Kevin McCarthy Then and Now

He became Speaker of the House after 15 rounds of voting. 🏛️ Nine months later, he was thrown out — the first Speaker in history removed by his own party. This is the updated story of Kevin McCarthy.

Kevin McCarthy Then 🌱

Kevin McCarthy was born on January 26, 1965, in Bakersfield, California. His mother was a homemaker. His father was an assistant city fire chief.

He grew up in a working-class family. At 21, he opened his first business — a deli called Kevin O’s. He ran into red tape and taxes. It made him want to change government.

He sold the deli to pay for college. He graduated from Cal State Bakersfield with a degree in marketing in 1989. He got an MBA from the same school in 1994.

While in college, he worked as a seasonal firefighter. He interned for Congressman Bill Thomas. That internship changed his life.

He worked for Thomas for 15 years. He rose to district director. He learned how Washington works — from the inside.

In 2002, he was elected to the California State Assembly. In 2006, he won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He got 70.7% of the vote.

The Middle: Climbing to Speaker 👑

McCarthy rose fast in the House. He became Majority Whip. Then Majority Leader in 2014. Then Minority Leader in 2019, when Democrats took control.

He was known as a fundraiser and a dealmaker. He could count votes. He could keep his caucus together. He was good at politics.

In 2022, Republicans won back the House — barely. McCarthy ran for Speaker. But a group of hardline conservatives refused to support him.

The vote was historic. It took 15 rounds — the first time since 1859 that electing a Speaker took more than nine ballots. McCarthy finally won with 216 votes.

But his victory came with a price. He agreed to a rule that made it easy to remove him. Any single member could call a vote to oust the Speaker.

That rule ended his career. In September 2023, McCarthy made a deal with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown. Hardliners were furious.

On October 3, 2023, Representative Matt Gaetz filed a motion to vacate. Eight Republicans joined all Democrats. McCarthy was removed — the first Speaker in U.S. history ousted by a vote.

Like Lindsey Graham, McCarthy learned that party loyalty can vanish fast. Like Mike Pence, he discovered that standing up to his own party has a price.

Kevin McCarthy Now 📈

Today, Kevin McCarthy is 61. He is no longer in Congress. He resigned from the House on December 31, 2023, two months after being ousted as Speaker.

Since leaving office, he has moved into the private sector. He serves on corporate boards. He gives paid speeches. He advises companies on Washington politics.

He remains active in Republican circles. He has endorsed candidates. He has appeared on TV as a commentator. He has not ruled out a future run for office.

He is married to Judy Wages. They have been together since 1992. They have two children, Meghan and Connor. They still live in Bakersfield.

His net worth is estimated at around $300,000 to $1 million — modest for a former Speaker. He never focused on building personal wealth.

From a deli owner to the Speaker of the House. From 15 rounds of voting to removal in 269 days. From the most powerful job in Congress to private life.

Kevin McCarthy’s rise and fall was one of the fastest in American political history — and a reminder that in Washington, power is never permanent. 💪