Mike Flynn (editor)

Mike Flynn (October 19, 1967 – June 23, 2016) was an American online journalist who was known as the original editor of the Big Government website at Breitbart News.

Born and raised in Quincy, Illinois, Flynn was a sixth-generation native of Central Illinois. He graduated from Quincy High School in 1985 and graduated from University of Iowa in 1989. From 1989 until 1992, Flynn was the general manager of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Keokuk, Iowa. He then worked on the staff of the Illinois General Assembly from 1992 to 1997. From 1997 to 2004, Flynn worked for the American Legislative Exchange Council. He was a lobbyist and worked for the Reason Foundation.[1] Flynn had testified numerous times before the U.S. Congress and dozens of state legislatures. His research has been cited by publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.[2]

In 2015, Flynn ran for Congress during the Illinois's 18th congressional district special election to fill the remainder of the term of Republican Aaron Schock, who resigned on March 31, 2015. He was endorsed by conservative activists such as Ted Cruz, Mark Levin, Congressman Steve King, Congressman Louie Gohmert, Richard Viguerie, Stephen Moore, and Erick Erickson.[3] State Senator Darin LaHood defeated Flynn in the Republican primary on July 7, 2015 with 69.5% of the vote to Flynn's 27.7%.[4][5]

In 2016, Flynn served as a member of the Cruz for President Illinois Leadership Team[6] and was scheduled to be a Ted Cruz delegate at the 2016 Republican National Convention.[7]

According to the Quincy Herald-Whig, Flynn self-described "as a strongly conservative libertarian," and he emphasized the U.S. national debt, reducing government regulations, and border security.[1]