Career Timeline of Corey Lewandowski: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Corey Lewandowski built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Corey Lewandowski is an American political operative, lobbyist, commentator, and author best known for his close association with Donald Trump. He served as the initial campaign manager for Trump's 2016 presidential campaign but was later dismissed. Following his campaign role, Lewandowski transitioned into media, working as a political commentator for networks like OANN and Fox News, maintaining his presence in the political sphere.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1994: Runs for Massachusetts House Seat

In 1994, while an undergraduate student, Corey Lewandowski ran for a seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a write-in candidate in the Republican primary but lost the election.

January 1996: Aide for Congressman

From January 1996 to January 1997, Corey Lewandowski worked as an aide for Republican Massachusetts Congressman Peter G. Torkildsen, while a graduate student at American University.

January 1997: Aide for Congressman

From January 1996 to January 1997, Corey Lewandowski worked as an aide for Republican Massachusetts Congressman Peter G. Torkildsen, while a graduate student at American University. Also, while a student in 1997, Lewandowski interned for Massachusetts State Senator Steven C. Panagiotakos, a Democrat.

December 1997: Administrative Assistant for Bob Ney

From December 1997 to February 2001, Corey Lewandowski worked as an administrative assistant for Ohio Republican Bob Ney, a U.S. Congressman.

2000: Sununu Fundraising Event

In 2000 Lewandowski cited contributions made by Washington lawyer George Salem to Sununu; Salem, who chaired Arab Americans for Bush-Cheney during the 2000 Bush/Cheney campaign, was the attorney for the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, which had its assets frozen by the U.S. government in 2001 on suspicion of ties to Hamas.

February 2001: Administrative Assistant for Bob Ney

From December 1997 to February 2001, Corey Lewandowski worked as an administrative assistant for Ohio Republican Bob Ney, a U.S. Congressman.

2001: Works for Republican National Committee

After leaving Ney's office, Corey Lewandowski worked for most of 2001 for the Republican National Committee as the Northeast legislative political director.

2002: Campaign Manager for Robert C. Smith

In 2002, Corey Lewandowski was the campaign manager for the re-election campaign of U.S. Senator Robert C. Smith of New Hampshire.

2003: Executive Director of Seafood Producers Association

From 2003 to 2004, Corey Lewandowski was the executive director of the New England Seafood Producers Association.

September 2004: Director of Public Affairs at Schwartz MSL

From September 2004 until July 2012, Corey Lewandowski served as director of public affairs at Schwartz MSL, a strategic communication and engagement firm.

2004: Executive Director of Seafood Producers Association

From 2003 to 2004, Corey Lewandowski was the executive director of the New England Seafood Producers Association.

2006: Graduates Police Academy and Becomes Marine Patrol Officer

In 2006, Corey Lewandowski graduated from the New Hampshire police academy and worked from 2006 to 2010 as a seasonal marine patrol officer with the New Hampshire State Police.

2007: Letter of Leniency for Bob Ney

In 2007, before Bob Ney was sentenced on federal corruption charges, Corey Lewandowski wrote a letter to the presiding judge, asking for leniency in sentencing, describing Ney as a mentor and "surrogate father."

2008: Passport Systems secures funds

Between 2008 and 2011, Passport Systems secured more than $23.9 million in federal funds.

2008: Begins Working for Americans for Prosperity

In 2008, Corey Lewandowski began working for Americans for Prosperity, a Koch brothers-backed advocacy group.

2010: Marine Patrol Officer

From 2006 to 2010, Corey Lewandowski worked as a seasonal marine patrol officer with the New Hampshire State Police.

2010: Earmark for Borrego Solar

In 2010, Corey Lewandowski lobbied for Borrego Solar, helping to secure a $500,000 earmark in the 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Act that benefited a solar electricity project in Lancaster, Massachusetts, that Borrego was involved in.

2011: Lobbyist for Passport Systems

In 2011, Corey Lewandowski was registered as a lobbyist for Schwartz MSL on behalf of Passport Systems, lobbying on homeland security issues.

July 2012: Director of Public Affairs at Schwartz MSL

From September 2004 until July 2012, Corey Lewandowski served as director of public affairs at Schwartz MSL, a strategic communication and engagement firm.

2012: Runs for Town Treasurer

In 2012, while still working for Americans for Prosperity, Corey Lewandowski unsuccessfully ran for town treasurer of Windham, New Hampshire, and lost.

April 2014: First Meeting with Trump

Corey Lewandowski first met Donald Trump in April 2014 at a political event in New Hampshire.

January 2015: Leaves Americans for Prosperity

Corey Lewandowski held the position of national director of voter registration at Americans for Prosperity until January 2015.

January 2015: Hired as Trump Campaign Manager

In January 2015, Corey Lewandowski was invited to Trump Tower, where he accepted an offer from Donald Trump to become campaign manager. His salary was $20,000 per month.

August 2015: Nunberg Dismissed

In August 2015, Sam Nunberg was dismissed from Trump's political staff, reportedly at the request of Corey Lewandowski and Hope Hicks.

February 9, 2016: Trump Acknowledges Lewandowski's Role

On February 9, 2016, after a win in New Hampshire, Donald Trump acknowledged Corey Lewandowski's role in the win by praising his ground game.

March 2016: Manafort Joins Trump Campaign

In March 2016, Paul Manafort joined the Trump campaign.

April 2016: Influence Reported to be Waning

In April 2016, Corey Lewandowski's influence within the Trump campaign was reported to be waning.

April 2016: Manafort Hired

In April 2016, Paul Manafort was hired to Trump's political staff.

