Mike Schaefer

John Michael Schaefer (born March 25, 1938) is an American politician and former lawyer. He was seen as a perennial candidate. He was a member of the San Diego City Council from 1965 to 1971. He then ran for 33 local and state offices in California, Arizona, Maryland, and Nevada for nearly fifty years. 

Schaefer won an election to the California Board of Equalization in 2018 in an upset victory. After being sworn-in at aged 80 in 2019, Schaefer became the oldest Californian to serve in a state constitutional office. He is a member of the Democratic Party, but before 2004, he was a member of the Republican Party. 

Schaefer was born in San Diego, California on March 25, 1938. He studied at the University of California, Berkeley and at the Georgetown University.

During the 1960 presidential election, he supported U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy for President of the United States. He also worked as an analyst for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Schaefer was a Democratic candidate for California's 47th congressional district in the 2024 election, but later switched to run for the U.S. Senate in Nevada. He lost the primary election to Senator Jacky Rosen.

In May 2025, Schaefer filed paperwork to run for Lieutenant Governor of California in 2026.

He said he loves to run for political office, which is why he runs for office many times.

In 1970, Schaefer was arrested for bribery and conspiracies charges in 1970, but was later acquitted a year later. In 1993, Schaefer was convicted of misdemeanor spousal abuse.

Mike Schaefer started off 2026 by dropping out of the Ca. Lt. Governor race and became one of perhaps a dozen seeking Democratic Nomination for Congress,  CA 48th, to succeed Republican incumbent Darrell Issa.  The district changed from Republican 14% edge to Democrat 4% edge, and is now a target District by the Democratic National Commitee where winning just a few of the
Republican seats with democratic majorities(thanks to recent redistricting).   Schaefer is the only state official among the Democrats and is optimistic.   He has a website:  mikefightsforus.com.
References

Category:1938 births
Category:Living people
Category:Politicians from San Diego
Category:Democratic Party (United States) politicians
Category:Politicians from Las Vegas
Category:Politicians from Maryland
Category:Politicians from Arizona
Category:Lawyers from San Diego
Category:Lawyers from Las Vegas
Category:Lawyers from Arizona
Category:Lawyers from Maryland