Kevin McCarthy is the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. He is dedicated to preserving and promoting the American Dream for all hardworking Americans.
Kevin McCarthy proudly represents California’s 20th district in Congress. Kevin also serves as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a dedicated voice for a strong, safe, and free America where every person has the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.
Proud Son of Bakersfield
A fourth-generation resident of Kern County, Kevin is the grandson of a cattle rancher and son of a firefighter. Growing up in a working-class household in Bakersfield, he learned the value of hard work at a young age.
When he was 21 years old, Kevin opened his own small business, Kevin O’s Deli. As a small business owner, he quickly learned that the margins are thin, the hours are long, and Washington is often a barrier, not an aid, to success.
Kevin sold his business to help put himself through college and graduate school at California State University, Bakersfield.
In 2002, Kevin was elected to represent the 32nd Assembly District in the California State Assembly. As a freshman legislator, he was unanimously selected by his Republican colleagues to serve as Assembly Republican Leader, becoming the first freshman legislator and the first legislator from Kern County to win this leadership post in the California State Legislature.
Kevin is married to his high school sweetheart, Judy. They still live in the first house they bought together, and have two children, Connor and Meghan.
Delivering Results for the American People
Kevin was elected to Congress in 2006 and has served in numerous leadership positions, where he has earned a strong, conservative record, fighting for policies that will grow our economy, keep our country safe, and protect our values. In 2008, he was appointed Chief Deputy Whip after just two years in Congress. Then, he served as Majority Whip and Majority Leader. In 2018, he was elected Republican Leader in the House. In 2020, he was unanimously voted by House Republicans as their nominee to serve as Speaker of the House.
While serving in Congress, Kevin has been instrumental in passing key pieces of legislation on cutting taxes, reducing government spending, lowering burdensome regulations, and strengthening our military.
Kevin has long been a champion for a government that works for its citizens. In 2012 he authored legislation to democratize access to capital for small businesses which was included in the JOBS Act in 2012. He has bridged critical gaps in our veterans’ lives by expanding GI benefits to cover education costs for online and technical education. And in 2016 he secured the most significant California water bill in 25 years to deliver more water to Central Valley communities and farmers.
When COVID-19 struck, Kevin introduced a plan to safely reopen Congress to the American people. His efforts included a plan to end the practice of proxy voting, which allowed members of Congress to skip work yet still get paid, and return to regular order.
In 2022, Kevin and his Republican colleagues released the “Commitment to America,” a comprehensive legislative plan that offers a new direction to get America back on track after two years of failing national policies through one-party Democrat rule. These priorities include an economy that is strong, a nation that is safe, a future that is built on freedom, and a government that is accountable.
Kevin is also committed to accountability and oversight. He was the first public official to warn the public about the influx of individuals on the terrorist watch list who were illegally crossing our border. After President Biden left American citizens in Afghanistan as the Taliban retook the country, he led House Republicans’ efforts to ensure Americans returned home safely and has committed to a full House investigation on the disastrous withdrawal that led to 13 new Gold Star families. He continues to lead an effort in the House to get answers on other crucial areas of scrutiny, including the weaponization of the Department of Justice and the origins of COVID-19.
Kevin has made addressing the cost of living crisis the top priority of his leadership. In the 117th Congress, he spearheaded the fight in the House against Democrat policies that created record inflation, higher taxes, and higher energy prices. When Democrats attempted to pass $5 trillion in new taxes and wasteful spending, Kevin delivered the longest floor speech in the history of the House, delaying a vote on the bill so Members had more time to comprehend its disastrous policies and inflationary impact.
Throughout his time in Congress, Kevin is a steadfast supporter of America’s national security, peace through strength, and our veterans. Recognizing the growing threat to our freedoms coming from Communist China, Kevin has led efforts in Congress to hold China accountable and promote American economic, technological, and energy dominance so that the next century is ours. As Speaker of the House, he is committed to creating a Select Committee on China in the new Congress to investigate and develop policies to protect America, its supply chains, and its people from the CCP’s malign influence.
Kevin’s leadership philosophy is having the wisdom to listen and the courage to lead. He will always put his constituents, his conference, and his country first.
Follow House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on all major social networks @SpeakerMcCarthy.