Kevin McCarthy’s California Journey
Before entering Congressional Leadership, Kevin McCarthy traveled a long road in California politics. Despite being one of the “Young Guns” along with Paul Ryan and Eric Cantor, he was already a California political veteran by the time he got to Congress.
Born in Bakersfield in 1965, he graduated from Cal State Bakersfield in 1989 and earned an MBA in 1994. His early days as the entrepreneur founder of Kevin O’s Deli and intern for Congressman Bill Thomas are highlighted in his official biography. But his long journey up through California’s political system is less well known. As staff and ultimately district representative for his Congressman, Kevin learned the ins and outs of his local community. While working in the Congressional office, he joined his local Kern County Young Republican chapter. His hard work and ability to make sure everyone was enjoying their YR experience propelled him to become California State Chair and later Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation.
In 2000, Kevin ran and was elected to his first public office, Kern Community College District Trustee. When his local Assembly seat came open in 2002, he was well prepared. After winning his primary 50% – 43% he went on to prevail in the general election with 76% of the vote. As a freshman Assemblyman, he began conversations with his colleagues about who should be leader. In a result that foreshadowed his later rise, Republican members of the State Assembly elected him as their leader in his first term. In that role, he served on the board of the CAGOP and helped manage Republican Assembly campaigns throughout the state. It was an experience he never forgot.
After his election to Congress in 2006, he co-founded the Congressional Young Guns program to train and develop Republican Congressional candidates around the country. In 2011, he began conversations to start a training program for California GOP state legislative candidates. That program, called California Trailblazers, proved especially effective at helping these candidates prepare for the rigors of California legislative campaigns, which are often compared to congressional races in the size and scope of the effort required.
As McCarthy moved up in the ranks of Congressional leadership, beginning with House Republican Chief Deputy Whip in 2009, he paid special attention to winning Congressional races in California. In 2012, he organized a statewide tour of California GOP candidates for Congress, raising funds for targeted races across the state. In the 2020 elections, he helped the CAGOP raise millions of dollars which under Jessica Millan Patterson’s leadership flipped four congressional seats to the Republican column. In 2022, with McCarthy’s continued support, California Republicans flipped a 5th seat, helping to cement the GOP majority in Congress.
In January of 2023, Kevin McCarthy was elected as California’s first Republican Speaker of the House. Soon after he was honored in his hometown of Bakersfield as 1400 people gathered for dinner to pay tribute to their native son.
Kevin McCarthy’s California Journey
Before entering Congressional Leadership, Kevin McCarthy traveled a long road in California politics. Despite being one of the “Young Guns” along with Paul Ryan and Eric Cantor, he was already a California political veteran by the time he got to Congress.
Born in Bakersfield in 1965, he graduated from Cal State Bakersfield in 1989 and earned an MBA in 1994. His early days as the entrepreneur founder of Kevin O’s Deli and intern for Congressman Bill Thomas are highlighted in his official biography. But his long journey up through California’s political system is less well known. As staff and ultimately district representative for his Congressman, Kevin learned the ins and outs of his local community. While working in the Congressional office, he joined his local Kern County Young Republican chapter. His hard work and ability to make sure everyone was enjoying their YR experience propelled him to become California State Chair and later Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation.
In 2000, Kevin ran and was elected to his first public office, Kern Community College District Trustee. When his local Assembly seat came open in 2002, he was well prepared. After winning his primary 50% – 43% he went on to prevail in the general election with 76% of the vote. As a freshman Assemblyman, he began conversations with his colleagues about who should be leader. In a result that foreshadowed his later rise, Republican members of the State Assembly elected him as their leader in his first term. In that role, he served on the board of the CAGOP and helped manage Republican Assembly campaigns throughout the state. It was an experience he never forgot.
After his election to Congress in 2006, he co-founded the Congressional Young Guns program to train and develop Republican Congressional candidates around the country. In 2011, he began conversations to start a training program for California GOP state legislative candidates. That program, called California Trailblazers, proved especially effective at helping these candidates prepare for the rigors of California legislative campaigns, which are often compared to congressional races in the size and scope of the effort required.
As McCarthy moved up in the ranks of Congressional leadership, beginning with House Republican Chief Deputy Whip in 2009, he paid special attention to winning Congressional races in California. In 2012, he organized a statewide tour of California GOP candidates for Congress, raising funds for targeted races across the state. In the 2020 elections, he helped the CAGOP raise millions of dollars which under Jessica Millan Patterson’s leadership flipped four congressional seats to the Republican column. In 2022, with McCarthy’s continued support, California Republicans flipped a 5th seat, helping to cement the GOP majority in Congress.
In January of 2023, Kevin McCarthy was elected as California’s first Republican Speaker of the House. Soon after he was honored in his hometown of Bakersfield as 1400 people gathered for dinner to pay tribute to their native son.