MR. SPEAKER ag advo cate becomes house leader after historic uphill attempts

by Stevie Ipsen for the Utah Cattlemen’s Association

U.S. President Calvin Coolidge had a lot to say about the vitality of persistence. He said, “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and will always solve the problems for the human race.”

If one were to follow the journey of now House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, they might find some parallels to Coolidge’s sentiments.

McCarthy, the youngest of three children of a homemaker mother and an assistant fire chief father, comes from a common, some might say lackluster, upbringing. But for cattle producers on the West Coast and beyond, the McCarthy’s journey from a middle class Bakersfield community to one of top seats in our nation’s capitol is the kind of all-American story that makes their livelihood worthwhile.

As the grandson of a proud Kern County cattleman, all California cattle industry supporters can take pride in the belief that humble beginnings can lead to unprecedented destinations. For the children being raised in today’s beef industry and tumultuous political climate, the sky is still the limit and the ability of kids in the ranching community to make a real difference still exists. Like Coolidge noted, McCarthy’s road is a reminder that through persistence great things are possible.

Though McCarthy is an oftenrevered leader in the Republican Party and in the political world as a whole, it goes without saying that his journey to the Speaker’s chair was not without challenge and frequent defeat. But in the end, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a long time advocate for California’s cattle community was named Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on a historic post-midnight 15th ballot early in the morning of Jan. 7.

“My father always told me, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” McCarthy told cheering fellow Republicans in response to the grueling journey to the speakership and addressing the

...CONTINUED ON PAGE 76 addressing the nay-sayers even from his own party who made the selection of a new majority speaker an uphill battle.

Just A Regular Guy

After graduation from Bakersfield High School, McCarthy briefly attended Bakersfield College while earning money by refurbishing automobiles and then selling them. In October 1984, at only 20, he bought a lottery ticket that made him a $5,000 winner, which McCarthy credtis with starting him on the road to entrepreneurship. Investing his winnings, which were not insignificant in 1984, in the stock market, McCarthy used the earnings to purchase Kevin O’s Deli, located in a yogurt shop in Bakersfield that was owned by his aunt and uncle.

Former NCBA President Kevin Kester, who ranches on California’s central coast is a friend of the Speaker who has known him since his freshman year in Sacramento, says McCarthy’s longtime understanding of small business operations helps him to understand the government’s overreach and how businesses can be unduly impacted.

“Kevin (McCarthy) really gets us. I can tell you from frequent interaction with him that his grasp of the needs of his constituents, specifically in agriculture, is like nothing I have seen from most politicians. They may try to understand what our needs are and why but he really does see our needs and work to make sure they are met,” Kester said. “Having him in this position at this point in time could not be more valuable, not just for CCA and NCBA members, but for all people who see a need for less government overreach to run businesses that matter to all Americans. One thing you should know about Kevin McCarthy is that when he says he will do something, you bet he will follow through.”

McCarthy’s tenacity is why Kester said he knew the speakership was one challenge McCarthy would not back down from, no matter how long it took.

“Just like that long and grueling process, once Kevin starts something, his energy doesn’t burn out,” Kester said. “He will keep that energy level in Washington and use it to work for the country and work with those he may not always agree with for the good of the country.”

Kester said for cattle produers in all parts of the country, McCarthy’s leadership is extremely valuable.

“Even with a good ally like we had in Paul Ryan we did not really have direct access to the Speaker’s office,” Kester said. “Kevin McCarthy has been a long time friend of the cattle business. Some of his D.C. fundraisers have been held at the NCBA office. But more importantly, he gets us and he genuinely has concern for us.”

Being from California himself Kester has worked on the front lines of some of the biggest legislative and regulatory burdens the beef industry has faced in recent decades, both in Sacramento and in Washington. He says during all that time few lawmakers have understood those burdens like McCarthy.

“While a lot of lawmakers turn issues over to their staff, McCarthy still works through the issues to really see their impacts on agriculture,” Kester said, “Sure he needs his staff but in all my time in politics have I seen few politicians really dig in to understand the issues. The more high profile

McCarthy gets as a leader the more he puts his money where his mouth is. I have never experienced him say he will do something and not do it.”

In 1987, McCarthy sold his business and used the profits to return to college, earning an undergraduate business degree from California State University, Bakersfield, and a master’s degree in business administration from the same state-funded institution. McCarthy’s interest in politics had earlier been piqued by the contrast he found between what he perceived as the pessimism of Jimmy Carter and the optimism of Ronald Reagan. The year McCarthy returned to school, he also began his association with influential Republican Congressman Bill Thomas McCarthy initially acted as an intern before becoming a longtime member of the staff of Thomas, who he credits for making a huge impact on his life.

Political Ambition

Elected to the California State Assembly in 2002 and serving as Assembly Republican Leader, McCarthy quickly climbed the political ladder and was elected to represent California’s 20th District of the U.S. Congress in 2006. At that time he was also appointed Chief Deputy Whip before being elected as House Majority Whip in 2010.

During his time as a politician there have been no issues McCarthy has steered clear of. His willingness to tackle any needs of his constituents has been one reason his home base keeps selecting him as their representative.

In 2014, McCarthy was elected Majority Leader in the House. In 2018, he was elected House Republican Leader, which he served most recently before being elected to his current post as Speaker of the House.

McCarthy has continuously vowed to fight for a strong, fiscally responsible, and free America where every person has the ability to achieve the American dream. Through the “Commitment to America” that he spearheaded, he and his House Republican colleagues will work to cut out-ofcontrol government spending, create good-paying jobs, promote American energy independence with American jobs, and fight for individual liberty, an efficient and effective government, and a vibrant civil society.

When Kevin McCarthy is not in Washington working for the constituents of California’s 20th District and for the future of America, he is home in Bakersfield where he and Judy raised their two children, Meghan and Connor.