Kyle McCarter

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Kyle McCarter
Kyle McCarter official photo.jpg
United States Ambassador to Kenya
In office
March 12, 2019 –January 20, 2021

In a debate in 2012 and later public statements McCarter publicly supported a "clean coal" plant in Taylorville, Illinois. The day after Archer Daniels Midland and Tate & Lyle, both major employers in McCarter's senate district, expressed concern about the project, he changed his position and voted against the bill. Both companies were also donors to his campaign. In response Kurt Erickson of The Southern Illinoisan wrote, "In the process, he became the quintessential politician that voters love to hate: He said one thing on the campaign trail and then reversed himself once safely elected." [18] [ better source needed ]

Anti-bullying bill

In May 2012, McCarter voted against a bill in the state senate that would have encouraged public schools to implement anti-bullying programs. [19] McCarter voted against the bill because he believed such programs would be used to promote homosexuality. [19] While answering questions about his vote, McCarter said, "Some of these programs are very good. They indeed encourage kids not to bully. But there are programs throughout the United States, used in some high schools and universities, that really have just a pro-homosexual agenda, and nothing but that." [19]

2016 campaign for U.S. Congress

In October 2015, McCarter announced he would be running for the United States House of Representatives for the 15th district against fellow Republican incumbent John Shimkus, rather than run again for State Senate in 2018. [20] [21] While McCarter does not live in the 15th district, he lives close to the border and has said he is looking to move to Effingham. [20]

McCarter has received Tea Party support, as well as support from other conservative groups, including the Club for Growth. [22] [23] McCarter is running to the right of Shimkus, saying he is insufficiently conservative and an "insider." [20]

Prior to announcing his candidacy for Congress, McCarter used about $33,000 from his state campaign fund to pay a political consultant. That consultant, Elizabeth Van Holt of Isaiah Consulting, appeared with McCarter when he announced his congressional candidacy on October 7, 2015. State law prohibits the use of such campaign funds for federal races. McCarter said the money was paid for work related to his State Senate seat. [24]

Prior to the second quarter of 2015, McCarter's campaign committee never reported more than $50,354 in any quarter since the 2010 election cycle. [21] In early 2016, McCarter's campaign refunded $52,000 in campaign contributions that had been accepted against FEC rules. [25]

McCarter ultimately lost the primary to Shimkus, receiving 39.63 percent of the vote. [26]

United States Ambassador to Kenya

On May 11, 2017, the seven Republican congressmen from Illinois, including John Shimkus who beat McCarter in the 2016 primary, encouraged President Donald Trump to nominate McCarter as the next United States Ambassador to Kenya. [27] The delegation wrote that McCarter's work in Kenya with Each1Feed1 has provided him "heightened insight into the governmental operations and other political, economic, and social realities of both Kenya and the larger region of East Africa." [28] On March 28, 2018, Trump announced he was nominating McCarter to the position. [29] [30] He was scrutinized by Democrats during his committee hearing and was reported out of committee on a 12–9 vote. [7] The United States Senate confirmed McCarter by voice vote on January 2, 2019. [31] [32] He presented his credentials to President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 12, 2019. [33] He left office on January 20, 2021.

Later career

Following his ambassadorship, McCarter moved to Oklahoma. [34] He considered, but ultimately declined, a run for U.S. Senate in 2022 special election in Oklahoma. [35]

Personal life

McCarter and his wife Victoria lived in Lebanon, Illinois before moving to Oklahoma after his ambassadorship. [4] [34] They have two living children: Zach and Austin. [3] [4] Their daughter Amber died in 2006 at the age of 21 from a heroin overdose. [3] [36] [37]

