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Last Updated on: 18th June 2024, 09:30 am
Kevin McCarthy is the 55th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and represents California’s 20th congressional district. He is a member of the Republican Party and originally hails from Bakersfield, California. Throughout his tenure in the House, McCarthy has held notable positions, including House Republican Chief Deputy Whip and House Majority Whip.
Here are some more facts about Kevin McCarthy that may surprise you:
1. His Parents Were Democrats
McCarthy comes from a family deeply rooted in the Democratic Party—his parents, Roberta Darlene and Owen McCarthy, were staunch Democrats.
McCarthy’s maternal grandfather was an Italian immigrant, while his paternal grandfather hailed from Ireland. Despite his Democratic family background, McCarthy charted his own political course, becoming the first Republican in his immediate family.
When Chris Wallace of Fox asked him in a June 2014 interview about his journey to becoming a Republican, McCarthy pointed to his “philosophical belief” shaped during his upbringing, particularly during the era of President Ronald Reagan.
2. He Started His First Business with Lottery Wins
At the age of 19, while Kevin McCarthy was a student at California State University, Bakersfield, fate handed him a golden ticket—a $5,000 lottery win. Rather than squander the windfall, he ventured into the world of investments, putting the money into the stock market. Remarkably, he saw his modest investment grow.
With the end of the semester approaching, McCarthy made a strategic move. He decided to capitalize on his gains by refinancing his car and leveraging those resources to follow a dream, opening a deli named Kevin O’s.
As he ventured into the realm of entrepreneurship, McCarthy’s perspective on the world started to shift. The challenges of running a business, particularly the burdens of taxes and regulations, began to shape his burgeoning conservative beliefs and started him down the road to politics.
3. He Met His Wife In A Church Youth Group
Like Kevin, Judy McCarthy is deeply rooted in Bakersfield, California. She pursued her education at Bakersfield College and California State University. Their paths crossed during their teenage years at a church youth group. Although Judy was initially interested in one of Kevin’s friends, the two ultimately fell for each other.
They married in 1992, and together they built a family with two children– a son and a daughter. They also have two dogs– Teddy and Cash. Their faith, grounded in the Southern Baptist tradition, has been a significant part of their lives.
4. He Was the Inspiration For “Frank Underwood” from “House Of Cards”
Kevin McCarthy was the inspiration for the notorious TV character, Frank Underwood, from the series House of Cards.
Actor Kevin Spacey, who portrayed Underwood, shadowed McCarthy for research, particularly keen on understanding McCarthy’s strategies to maintain party unity among fellow lawmakers.
During this research, McCarthy shared a signature phrase he used with his caucus: “You vote your district, you vote your conscience, you just don’t surprise me.” Spacey stole the line for his show. McCarthy joked that he learned “things not to do” from Spacey’s character.
Another parallel between McCarthy and Underwood lies in their humble beginnings and relentless ambition, propelling them both to significant political heights.
5. He Opened An Impeachment Inquiry Into Joe Biden
On September 12, Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced the initiation of an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, focusing on Biden’s family business dealings. McCarthy cited allegations of abuse of power, obstruction, and corruption, prompting the formal inquiry.
The inquiry aims to investigate potential abuse of power, financial ties with foreign interests, and obstruction of investigations during Biden’s time as Vice President and President, according to Fox News.
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