{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Kevin Owen McCarthy
| image = Kevin McCarthy official portrait (cropped).jpg
| alt = Official portrait of Kevin McCarthy
| caption = McCarthy in 2023
| office = 55th [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives]]
| term_start = January 7, 2023
| term_end = October 3, 2023
| preceded = [[Nancy Pelosi]]
| succeeded = [[Mike Johnson]] (formally after speakership vacancy)
| office2 = [[House Minority Leader]]
| term_start2 = January 3, 2019
| term_end2 = January 7, 2023
| preceded2 = [[Nancy Pelosi]]
| succeeded2 = [[Hakeem Jeffries]]
| office3 = [[House Majority Leader]]
| term_start3 = August 1, 2014
| term_end3 = January 3, 2019
| preceded3 = [[Eric Cantor]]
| succeeded3 = [[Steny Hoyer]]
| office4 = [[Member of the U.S. House of Representatives]]
| district4 = [[California's 20th congressional district]]
| term_start4 = January 3, 2023
| term_end4 = December 31, 2023
| preceded4 = [[Connie Conway]]
| succeeded4 = [[Vince Fong]]
| district5 = [[California's 23rd congressional district]]
| term_start5 = January 3, 2013
| term_end5 = January 3, 2023
| preceded5 = [[Buck McKeon]]
| succeeded5 = [[Jay Obernolte]]
| district6 = [[California's 22nd congressional district]]
| term_start6 = January 3, 2007
| term_end6 = January 3, 2013
| preceded6 = [[Bill Thomas]]
| succeeded6 = [[Devin Nunes]]
| office7 = [[Minority Leader of the California State Assembly]]
| term_start7 = December 2, 2004
| term_end7 = November 30, 2006
| preceded7 = [[Nicole Parra]] (acting)
| succeeded7 = [[Mike Villines]]
| office8 = [[Member of the California State Assembly]]
| district8 = [[California's 32nd State Assembly district]]
| term_start8 = December 2, 2002
| term_end8 = November 30, 2006
| preceded8 = [[Dean Florez]]
| succeeded8 = [[Jean Fuller]]
| birth_name = Kevin Owen McCarthy
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|1|26}}
| birth_place = [[Bakersfield, California]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = American
| political_party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse = [[Judy McCarthy]]
| children = 2
| education = [[California State University, Bakersfield]] (BS)
[[University of Phoenix]] (MBA)
| religion = [[Baptist]]
| website = {{URL|https://kevinmccarthy.house.gov/}}
}}
Kevin Owen McCarthy (born January 26, 1965) is an American politician who served as the 55th [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives]] from January to October 2023. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], he was previously the [[House Minority Leader]] from 2019 to 2023 and the [[House Majority Leader]] from 2014 to 2019. He represented [[California's 20th congressional district]] in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 2023 to 2023, having previously represented the 22nd district from 2007 to 2013 and the 23rd district from 2013 to 2023.
Early life and education
McCarthy was born and raised in [[Bakersfield, California]], the third child of an assistant fire chief and a homemaker. He graduated from [[Bakersfield High School]] in 1983. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from [[California State University, Bakersfield]] in 1989 and a Master of Business Administration from the [[University of Phoenix]] in 1994. While in college, he started a small business, "Kevin O's Deli," which he sold to put himself through school.Early political career
McCarthy's political career began in 1999 as district director for U.S. Representative [[Bill Thomas]]. In 2000, he was elected as a trustee to the [[Kern Community College District]]. He served as the chairman of the [[California Young Republicans]] and the [[Young Republican National Federation]].In 2002, McCarthy was elected to the [[California State Assembly]] representing the 32nd district. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the Assembly Republican Leader in 2004, a position he held until 2006.
U.S. House of Representatives (2007–2023)
In 2006, McCarthy was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for California's 22nd congressional district, succeeding his former boss, Bill Thomas, who retired. He was re-elected multiple times, with his district boundaries shifting to the 23rd (2013) and eventually the 20th (2023) following redistricting.Leadership roles
- Chief Deputy Whip (2009–2011): McCarthy quickly ascended to a leadership position, serving as the Republican Chief Deputy Whip under then-House Minority Whip [[Eric Cantor]].
- House Majority Whip (2011–2014): Following the 2010 elections which saw Republicans gain control of the House, McCarthy was elected Majority Whip.
- House Majority Leader (2014–2019): When Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost his primary election in 2014, McCarthy was elected to replace him as House Majority Leader. He served in this role under Speaker [[Paul Ryan]] until Republicans lost control of the House in the 2018 elections.
- House Minority Leader (2019–2023): After the 2018 elections, McCarthy was elected House Minority Leader, leading the Republican caucus while Democrats controlled the House under Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]].
Speaker of the House (2023)
Following the 2022 midterm elections, in which Republicans narrowly regained control of the House, McCarthy sought the speakership. His bid was notably prolonged, requiring 15 rounds of voting over four days in January 2023 due to opposition from a small faction of conservative Republicans. He ultimately secured the speakership by making significant concessions to these members, including a rule change allowing any single member to file a motion to vacate the chair.His speakership lasted just nine months. On October 3, 2023, McCarthy made history as the first Speaker of the House to be removed from office via a successful motion to vacate the chair, initiated by Representative [[Matt Gaetz]] of Florida. Eight Republicans joined all Democrats in voting to remove him.