Kevin McCarthy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kevin McCarthy
Official portrait, 2023
55th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office January 7, 2023 – October 3, 2023
Preceded by	Nancy Pelosi
Succeeded by	Mike Johnson
House positions House Minority Leader In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 Whip Steve Scalise Preceded by Nancy Pelosi Succeeded by Hakeem Jeffries Leader of the House Republican Conference In office January 3, 2019 – October 3, 2023 Deputy Steve Scalise Preceded by Paul Ryan Succeeded by Mike Johnson House Majority Leader In office August 1, 2014 – January 3, 2019 Speaker John Boehner Paul Ryan Preceded by Eric Cantor Succeeded by Steny Hoyer House Majority Whip In office January 3, 2011 – August 1, 2014 Speaker John Boehner Preceded by Jim Clyburn Succeeded by Steve Scalise House Republican Chief Deputy Whip In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011 Leader John Boehner Preceded by Eric Cantor Succeeded by Peter Roskam
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California
In office January 3, 2007 – December 31, 2023
Preceded by	Bill Thomas
Succeeded by	Vince Fong
Constituency	22nd district (2007–2013) 23rd district (2013–2023) 20th district (2023)
Minority Leader of the California Assembly
In office January 5, 2004 – April 17, 2006
Preceded by	Dave Cox
Succeeded by	George Plescia
Member of the California State Assembly from the 32nd district
In office December 2, 2002 – November 30, 2006
Preceded by	Roy Ashburn
Succeeded by	Jean Fuller
Personal details
Born	Kevin Owen McCarthy (1965-01-26) January 26, 1965 (age 60) Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Judy Wages ​ (m. 1992)​
Children	2
Education	California State University, Bakersfield (BS, MBA)
Signature

Kevin Owen McCarthy (born January 26, 1965) is an American politician. He served as the 55th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from January to October 2023. The Speaker is the leader of the House of Representatives.

McCarthy's time as Speaker was the third-shortest in U.S. history. He was also the first Speaker ever removed from the job during a legislative session. He later resigned from the House of Representatives at the end of 2023.

Early Life and Education

Kevin McCarthy was born in Bakersfield, California, on January 26, 1965. His mother was a homemaker, and his father was an assistant fire chief. Kevin is a fourth-generation resident of Kern County, California. His family background includes Italian and Irish heritage.

Interestingly, McCarthy was the first Republican in his immediate family. His parents were members of the Democratic Party. He went to Bakersfield High School from 1979 to 1983, where he played football.

When he was 19, in 1984, McCarthy started his first business. He sold sandwiches from the back of his uncle's yogurt shop.

McCarthy attended California State University, Bakersfield. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing in 1989. Later, he received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 1994. While in college, he also worked as a seasonal firefighter.

Early Political Career

McCarthy worked for Congressman Bill Thomas from 1987 to 2002. In 1995, he led the California Young Republicans group. From 1999 to 2001, he chaired the Young Republican National Federation. He was also Thomas's district director until 2000.

In 2000, McCarthy won his first election. He became a trustee for the Kern Community College District. A trustee helps manage the college district.

In 2002, McCarthy was elected to the California State Assembly. This is part of California's state government. By 2003, he became the Republican floor leader in the Assembly.

In 2006, McCarthy was first elected to the United States House of Representatives. He represented California's 22nd district, taking over from his former boss, Bill Thomas. His district was later renumbered as the 23rd district in 2013 and the 20th district in 2023.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

2007

2012

2016

2019

Portraits of Kevin McCarthy as a Member of the House.

Committee Work and Groups

As a member of the House, McCarthy served on important committees. These included the Committee on Financial Services. This committee deals with banking and money matters.

He was also part of the Congressional Western Caucus. A caucus is a group of lawmakers who share similar interests or backgrounds.

Leadership Roles in the House

McCarthy held several key leadership positions within the Republican Party in the House:

• House Republican Chief Deputy Whip, 2009–2011
• House Majority Whip, 2011–2014
• House Majority Leader, 2014–2019
• House Minority Leader, 2019–2023
• Speaker of the House, January to October 2023

Becoming a Leader

Representative McCarthy at a hearing about water and power.

