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Kevin McCarthy

Kevin Owen McCarthy is an American Republican politician from California who served in the U.S.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Kevin Owen McCarthy is an American Republican politician from California who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2023. He was Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from January to October 2023 and previously held other House leadership roles, including majority leader and minority leader.

Early life and education

Kevin McCarthy was born in Bakersfield, California, in 1965. Public biographies note that he began his political career after working in local and state Republican politics.

U.S. House career

McCarthy was elected to the U.S. House in 2006 and served until 2023. During his tenure, he represented three different California districts after redistricting.

House leadership

McCarthy rose through Republican House leadership, serving as Majority Whip, Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and Speaker. His speakership lasted from January to October 2023.

Departure from Congress

After losing the speakership in 2023, McCarthy said he would retire from Congress at the end of that year. He formally left the House in 2023, ending a 16-year congressional career.

Key facts

  • McCarthy represented California in the U.S. House from 2007 until his resignation in 2023.
  • He served as Speaker of the House from January to October 2023.
  • He was House Majority Leader from 2014 to 2019 and House Minority Leader from 2019 to 2023.
  • He represented California's 22nd district, then 23rd district, and finally 20th district.
  • He announced his retirement from Congress in December 2023 and left the House at the end of that year.
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Canadian context

McCarthy is relevant to Canadian readers mainly through his role in U.S. federal politics and cross-border issues that came before the House while he was Speaker, including budget, trade, and foreign-policy debates.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Kevin McCarthy?
Kevin McCarthy is an American Republican politician from California who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and became Speaker of the House in 2023.
When was Kevin McCarthy born?
He was born on January 26, 1965, in Bakersfield, California.
What offices did Kevin McCarthy hold in the House?
He served as Majority Whip, Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
What districts did Kevin McCarthy represent?
He represented California's 22nd district from 2007 to 2013, the 23rd district from 2013 to 2023, and the 20th district in 2023.
When did Kevin McCarthy leave Congress?
He announced in December 2023 that he would retire at the end of the year, and he left the House in 2023.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_McCarthy
    Supports: Birth name, birth date, party, House service, districts represented, and speaker tenure.
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kevin-McCarthy-American-politician
    Supports: Biographical details, party affiliation, House service, and retirement from Congress.
  3. Congress.gov — https://www.congress.gov/member/kevin-mccarthy/M001165
    Supports: Official congressional service record and districts represented.
  4. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67642504
    Supports: Announcement of retirement from Congress and end-of-year departure.
  5. Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives — https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/18801
    Supports: House leadership history and official congressional context.