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Kevin McCarthy
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 22nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Bill Thomas
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
California State Assembly Minority Leader
In office January 5, 2004 – April 17, 2006
Preceded by	Dave Cox
Succeeded by	George Plescia
Born	January 26, 1965 (1965-01-26) (age 45) Bakersfield, California
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Judy McCarthy
Children	Connor McCarthy Meghan McCarthy
Residence	Bakersfield, California
Alma mater	California State University, Bakersfield
Occupation	small business owner, political assistant
Religion	Baptist
Website	Congressman Kevin McCarthy

Congressman McCarthy at an oversight hearing of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power.

Kevin McCarthy (born January 26, 1965) is a U.S. politician who is the Congressman for the 22nd District of California. Prior to his election as a Congressman, he had served two terms in the California State Assembly, including two years as the Republican Floor Leader.

[edit] Life

Born in Bakersfield, California, McCarthy is a fourth-generation resident of Kern County. McCarthy opened his first business, Kevin O's Deli, at the age of 21 to raise money to go to California State University, Bakersfield, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in marketing in 1989 and Master of Business Administration in 1994. McCarthy ran several other small businesses prior to his entry into the political field.^[1]

From 1999 to 2001 McCarthy served as Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation, one of the strongest political organizations in the country.^[2]

From the late 1990s until 2002, McCarthy served as the District Director for U.S. Congressman Bill Thomas, the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. In 2000, McCarthy was elected as a Trustee on the Kern Community College District Board, winning 13% more votes than his nearest competitor.^[3]

[edit] California State Assembly

In 2002, McCarthy was elected to the State Assembly with 76% of the vote to represent the heavily-Republican 22nd District. In 2003, he was unanimously elected Assembly Republican Leader, effective January 2004, becoming the first freshman Assemblymember and the first Kern County legislator to hold the post. In November 2004, McCarthy was re-elected to the Assembly with 79% of the vote. In his role as party leader, McCarthy attempted to portray himself as a working for bipartisan reform. He made business policies, especially those affecting small propriatorships and partnerships, one of his primary issues. He also worked closely with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

[edit] US House of Representatives

On November 7, 2006, McCarthy was elected to represent the 22nd Congressional District, replacing his former boss, retiring Congressman Bill Thomas. Since entering Congress, he has been labeled a rising star within his party.^[4] As a freshman, he was appointed to the Republican Steering Committee.

McCarthy and his wife Judy have two children. They are lifelong residents of Bakersfield.^[5]

[edit] Committee Assignments

• Committee on Financial Services
  • Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises
  • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
• Committee on House Administration
  • Subcommittee on Elections (Ranking Member)
• Joint Committee on Printing

[edit] Party Leadership

• Chief Deputy Whip (2009–present)
• House Republican Steering Committee

In 2008, Republican Leader John Boehner asked McCarthy to serve as Chairman of the Republican Platform Committee, which he did during the committee's meetings in Minneapolis, MN in late August of 2008. Those committee meetings produced the Republican Party Platform for 2008.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• U.S. Representative Kevin McCarthy official House site
• Kevin McCarthy for Congress official campaign site
• Kevin McCarthy at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Federal Election Commission — Mr Kevin McCarthy campaign finance reports and data
• On the Issues — Kevin McCarthy issue positions and quotes
• OpenSecrets.org — Kevin McCarthy campaign contributions
• Project Vote Smart — Representative Kevin McCarthy (CA) profile
• SourceWatch Congresspedia — Kevin McCarthy profile
• Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Kevin McCarthy voting record