title=The Circus – Season 5 Episode 17, Crisis Mismanagement|url=https://www.sho.com/the-circus-inside-the-greatest-political-show-on-earth/season/5/episode/17/crisis-mismanagement|access-date=October 13, 2020|website=Showtime|date=January 26, 2020 |language=en-US}}

In January 2020, an employee of Lincoln Project executive Ron Steslow's advertising company Tusk informed Steslow that John Weaver had allegedly engaged in sexual harassment.{{Cite news|first1=Danny|last1=Hakim|first2=Maggie|last2=Astor|first3=Jo|last3=Becker|date=March 8, 2021 |title=Inside the Lincoln Project's Secrets, Side Deals and Scandals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/08/us/politics/lincoln-project-weaver.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210308181706/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/08/us/politics/lincoln-project-weaver.html?smid=tw-share|archive-date=March 8, 2021|url-status=live|newspaper=The New York Times}} Steslow subsequently informed fellow board members Reed Galen and Mike Madrid, and attorney Matt Sanderson.{{cite web|date=January 31, 2021|title=Young men accuse Lincoln Project co-founder of harassment|url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-33a03c2280fff515a09c4d51365cb83d|access-date=January 31, 2021|work=Associated Press}}{{cite web|last1=Peoples|first1=Steve|last2=Slodysko|first2=Brian|date=February 11, 2021|title=How a leading anti-Trump group ignored a crisis in its ranks|url=https://apnews.com/article/john-weaver-lincoln-project-crisis-b14be5f06588b8f1d78125d4141394cb|access-date=February 11, 2021|work=Associated Press}} In response to a New York Times article detailing Weaver's contact with a 14-year-old boy while working as chief advisor to John Kasich in 2016,{{Cite news |last1=Astor |first1=Maggie |last2=Hakim |first2=Danny |date=2021-01-31 |title=21 Men Accuse Lincoln Project Co-Founder of Online Harassment |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/31/us/politics/john-weaver-lincoln-project-harassment.html |access-date=2023-04-10 |issn=0362-4331}} Schmidt stated that the incidents of harassment involving Weaver had taken place "before The Lincoln Project" existed.{{Cite web |last=Nuzzi |first=Olivia |date=2022-06-08 |title=Steve Schmidt's Lonely War |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/steve-schmidt-meghan-mccain.html |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=New York Intelligencer |language=en-us}}

Schmidt, who maintained that he had been unaware of the allegations before they became public,{{Cite magazine |date=2021-02-18 |title=The Lincoln Project's Implosion Has Derailed Its Founders' Plan for a Media Empire|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/02/lincoln-projects-derailed-plan-for-media-empire |access-date=2023-05-06 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2021-03-08 |title=Inside the Lincoln Project's secrets, side deals and scandals |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/inside-the-lincoln-projects-secrets-side-deals-and-scandals/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}} released a statement on January 31, 2021, "No Lincoln Project employee, intern, or contractors ever made an allegation of inappropriate communication about John Weaver that would have triggered an investigation by HR or by an outside employment counsel. In other words, no human being ever made an allegation about any inappropriate sexualized communications about John Weaver ever."{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Haley Victory|date=February 12, 2021|title=Lincoln Project co-founder Steve Schmidt resigns as group's sexual harassment scandal grows|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/lincoln-project-co-founder-steve-schmidt-resigns-as-groups-sexual-harassment-scandal-grows/ar-BB1dDxT5|access-date=February 12, 2021|work=MSN}}

In February 2021, Schmidt stepped down from his position on The Lincoln Project board, which he had begun serving on following the departure of Steslow and Madrid only three weeks earlier, and released a statement in which he disclosed he was sexually molested as a teen and apologized to another co-founder, Jennifer Horn, for tweeting her private correspondence with a reporter. He also stated he was stepping down from the board in order to make room for the appointment of a woman to the board as the first step to "reform and professionalize" The Lincoln Project.{{cite web|last=Quinn|first=Allison|date=February 12, 2021|title=Lincoln Project Co-Founder Steve Schmidt Steps Down Amid Scandal|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/lincoln-project-co-founder-steve-schmidt-to-step-down|access-date=February 12, 2021|work=The Daily Beast}} Since then, Schmidt has criticized the media's coverage of the story, and the conduct of Galen, Steslow, Madrid, and Horn.{{Cite web |last=Rutz |first=David |date=2022-10-12 |title=Lincoln Project's Steve Schmidt blasts co-founders as unethical, suggests disgraced group should disband|url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/lincoln-projects-steve-schmidt-blasts-founders-unethical-suggests-disgraced-group-should-disband |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2022-10-16 |title=Lincoln Project co-founder calls for group to be 'reformed or shut down' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/lincoln-project-new-documentary-showtime-b2201686.html |access-date=2023-05-04 |website=The Independent |language=en}}

