About Steve Laffey

Steve Laffey is a Harvard Business School graduate and a proven financial expert. He is an American officeholder, author, and filmmaker. At the age of 38, he was the youngest President and COO of a major financial firm and was directly responsible for the sale of the firm for $789 million in 2001. As the Mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island, Steve made national headlines several times over the years. As Mayor, Steve took over a city with the lowest bond rating in the United States. He initiated the most rapid fiscal turnaround in American history. The bond rating went up eight notches after four years in office. Cranston’s bankrupt pension system was fixed, with assets rising 500%. While Mayor, Laffey also taught the top finance course at the University of Rhode Island.

His bid for the United States Senate in 2006 was one of the most controversial in Republican party history. It’s the topic of his book, Primary Mistake. (Penguin Books 2007)   His well-received 2012 film, Fixing America, was ahead of its time in correctly forecasting the major problems hitting America today.

As the first candidate to take on Donald Trump for President, Laffey positioned himself as an alternative to former President Trump, focusing on economic issues and criticizing the direction of the Republican Party.  Here are links to his full statement and his video announcement.

Laffey's campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination focused heavily on restoring the middle class to unite the country. Here are the key points about his approach:

1). Total Focus on the Middle Class: Laffey consistently emphasized the importance of rebuilding and enlarging the middle class. He stated, "I stand for compassion, for the poor, and getting people out of poverty, and mostly enlarging the middle class".

2). Economic Approach: As a former investment banking firm president and mayor who dealt with financial crises, Laffey likely drew on his economic experience to formulate policies aimed at strengthening the middle class.

3). In Contrast with Other Candidates: Laffey positioned himself as a candidate focused on substantive issues rather than celebrity. He criticized the direction of the Republican Party and sought to offer "sincere solutions to our country's pressing issues."

4). Emphasis on Merit and Good Governance: Laffey believed that "genuine effort and good governance would be recognized and rewarded." He aimed to move the country in what he considered the right direction, even if he couldn't win the nomination.

5). Criticism of Current Political Climate: Laffey expressed disappointment with the state of politics, saying, "politics, it seems, is a game of recognition, not of merit." He hoped to change this dynamic by focusing on policy solutions.

6). Personal Background as Motivation: Coming from a working-class family and being the first in his family to attend college, Laffey's personal experience motivated his focus on middle-class issues.

7). Long-term Vision: In an interview with Newsmax, Laffey emphasized that restoring the middle class was key to his 2024 GOP campaign strategy and that these long-term programs were the only way to restore the middle-class and save the country from an upcoming financial crisis.

Laffey is a father of six, and personally homeschooled his children when his daughter, Sarah, was diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma cancer. He has been married to Kelly Laffey for 29 years.

The Daily Mail called him a potential breakout candidate. He impressed national audiences on GMA3 and NewsMax. His financial expertise was highlighted in this article in Newsweek. CNBC highlighted his plan to fix Social Security.

His interview on ABC News Live Prime went viral. NewsNation highlighted Laffey’s plan to solve the student loan crisis.

After ending his presidential bid, Laffey indicated that he may remain active in public life, stating, "You haven't heard the last from me".  However, he has not announced any specific plans for his future in politics or business.