Congressman Kevin McCarthy, a fourth-generation Kern County resident, was elected in November 2006 to represent the 22nd District of California in Congress.
McCarthy is committed to ensuring that the voice of the people of the 22nd District is heard in Washington, D.C. McCarthy is proud to represent the wide array of interest in his district including fertile agricultural lands, rich energy resources, strong military facilities, and growing communities.
In December 2008, McCarthy was appointed to serve as Chief Deputy Republican Whip. McCarthy also serves on the House Financial Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over our country’s investment companies, banks, savings and loans, credit unions, insurance industry, and housing services. McCarthy also is on the House Administration Committee. Finally, McCarthy serves on the House Republican Steering Committee, which controls the committee assignments of House Republican members.
A Capitol Hill newspaper selected McCarthy as one of its "rising stars" in the 110th Congress, and a leading news magazine characterized Congressman McCarthy as a "young-gun" and dubbed him "the strategist" among three up and coming leaders in the House.
McCarthy has long been a champion for more government accountability, transparency, and reforming the way government operates to better serve the people.
Congressman McCarthy was born in Bakersfield, California. Before his 21st birthday, McCarthy successfully opened and operated a small business, Kevin O’s Deli. His business was a success and he later sold it to help fund his college education. McCarthy has an undergraduate degree and Masters in Business Administration from California State University, Bakersfield. McCarthy worked for former Congressman Bill Thomas, and was elected in 2000 as Trustee to the Kern Community College District
In 2002, McCarthy was elected to represent the 32nd Assembly District in the California State Assembly. As a freshman legislator, he was selected unanimously by his Republican colleagues to serve as the Assembly Republican Leader, becoming the first freshman legislator and the first legislator from Kern County to assume the top post. In this leadership role, McCarthy worked to overhaul the state worker’s compensation system, and improve California’s business climate to create more jobs.
McCarthy and his wife, Judy, have two children, Connor and Meghan, and reside in Bakersfield.