July 2016: Hired by CNN as Political Commentator

In July 2016, Corey Lewandowski was hired by CNN as a political commentator after leaving the Trump campaign. Despite working for CNN, Lewandowski was still subject to a non-disclosure agreement with Trump and received severance pay from the Trump campaign. CNN hosts began disclosing the severance payments on-air before Lewandowski's appearances after Media Matters for America noted the lack of disclosure.

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November 11, 2016: Resigned from CNN Commentator Role

On November 11, 2016, Corey Lewandowski resigned from his position as a CNN commentator amid speculation that he would be taking on a role in the Trump administration.

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December 21, 2016: Avenue Strategies Co-Founded

On December 21, 2016, Corey Lewandowski co-founded Avenue Strategies, a lobbying firm, located near the White House.

2016: Trump's 2016 presidential campaign

In 2016, Corey Lewandowski was the first campaign manager of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. He was later dismissed by Trump during the Republican Primary and went on to become a political commentator for One America News Network (OANN) and Fox News.

February 2017: Avenue Strategies Agrees to Lobby for Citgo

In February 2017, Avenue Strategies "quietly agreed" to lobby for Citgo Petroleum Corporation. In April they signed a $25,000 a month contract as tensions mounted between the United States, Venezuela, and Russia.

May 2017: Leaves Avenue Strategies

In May 2017, Corey Lewandowski left the lobbying firm Avenue Strategies.

June 19, 2017: Meeting with President Trump

On June 19, 2017, Corey Lewandowski (a private citizen) joined President Trump in the Oval Office for a one-on-one meeting where Trump dictated a statement for Attorney General Jeff Sessions regarding the Russia investigation.

July 2017: Offered Retainer by Payday Lender

In July 2017, Corey Lewandowski was offered a $20,000-a-month retainer by Community Choice Financial, a payday lender.

July 30, 2017: Lewandowski tells Trump to fire Richard Cordray

On July 30, 2017, during an episode of Meet the Press, Corey Lewandowski told President Trump to fire Richard Cordray, the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, who had been working to enact new payday lending regulations. Lewandowski denied advocating for a client when questioned by Chuck Todd.

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July 31, 2017: Fired from OANN

On July 31, 2017, Corey Lewandowski was fired from One America News Network (OANN) for making appearances on news networks other than OANN.

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December 2017: Memoir "Let Trump Be Trump" Published

In December 2017, "Let Trump Be Trump", a memoir co-authored by Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie, was published by Center Street. The memoir chronicles their experiences working for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

April 2018: Interviewed as part of Special Counsel Investigation

In April 2018, Corey Lewandowski was interviewed as part of the special counsel investigation with regard to whether Trump had committed obstruction of justice.

June 20, 2018: Dropped by Leading Authorities, Inc.

On June 20, 2018, Corey Lewandowski was dropped by Leading Authorities, Inc., a speakers bureau based in Washington D.C.

August 1, 2019: Considers Senate Run

On August 1, 2019, Corey Lewandowski announced he was "very seriously" considering seeking the Republican nomination to oppose incumbent Democratic senator Jeanne Shaheen in the 2020 United States Senate election in New Hampshire.

September 2019: Testified Before House Judiciary Committee

In September 2019, Corey Lewandowski testified before the House Judiciary Committee. He stated that he had "no obligation to be honest with the media because they're just as dishonest as anyone else," when questioned about discrepancies between his statements to Mueller and to the media.

December 2019: Visit to Israel

In December 2019, Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie traveled to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the aim of offering strategic advice for Netanyahu's upcoming election campaign.

December 31, 2019: Announced he would not run for Senate in New Hampshire

On December 31, 2019, Corey Lewandowski announced via tweet that he would not be running for Senate in New Hampshire, stating that he was certain he would have won.

January 2020: Decides Against Senate Run

In January 2020, Corey Lewandowski ultimately decided not to run for the Republican nomination to oppose Jeanne Shaheen in the United States Senate election in New Hampshire.

December 2020: Appointed to and then Fired From Defense Business Board

In December 2020, Corey Lewandowski was appointed to the Defense Business Board by Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller. However, the Pentagon later prevented him from being seated, and then Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin fired Lewandowski as part of a purge to derail Trump's last-minute political appointments.

2020: Trump encouraged Lewandowski to enter race

At a Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire on August 15, Trump publicly encouraged Corey Lewandowski to enter the U.S. Senate race, but Lewandowski declined to comment on his candidacy at the rally.

2020: Considering Senate run in New Hampshire

In August 1, 2019, Corey Lewandowski stated that he was considering seeking the Republican nomination to run against Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen in the 2020 U.S. Senate election in New Hampshire. The announcement followed a report of ongoing attempts by the Republican National Committee to draft Lewandowski for the seat.

September 2021: Removal from Make America Great Again Action

In September 2021, Corey Lewandowski was removed from his role as chairman of the super PAC Make America Great Again Action following reports of sexual harassment accusations from a donor. This marked a significant career challenge for Lewandowski.

August 15, 2024: Joins Trump's 2024 Campaign

On August 15, 2024, Corey Lewandowski joined the 2024 Donald Trump presidential campaign as a senior advisor. However, he was later removed from the national campaign staff in October due to a staff conflict and sent to New Hampshire to manage Trump's local campaign.

October 7, 2024: Role in Trump Campaign Reduced

On October 7, 2024, The Guardian reported that Corey Lewandowski had been instructed to focus on being a surrogate in New Hampshire after losing an internal power struggle for control of the Trump campaign.

September 2025: De Facto Chief of Staff

As of September 2025, Corey Lewandowski was acting as de facto chief of staff to secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, in an unpaid special government employee (SGE) position.