Kevin Owen McCarthy
McCarthy's House career ran 2007-2023. This profile grades his 2018-cycle 116th Congress tenure as Minority Leader (Jan 2019-Jan 2021), the post-2018-midterm-shellacking period for House Republicans.
Kevin Owen McCarthy
- among Republican representatives1st of 113
- among all representatives1st of 260
All tracked promises
Hold Democrats accountable through aggressive oversight.
As Minority Leader, McCarthy had no committee subpoena power. He convened a Republican-side review of the Trump-Ukraine matter and led floor opposition to impeachment in December 2019 and January 2020.
Vote against the two articles of impeachment of Donald Trump (Dec 2019).
McCarthy voted no on both articles of impeachment (Abuse of Power: 230-197-1; Obstruction of Congress: 229-198-1, Dec 18, 2019). All 197 Republicans present voted no.
Vote against the second impeachment of Donald Trump (Jan 2021).
McCarthy voted no on the article of impeachment for Incitement of Insurrection (passed 232-197, Jan 13, 2021). Ten Republicans voted yes; McCarthy was not among them.
Object to certification of Pennsylvania and Arizona electors.
On Jan 6, 2021 (after the Capitol attack and that evening's reconvening), McCarthy voted yes on objections to certifying Arizona (failed 121-303) and Pennsylvania (failed 138-282) electors.
Pass coronavirus relief legislation.
McCarthy supported CARES Act (Pub.L. 116-136, signed March 27, 2020) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 (Pub.L. 116-260, $900B relief, signed Dec 27, 2020).
Support border-wall funding.
McCarthy voted yes on the FY2019 Homeland Security funding that included $1.4B in border-fencing money (signed Feb 15, 2019). The bipartisan deal was well below Trump's $5.7B request, leading to the 35-day shutdown.
Defend Trump-era tax cuts.
McCarthy led House Republican opposition to all Democratic efforts to repeal or modify the TCJA during his Minority Leader tenure. The TCJA remained in force throughout the term.
Pass USMCA replacement for NAFTA.
McCarthy voted yes on USMCA (passed House 385-41, Dec 19, 2019; signed Jan 29, 2020).
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