The White House announced today that Michelle Steel, a former Orange County Congresswoman and member of the OC Board of Supervisors, has been nominated to serve as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea.
Michelle Steel was born in South Korea in 1955 and immigrated to the United States as a young adult in 1975 to pursue higher education, later becoming a citizen. She first rose to prominence after winning election in 2006 to the California State Board of Equalization, where she served until 2015 and became vice chair, representing millions of taxpayers across Southern California. She then moved to county government, serving on the Orange County Board of Supervisors from 2015 to 2021 and holding the board’s chairmanship twice.
Steel entered national politics in 2020, defeating incumbent Harley Rouda to represent California’s 48th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. After redistricting, she represented the 45th district and served two terms from 2021 to 2025, aligning with House Republicans and working on committees including Ways and Means and Education and the Workforce. She was also among the first Korean American women elected to Congress.
After losing reelection in 2024 to Derek Tran, Steel remained active in public affairs, including appointment to a federal commission focused on an Asian American and Pacific Islander museum. In 2026, she was selected as the nominee for U.S. ambassador to South Korea, marking a continuation of her public career beyond elected office.
