Kevin Michael McCarty (born January 6, 1972) is an American politician currently serving in the California State Assembly. He is a Democrat representing the 6th Assembly District, which encompasses a portion of the Sacramento metropolitan area, including most of the city of Sacramento. He is a candidate in the 2024 election for Mayor of Sacramento.

Kevin McCarty
Member of the California Assembly
Assumed office
December 1, 2014
Preceded byRoger Dickinson
Constituency7th district (2014–2022)
6th district (2022–present)
Member of the Sacramento City Council
from the 6th district
In office
2004–2014
Preceded byDave Jones
Succeeded byEric Guerra
Personal details
Born (1972-01-06) January 6, 1972 (age 52)
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLeticia García
Children2
EducationCalifornia State University, Long Beach (BA)
California State University, Sacramento (MPP)

McCarty is a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus. Prior to being elected to the Assembly in 2014, he served on the Sacramento City Council representing the 6th district, which includes part of the eastern and southeastern parts of the city.[1]

Background

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McCarty was born in Washington D.C., the son of Barbara and Eliot McCarty.[2] His mother is white and his father is African-American.[2] After his parents separated when he was a small child, his mother moved with her children to Sacramento.[2]

McCarty graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science from CSU Long Beach and has a master's degree in public policy and administration from Sacramento State. Before his service as an elected official, McCarty served as Policy Director to former California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, and as an Assembly Budget Committee consultant to then-Assemblywoman Denise Moreno Ducheny.[3] While on the City Council, McCarty worked as a legislative advocate for Preschool California.

Political career

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McCarty served on the Sacramento City Council from 2004 to 2014. Representing many of Sacramento's older neighborhoods, McCarty advocated for safe housing, inspections of Sacramento's numerous rental housing units, gun control, and the creation of after-school programs. [citation needed] Council member McCarty along with Darrell Fong voted against a $257 million subsidy to develop a downtown entertainment and sports complex for the Sacramento Kings.[4]

In 2014, incumbent Democrat Assemblyman Roger Dickinson ran for the California State Senate, leaving the California's 7th Assembly District vacant. McCarty ran again and this time was successful, defeating fellow Sacramento City Councilman Steve Cohn. As a result of the 2020 census, McCarty's Elmhurst neighborhood was redistricted to the 6th Assembly District, from which he was re-elected in 2022 election.

McCarty is a member of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus.[5]

He is a candidate in the 2024 election for Mayor of Sacramento. He has advanced to the November runoff, narrowly defeating former state senator Richard Pan for the runner-up spot in the primary.

Personal life

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He currently resides in the Elmhurst neighborhood with his wife, Leticia García, and their twin daughters Victoria and Barbara.[1][6] He is Catholic.[7]

Electoral history

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Sacramento City Council, District 6 - March 2, 2004
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin McCarty 6,218 62.0
Democratic John Boyd 3,815 38.0
Sacramento City Council, District 6 - June 3, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin McCarty 5,654 97.31
write-ins 156 2.69
California's 9th State Assembly district: Primary, June 8, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Roger Dickinson 14,157 35.12
Democratic Kevin McCarty 13,955 34.62
Democratic Lauren Hammond 7,525 18.67
Democratic Chris Garland 3,512 8.71
Democratic Adam Sartain 1,041 2.58
write-ins 121 0.30
Total votes 40,311 100
Sacramento City Council, District 6 - June 5, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin McCarty 6,743 73.80
Republican Mitch Netto 2,364 25.87
write-ins 30 0.33
overvotes 9
undervotes 806
Total votes 9,952 100
California's 7th State Assembly district - Primary, June 3, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin McCarty 17,788 36.52
Democratic Steve Cohn 14,876 30.54
Republican Ralph Merletti 7,245 14.88
Republican Oliver Ponce 4,377 8.99
Democratic Mark Johannessen 4,298 8.82
write-ins 121 0.25
overvotes 3,585
undervotes 164
Total votes 52,454 100
California's 7th State Assembly district - November 4, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin McCarty 24,823 58.13
Democratic Steve Cohn 17,877 41.87
overvotes 117
undervotes 6,343
Total votes 49,160 100
California's 7th State Assembly district election, 2016
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin McCarty (incumbent) 69,901 99.5
Republican Ryan K. Brown (write-in) 254 0.4
Libertarian Janine Kloss (write-in) 51 0.1
Republican Ralph Merletti (write-in) 43 0.1
Total votes 70,249 100.0
General election
Democratic Kevin McCarty (incumbent) 111,112 69.8
Republican Ryan K. Brown 48,097 30.2
Total votes 159,209 100.0
Democratic hold
California's 7th State Assembly district election, 2018
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin McCarty (incumbent) 63,705 99.6
Republican Scott Schmidt (write-in) 237 0.4
Total votes 63,942 100.0
General election
Democratic Kevin McCarty (incumbent) 107,849 71.3
Republican Scott Schmidt 43,361 28.7
Total votes 151,210 100.0
Democratic hold
2020 California's 7th State Assembly district election
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin McCarty (incumbent) 43,957 100%
Total votes
Democratic hold
2022 California's 6th State Assembly district election[8][9]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin McCarty (incumbent) 57,740 55.4
Republican Cathy Cook 21,522 20.6
Democratic Josh Pane 15,709 15.1
Republican Bob Marques 7,340 7.0
Libertarian Janice Marlae Bonser 1,931 1.9
Total votes 104,242 100%
General election
Democratic Kevin McCarty (incumbent) 98,656 65.6
Republican Cathy Cook 51,823 34.4
Total votes 150,479 100%
Democratic hold

References

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  1. ^ a b "Your Council Member: Councilmember Kevin McCarty". City of Sacramento. 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c Breton, Marcos (January 28, 2024). "The heartbeat of Kevin McCarty's mayoral run in Sacramento is the woman who raised him". The Sacramento Bee.
  3. ^ "Our Staff: Kevin McCarty, Legislative Advocate". Preschool California. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
  4. ^ Moffitt, Bob (April 9, 2019). "He Opposed The Sacramento Kings Arena Subsidy, But Supports Helping Out With The Republic FC's Soccer Stadium. Here's Why". Capradio. Retrieved November 6, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "Legislative Progressive Caucus". assembly.ca.gov. California State Assembly. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  6. ^ "Biography". Official Website - Assemblymember Kevin McCarty Representing the 7th California Assembly District. November 3, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  7. ^ "Vote Smart | Facts For All". Vote Smart. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  8. ^ "Primary Election - Statement of the Vote, June 7, 2022" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  9. ^ "General Election - Statement of the Vote, November 8, 2022 - State Assembly" (PDF). California Secretary of State. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
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