Bill Stepien

Who is Bill Stepien?

Bill Stepien was the campaign manager for Chris Christie's successful campaign for Governor of New Jersey. He also served as Christie's Deputy Chief of Staff. In 2008, he was a Regional Campaign Manager for Senator John S. McCain's presidential campaign before serving as National Field Director, a role in which he also served for Mayor Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign in 2007-08.

Stepien began his political career working on Anthony Bucco's 1997 State Senate campaign, and on Bob Franks' 2000 U.S. Senate race. He worked for Public Opinion Strategies and DuHaime Communications before managing Bill Baroni's 2003 bid for New Jersey State Assembly—the only Republican to oust a Democratic incumbent that year, and one of PolitickerNJ.com's Best Campaigns of the Year. Stepien served as Political Director of the 2004 Bush/Cheney campaign in New Hampshire, and as Director of the Republican National Committee's 72-Hour Campaign in 2005 and 2006.

He ran Chris Christie's campaign for Governor of New Jersey in 2009 and 2013, and was in line to become chair of the New Jersey Republican Party. After evaluating Stepien's role on the Fort Lee lane closure scandal, Christie told Stepien not to enter consideration for the role. Stepian received a subpoena to submit documents to the New Jersey Legislature panel investigating in the lane closures. In a 19-page letter sent to Reid Schar, special counsel to the joint Senate and Assembly committee, Stepian's lawyer cited Stepien’s Fifth Amendment privilege against compelled self-incrimination, noting that in addition to the legislative probe, a federal criminal inquiry into the lane closures was also underway.