When McCarthy was a new congressman, he was chosen for the Republican Steering Committee. This committee helps decide which other committees members will join. In 2008, he led the committee that wrote the Republican Party's goals and plans.

He also helped start the "GOP Young Guns Program." This program helps new Republican candidates win elections. After the 2008 elections, he became the chief deputy minority whip. This was a high-ranking appointed role for Republicans in the House.

House Majority Whip

In 2010, McCarthy was chosen as the House Majority Whip. This made him the third-highest-ranking Republican in the House. He worked with the Speaker and the Majority Leader.

House Majority Leader

Norman L. Eisen, Condoleezza Rice and McCarthy in Prague, Czech Republic, 2011

In 2014, the current Majority Leader, Eric Cantor, lost his election. McCarthy then ran to become the new Majority Leader. He won the election among House Republicans on June 19, 2014. This made him the second-highest-ranking Republican in the House.

House Minority Leader

Kevin McCarthy as House Minority Leader, 2019

After the 2018 elections, Republicans lost their majority in the House. McCarthy was then elected as the House Minority Leader. This meant he became the top Republican leader in the House.

McCarthy was a strong supporter of Donald Trump starting in 2016. After the 2020 presidential election, McCarthy said that "President Trump won this election," even before all votes were counted. He also suggested there might be widespread voter fraud.

On January 6, 2021, after the attack on the Capitol, McCarthy voted against confirming the election results in two states. A week later, he gave a speech saying that Trump was partly responsible for the riots. He noted that Trump did not act quickly to stop the violence.

McCarthy (far right) meets with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in May 2021.

Speaker of the House

Becoming Speaker

McCarthy holds the gavel after being elected Speaker of the House.

As the Minority Leader, McCarthy led Republicans in the 2022 elections. Republicans won a majority in the House, but it was a very small majority.

When the new Congress started on January 3, 2023, McCarthy needed to be elected Speaker. However, he failed to get enough votes on the first try. Many Democrats and some Republicans voted against him. This was the first time since 1923 that a Speaker was not chosen on the first vote.

McCarthy finally became Speaker on the 15th vote on January 7. He made some agreements with a group of conservative Republicans called the Freedom Caucus. These agreements included allowing any single House member to ask for a vote to remove the Speaker. This was a very long election for Speaker, the longest since 1859.

Time as Speaker

Speaker McCarthy greets U.S. President Joe Biden before the 2023 State of the Union Address.

Speaker McCarthy meets with President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen, April 5, 2023.

McCarthy with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, May 1, 2023

During his time as Speaker, McCarthy faced challenges. He urged President Biden to withdraw a nomination for a government position.

He also started an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. This investigation was led by three House committees.

The impeachment inquiry happened at the same time as worries about a federal government shutdown. Some Republicans wanted to cut government spending. This caused disagreements within the Republican party.

Removal from Office

McCarthy attending the 2024 Republican National Convention

On September 29, 2023, McCarthy's plan to fund the government failed to pass. This was because some Democrats and Republicans did not support it. If no funding bill passed, the government would shut down.

On September 30, McCarthy introduced a new, temporary funding bill. This bill passed with support from both Democrats and Republicans. This prevented a government shutdown.

After this, a Republican congressman, Matt Gaetz, filed a motion to remove McCarthy as Speaker. This happened on October 3, 2023. The vote passed, with 216 votes to remove him and 210 against. This was the first time in U.S. history that the House of Representatives removed its Speaker. Eight Republicans voted to remove McCarthy. After the vote, McCarthy said he would not try to become Speaker again.

After Being Speaker

McCarthy resigned from Congress later in 2023. After leaving his role, he continued to help raise money for other Republican campaigns. He supported the new Speaker, Mike Johnson, through a political action committee.

Personal Life

McCarthy and his wife Judy with their children during his swearing-in for the 110th United States Congress.

Kevin McCarthy is married to Judy Wages, and they have two children. They have lived in Bakersfield, California, their whole lives. The McCarthy family are Baptists and members of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Images for kids

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  Kevin McCarthy's signature

See also

In Spanish: Kevin McCarthy (político) para niños