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Bill Stepien
| Bill Stepien | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Organization: | 2020 Trump presidential campaign |
| Role: | Campaign manager |
| Location: | Arlington, Virginia |
| Education: | Rutgers University |
Bill Stepien was the campaign manager for President Donald Trump's (R) 2020 re-election campaign. He replaced former campaign manager Brad Parscale on July 15, 2020, after having served on Trump's staff as a deputy campaign manager.[1][2] He previously worked as senior political adviser to the campaign and White House political director. Stepien was a national field director for Trump's 2016 campaign.[3]
Stepien was previously a campaign manager and adviser to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) and worked on a number of local, state and national-level campaigns for Republican candidates.[4]
Biography
Bill Stepien received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University. He worked for New Jersey State Senator Anthony Bucco (R) before serving as campaign manager during former State Representative Bill Baroni's (R) successful 2003 race. In 2004, he transitioned to New Hampshire political director during former President George W. Bush's (R) 2004 re-election campaign. He also served as New Hampshire's 72-hour director for the Republican National Committee. During the 2008 presidential election, Stepien first served as national field director for former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani (R) and, later, as national field director and regional campaign manager for U.S. Senator John McCain (R).[5]
Stepien served as campaign manager during the successful 2009 and 2013 campaigns of New Jersey Governor Christie (R) and Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey Kim Guadagno (R). During this period, he helped develop Christie's signature town-hall style campaign events. Stepien went on to serve as deputy chief of staff and political adviser to Christie until his removal in January 2014 following the September 2013 lane closures on the George Washington Bridge. He also worked as a consultant to the Republican Governors Association until 2014.[6][7][8]
In 2013, Campaigns & Elections magazine named Stepien to the Influencers 500—a list of key Democratic and Republican political influencers in each state—for his work in Republican New Jersey politics.[9]
In 2015, Stepien served as a consultant during State Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick's (R) re-election campaign.[10][8]
Work and activities
Trump administration
On January 4, 2017, President Donald Trump tapped Stepien to serve as his political director.[4]
Noteworthy events
Removal from Chris Christie administration (2014)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) removed Stepien as his political adviser in January 2014 amid the aftermath of lane closures at the George Washington Bridge. Stepien had previously served as campaign manager for Christie's 2009 and 2013 gubernatorial campaigns and as his deputy chief of staff. In May 2014, Stepien's lawyer said, "Bill Stepien was not involved in the origination, the planning, the execution, the concealment of the lane closures. And Mr. Stepien never lied to anyone about anything."[11]
Federal officials did not indict Stepien during the subsequent investigation.[12] In August 2015, he was removed as a defendant in a civil lawsuit over the lane closures. Stepien's lawyer stated, "The plaintiffs' claim against Mr. Stepien were dismissed because plaintiffs' counsel came to appreciate that there is no factual basis for those claims. ... It has been and will continue to be a long, hard battle to regain all that Mr. Stepien has lost by being implicated in the bridge affair, but it is one well worth fighting."[13]
According to The Washington Post, Christie also "said he directed Stepien to withdraw his name from becoming state Republican Party chairman and to end his consulting arrangement with the Republican Governors Association."[14] Christie had announced that he would make Stepien the New Jersey Republican Party chairman two days before.[15]
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope. Know of one we missed? Click here to let us know.
See also
- What is an influencer?
- Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2020
- Donald Trump presidential campaign staff, 2020
- Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The New York Times, "Trump Demotes Brad Parscale, His Campaign Manager," July 15, 2020
- ↑ Politico, "Trump campaign installs Stepien as Parscale's No. 2," May 26, 2020
- ↑ Democracy in Action, "Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.," accessed May 27, 2020
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Politico, "How Christie’s top aide shook Bridgegate and won over Trump," January 4, 2017
- ↑ Watchdog.org, "Senior staff, Governor Chris Christie," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Gov. Christie apologizes for scandal, fires deputy chief of staff, ousts top political aide," January 9, 2014
- ↑ Asbury Park Press, "Potential Christie campaign manager signs with rival," January 8, 2015
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 NorthJersey.com, "Former Christie campaign manager Bill Stepien hired by N.J. GOP lawmaker," May 6, 2015
- ↑ TMCnet, "Influencers 500 (Campaigns & Elections)," accessed December 2, 2015
- ↑ NJ.com, "Former Christie adviser Bill Stepien dropped from lawsuit," August 10, 2015
- ↑ CBSN New York, "Lawyer For Longtime Christie Aide: Bill Stepien ‘Never Lied To Anyone’ In Bridgegate Scandal," May 15, 2014
- ↑ WHYY, "Federal prosecutor: No plans to charge anyone else in the GWB traffic scandal," May 1, 2015
- ↑ nj.com, "Former Christie adviser Bill Stepien dropped from lawsuit," August 10, 2015
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Gov. Christie apologizes for scandal, fires deputy chief of staff, ousts top political aide," January 9, 2014
- ↑ nj.com, "7 things to know about new Trump adviser jettisoned by Christie after Bridgegate," August 27, 2016
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