Patrick McHenry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patrick McHenry
Official portrait, 2018
Speaker pro tempore of the United States House of Representatives
Acting October 3, 2023 – October 25, 2023
Preceded by	Kevin McCarthy (speaker)
Succeeded by	Mike Johnson (speaker)
House positions Chair of the House Financial Services Committee In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 Preceded by Maxine Waters Succeeded by French Hill Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 Preceded by Maxine Waters Succeeded by Maxine Waters House Republican Chief Deputy Whip In office August 1, 2014 – January 3, 2019 Leader John Boehner Paul Ryan Preceded by Peter Roskam Succeeded by Drew Ferguson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 10th district
In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Cass Ballenger
Succeeded by	Pat Harrigan
Member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 109th district
In office January 1, 2003 – January 1, 2005
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	William Current
Personal details
Born	Patrick Timothy McHenry (1975-10-22) October 22, 1975 (age 49) Gastonia, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Giulia Cangiano ​ (m. 2010)​
Children	3
Education	North Carolina State University Belmont Abbey College (BA)

Patrick Timothy McHenry (born October 22, 1975) is an American politician. He served as a U.S. representative for North Carolina's 10th district from 2005 to 2025. This district includes areas like Hickory and Mooresville. He was also the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee from 2023 to 2025.

A member of the Republican Party, McHenry first served in the North Carolina House of Representatives. He then became a member of Congress. He held leadership roles, including House Republican Chief Deputy Whip from 2014 to 2019. He was also the top Republican on the House Financial Services Committee from 2019 to 2023. In October 2023, he briefly served as the acting Speaker pro tempore of the House. This happened after Kevin McCarthy was removed from the Speaker position.

Early Life and Education

Patrick McHenry was born in Gastonia, North Carolina. He grew up in the suburbs of Gastonia. His father owned a lawn care company. McHenry attended Ashbrook High School. He is Roman Catholic and was the youngest of five children.

McHenry started college at North Carolina State University. He later transferred to Belmont Abbey College. At Belmont, he started the school's College Republican group. He then became the leader of the North Carolina Federation of College Republicans. He also served as treasurer for the national College Republican Committee.

In 1998, while still in college, McHenry ran for the North Carolina House of Representatives. He won the Republican primary election. However, he did not win the main election.

After getting his Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1999, McHenry worked for a media company in Washington, D.C. He also worked on Rick Lazio's campaign for the U.S. Senate in 2000. In 2012, he received an honorary M.B.A. degree.

Early Political Career

In 2000, Karl Rove hired McHenry to help with George W. Bush's presidential campaign. McHenry was the national coalition director. After the election, he helped with Bush's inauguration committee.

In 2001, he worked for six months as a special assistant to Elaine Chao. She was the U.S. Secretary of Labor at the time. After this, McHenry returned to North Carolina. He ran again for the North Carolina General Assembly and won in 2002.

McHenry with President George W. Bush in 2005

McHenry with President Donald Trump in 2017

McHenry lived in Denver, North Carolina. He represented the state's 109th House district. This district included people in Gaston County. He served in the 2003–04 session. He was also on the House Appropriations Committee.

U.S. House of Representatives

Serving in Congress

Patrick McHenry was 29 years old when he became a member of the 109th United States Congress. This made him one of the youngest members at that time. He served as a deputy whip. He was also the vice chair of finance for the National Republican Congressional Committee. McHenry is known on Capitol Hill for often wearing bow ties.

Baghdad Video Discussion

In April 2008, a video on McHenry's campaign website caused some discussion. The video showed him in the Green Zone in Baghdad. He was pointing out places and damage after missile attacks. Some people said the video might have shared too much information. McHenry later removed the video after talking with the Pentagon. They asked him not to put it back online.

Payday Lending Rules

In 2020, McHenry supported a rule change by the Trump administration. This change meant that payday lenders would not have to check if people could afford to pay back high-interest loans.

2020 Presidential Election

McHenry did not support the efforts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election. He voted to confirm the election results for Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Speaker Pro Tempore Role

Patrick McHenry addressing the House after becoming acting Speaker in October 2023

On October 3, 2023, McHenry was chosen as the acting Speaker pro tempore of the United States House of Representatives. This happened after Kevin McCarthy was removed from the Speaker position. After taking this role, McHenry asked former Speaker Nancy Pelosi to leave one of her offices. He also asked former Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to leave his office. McHenry served as acting Speaker until October 25, 2023. On that date, Mike Johnson was elected as the new Speaker.

On December 5, 2023, McHenry announced that he would not run for reelection in 2024. He had previously said in October that he would seek an 11th term.

Committee Assignments

• Committee on Financial Services (He was the Chairman)
  • As Chairman, McHenry was also a member of all subcommittees.
• Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
  • Subcommittee on Health Care, District of Columbia, Census and the National Archives
  • Subcommittee on TARP, Financial Services and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs (He was the Chairman)

Caucus Memberships

• Republican Study Committee
• Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus

Political Campaigns

2004 Election

In 2004, after one term in the North Carolina General Assembly, McHenry ran for Congress. He sought to represent the 10th congressional district. The current representative, Cass Ballenger, was retiring. McHenry faced a tough primary election. He won against his closest opponent by only 85 votes.

In the general election, McHenry won with 64% of the votes. He defeated the Democrat Anne Fischer. His district is known for being very Republican. Republicans have represented it since 1963.

Later Elections

• 2006: McHenry won against Democrat Richard Carsner with almost 62% of the votes.
• 2008: He won the Republican primary. In the general election, he defeated Democrat Daniel Johnson with 58% of the votes.
• 2010: McHenry won the Republican primary with 63.09% of the votes. He then defeated Democrat Jeff Gregory with 71.18% in the general election.
• 2012: He won the primary with 72.54% of the votes. He defeated Democrat Patsy Keever with 56.99% in the general election.
• 2014: McHenry won the primary with 78.04% of the votes. He defeated Democrat Tate MacQueen with 61.02% in the general election.
• 2016: He won the primary with 78.42% of the votes. He defeated Democrat Andy Millard with 63.14% in the general election.
• 2018: McHenry won the primary with 70.72% of the votes. He defeated Democrat David Wilson Brown with 59.29% in the general election.
• 2020: He won the primary with 71.67% of the votes. He defeated Democrat David Parker with 68.91% in the general election.
• 2022: McHenry won the primary with 68.1% of the votes. He defeated Democrat Pam Genant with 72.6% in the general election.

Personal Life

Patrick McHenry married Giulia Cangiano in 2010. They live in Denver, North Carolina. They have three children.

See also

In Spanish: Patrick McHenry para niños