In 2018, Schmidt appeared on the third season of Showtime's The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth.{{Cite web |last=Barr |first=Jeremy |date=2018-09-13 |title=Showtime's 'The Circus' Enlists MSNBC's Steve Schmidt |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/showtimes-circus-enlists-msnbcs-steve-schmidt-1142982/ |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

In 2022, Schmidt established a newsletter, The Warning.{{Cite web |last=Schmidt |first=Steve |title=The Warning with Steve Schmidt {{!}} Substack |url=https://steveschmidt.substack.com/ |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=steveschmidt.substack.com |language=en}} Using that platform, on May 8, 2022, he published the article, No Books. No Money. Just the Truth. In it, he discussed the 2008 campaign to elect John McCain and revealed that, after Schmidt and the campaign personnel had effectively overcome coverage of a reported affair with a lobbyist, McCain told him that the report was correct,Schmidt, Steve, [https://steveschmidt.substack.com/p/no-books-no-money-just-the-truth?s=r No Books. No Money. Just the Truth.], May 8, 2022 and that Schmidt wanted to acknowledge his participation in "public lying".

Schmidt was portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the 2012 HBO film Game Change. The film, based on chapters of the book of the same title by political journalists John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, focuses on the choice of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate in the 2008 United States presidential election. The film depicts Schmidt's inner turmoil over the conflict between his political values and Palin's impact on both McCain's campaign and Republican politics as a whole.{{Citation |last=Dunn |first=Geoffrey |title=Game Change: Sarah Palin and the Confessions of Steve Schmidt |date=March 7, 2012|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/geoffrey-dunn/game-change-sarah-palin-a_b_1325852.html?ref=politics&ir=Politics |work=HuffPost |access-date=March 9, 2012}} Schmidt himself voiced his approval of the film, saying that "it tells the truth of the campaign"{{Cite news |last=Rainey |first=James |date=February 18, 2012 |title=Choosing sides on Sarah Palin |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-feb-18-la-et-gamechange-20120218-story.html}} and that watching the film was tantamount to "an out-of-body experience".{{Cite web |last=Frum |first=David |date=2012-03-04 |title=David Frum: HBO's 'Game Change' Charts Sarah Palin's Revenge |url=https://www.newsweek.com/david-frum-hbos-game-change-charts-sarah-palins-revenge-63687 |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}

Schmidt lives in Summit County, Utah. He has three children{{Cite web|last=Schmidt|first=Steve|date=June 18, 2018|title=I'm grateful beyond words for my three healthy children who are the joy and loves of my life. ...|url=https://twitter.com/SteveSchmidtSES/status/1008427807918186502|access-date=April 11, 2021|website=Twitter}} with his former wife Angela Schmidt.

In a 2023 interview he said that he is in the process of a Reform conversion to Judaism.

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Steve Schmidt}}

• Romano, Lois (August 21, 2008) "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/20/AR2008082003960_pf.html The Silver Bullet: Steve Schmidt Makes Sure His Candidate Knows Exactly What He Is Shooting For]". Washington Post
• [https://www.leadingauthorities.com/speakers/steve-schmidt Steve Schmidt: Renowned Political Strategist and MSNBC Political Analyst]. Speaker Bio at Leading Authorities. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
• Nagourney, Adam (July 3, 2008). [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/us/politics/03manage.html?ex=1372824000&en=e4df6854417b9483&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink "McCain Orders Shake-Up of His Campaign"]. The New York Times.
• {{C-SPAN|89617}}

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