Kevin McCarty Bio
Kevin Michael McCarty (born January 6, 1972) is an American politician serving as the Mayor of Sacramento since 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously represented Sacramento in the California State Assembly from 2014 to 2024, first serving the 7th Assembly District and, after redistricting, the 6th Assembly District, which covers much of the city and surrounding metropolitan area. Prior to joining the Assembly, McCarty served on the Sacramento City Council representing the 6th district from 2004 to 2014.
Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Sacramento, McCarty built a long career in California public service that spans city council, state legislature, and now the mayor’s office. He is recognized for his work on housing safety, gun control, early childhood education, and after-school programming, and he continues to live in Sacramento with his family.
Early Life and Background
Kevin Michael McCarty was born in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 1972. He is the son of Barbara McCarty, who is white, and Eliot McCarty, who is African-American. After his parents separated when he was a small child, his mother moved with her children to Sacramento, California, where Kevin was raised.
Growing up in Sacramento shaped McCarty’s early interest in public service and local government. The experiences of his family and his Sacramento upbringing influenced his decision to study politics and pursue a career in civic leadership.
McCarty went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from California State University, Long Beach. He later completed a Master of Public Policy and Administration at California State University, Sacramento, giving him a strong academic foundation for a career in state and local government.
Path to US Politics
Before running for office, McCarty gained experience inside California state government. He served as Policy Director to former California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante, advising on legislative and budget matters. He also worked as a consultant to the California State Assembly Budget Committee under then-Assemblywoman Denise Moreno Ducheny, building expertise in fiscal policy and state budgeting.
These early staff roles gave McCarty a clear understanding of how state policy is developed and implemented. They also connected him with Sacramento’s civic community, setting the stage for his transition from policy work to elected office at the local level.
Kevin McCarty Career
Early Career (2004–2014)
McCarty’s first elected position came in 2004, when he joined the Sacramento City Council representing the 6th district, which includes parts of eastern and southeastern Sacramento. Over the next decade, he became a leading voice on the council for safe housing, including stronger inspections of rental properties, gun control measures, and the creation of after-school programs for young people in the city.
During his council tenure, McCarty also worked as a legislative advocate for Preschool California, an organization that supports early childhood education access. He was one of two council members who voted against a $257 million subsidy to develop a downtown entertainment and sports complex for the Sacramento Kings, reflecting his fiscal approach to local development.
California State Assembly Breakthrough (2014–2024)
In 2014, incumbent Democratic Assemblyman Roger Dickinson left the 7th Assembly District to run for the California State Senate. McCarty ran for the open seat and won, defeating fellow Sacramento City Councilman Steve Cohn. His victory moved him from city-level politics to the California State Assembly, where he represented Sacramento for the next ten years.
During his time in the Assembly, McCarty was a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus. He focused on issues including housing, public safety, education, and youth services, drawing on his background as a council member and preschool policy advocate.
Following the 2020 census, McCarty’s own Elmhurst neighborhood was moved into the newly drawn 6th Assembly District. He ran for and won re-election in 2022 from the redrawn district, continuing his representation of Sacramento in the state legislature.
Mayor of Sacramento Era (2024–Present)
In 2024, McCarty was elected Mayor of Sacramento, the office he continues to hold. The move marked a return to citywide leadership after his decade on the city council and his ten years in the California State Assembly.
As mayor, McCarty has focused on the same priorities that shaped his earlier career: housing safety, youth programs, and responsible local development. His combined experience in the council, the Assembly, and the mayor’s office has made him a familiar figure in Sacramento’s political landscape.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among McCarty’s most notable political moments are his 2014 win over Sacramento City Councilman Steve Cohn for the open 7th Assembly District seat and his successful 2022 re-election from the redrawn 6th Assembly District. His rise from the Sacramento City Council in 2004 to the California State Assembly in 2014 and then to Mayor of Sacramento in 2024 marks a continuous climb through Sacramento’s elected offices over two decades.
Kevin McCarty Family
Family Background and Lineage
Kevin Michael McCarty is the son of Eliot McCarty and Barbara McCarty. His mother is white and his father is African-American, and the family comes from a mixed background that shaped his early years in Washington, D.C., and later Sacramento.
Personal Life
McCarty is married to Leticia García, and the couple has twin daughters named Victoria and Barbara. The family lives in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Sacramento, the same community McCarty represented for years on the city council and later in the state Assembly. He is Catholic.