Mike Schaefer
for
Lieutenant Governor of California
Tax Payer Advocate
“I’ve dedicated my life to protecting taxpayers and challenging powerful interests. As Lieutenant Governor, I’ll bring the same no-nonsense approach to Sacramento—fighting for a California that’s fair, affordable, and accountable.”
— Mike Schaefer
A Lifetime Commitment to Public Service
At 30 years old, Mike made history when he was elected as the youngest person ever to serve on the San Diego City Council.During his two terms as a Councilmember, Mike brought fresh ideas and a bold, independent voice to local government.As the current elected member for District 4 of the California State Board of Equalization, Mike broke another record becoming the oldest Californian ever to serve in a state constitutional office.
On the Board of Equalization, Mike represents 10 million people in five Southern California counties including San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial.
Get to Know Mike
John Michael Schaefer was born in San Diego, California. He graduated from Mission Bay High School in 1956, and earned a Bachelor of Business from the University of California, Berkeley and a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Mike began his political career by driving for John F. Kennedy’s 1960 presidential campaign.
Mike Schaefer with Muhammad Ali and Archie Moore
He was elected to the San Diego City Council in 1965 and also served as a staff assistant for former Sen. Thomas Kuchel, as a prosecutor in the San Diego City Attorney’s office and as an investigator and financial analyst for the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Legal Accomplishments
Mike began his legal career as a prosecutor in the San Diego City Attorney's office assisting local law enforcement. Following his tenure with the city attorney's office, Mike went into private practice and became a champion for fair and equitable election law.
In 1972, he sued the San Diego County Registrar of Voters over the practice of listing candidates' names on ballots in alphabetical order. In Sumner v. Sexton, the court ruled that this kind of listing was a denial of equal protection and mandated in its place the random system that is used today. This decision was later codified in California Elections Code section 13112.
In Canaan v. Abdelnour, Mike sued the City of San Diego, which had barred write-in candidates. The California Supreme Court ultimately ruled in his favor against the city, permitting write-ins in local and state elections. (The U.S. Supreme Court later determined that the ruling does not apply to federal elections.)
In Schaefer v. Townsend, a case that he brought in 2000, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals accepted his argument that a state may not enact residence requirements for federal candidates. In a decision applicable to all 50 states, the court found that only the U.S. Constitution may limit candidacies for the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.
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PAID FOR BY SCHAEFER FOR LT GOVERNOR 2026
FPPC #1471805