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References

  1. ↑ Illinois Watchdog: Election Profile: 51st Senate District McCarter vs. Dudley [ permanent dead link ]
  2. 1 2 3 "U.S. Ambassador to Kenya: Who Is Kyle McCarter?". AllGov. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Kyle McCarter's Biography". Project Vote Smart . Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Senator Kyle McCarter (R)". ilga.gov (99th General Assembly).
  5. ↑ Wuerz, Scott (August 8, 2005). "East Meets Metro-East". Belleville News-Democrat. Illinois.
  6. 1 2 "Our Team - Each1Feed1". eachonefeedone.org. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Bustos, Joseph (January 31, 2019). "How did McCarter land ambassadorship to Kenya, and what's his future when the job ends?". Belleville News-Democrat . Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  8. 1 2 Schabbing, Dawn (October 7, 2015). "State Sen. Kyle McCarter to Challenge U.S. Rep. John Shimkus". Effingham Daily News . Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Mercy Ministries Close Friend and Supporter Kyle McCarter Appointed to Illinois State Senate". mercyministriesnews.com. April 28, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  10. ↑ Spates, Alicia (February 22, 2009). "Kyle McCarter of Lebanon Picked by GOP for State Senate Seat". herald-review.com. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  11. ↑ "O'Fallon alderman named to St. Clair County Board". Belleville News Democrat. March 27, 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  12. ↑ "State Senator Frank Watson Resigns from Senate Will Focus on Health". WGEL. February 2, 2009. Archived from the original on February 6, 2009.
  13. 1 2 Illinois Senator Claims Sen. Mike Jacobs Punched Him After ComEd Rate Hike Debate (VIDEO) Huffington Post AOL News. June 1, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  14. ↑ Ill. senators get physical, involve police [ permanent dead link ] St. Louis Today.com. June 1, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.
  15. ↑ Douglas, Hannah (January 9, 2013). "State Sen. John O. Jones retires". The Southern Illinoisan . Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  16. ↑ Miller, Rich (August 7, 2017). "Rep. Fortner to retire at end of term". Capitol Fax . Springfield, Illinois . Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  17. ↑ Barlow, Sarah E., ed. (November 15, 2018). "Biographies of New Senate Members" (PDF). First Reading. Illinois Legislative Research Unit. p. 10. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Some enter, others leave". The Southern. January 9, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  19. 1 2 3 McDermott, Kevin (May 22, 2012). "Illinois Conservatives Defeat Anti-Bullying Measure, Citing Gay 'Agenda'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch . Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  20. 1 2 3 Brueggemann, Brian (October 7, 2015). "McCarter kicks off campaign against Shimkus; declares himself more conservative". Belleville News-Democrat . Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  21. 1 2 "Update: Rauner backing Shimkus over McCarter". October 7, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  22. ↑ Bustos, Joseph (January 6, 2016). "Club for Growth Endorses McCarter Over Shimkus". bnd.com. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  23. ↑ McDermott, Kevin (February 16, 2016). "A Short Run-Down of Illinois' Primary Situation Headed Toward March 15". stltoday.com. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  24. ↑ "McCarter, seeking congressional seat, faces questions over spending from state campaign fund". Belleville News-Democrat. Illinois. November 5, 2015. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  25. ↑ Kacich, Tom (February 3, 2016). "Tom Kacich: McCarter Has to Make $52,000 in Campaign Donation Refunds". The News-Gazette . Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Election Results – General Primary – 3/15/2016". Illinois State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 2, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Senator McCarter Letter of Recommendation Kenya Ambassadorship 051117.pdf". Google. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  28. ↑ Palermo, Gregg (May 11, 2017). "The next U.S. ambassador to Kenya could hail from Metro East". KTVI . Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  29. ↑ "President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Posts" (Press release). White House Office. March 28, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  30. ↑ Bustos, Joseph (March 28, 2018). "Local state senator nominated as next ambassador to Kenya". Belleville News-Democrat . Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  31. ↑ Bustos, Joseph (January 3, 2019). "Kyle McCarter, state senator from metro-east, named U.S. ambassador to Kenya". Belleville News-Democrat . Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  32. ↑ Vidija, Patrick (January 4, 2019). "New US ambassador Kyle McCarter speaks Kiswahili, opposes gay unions". The Star . Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  33. ↑ @USAmbKenya (March 12, 2019). "Just presented credentials to his Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta. Officially in place and ready to work side by side. Tutafanya kazi pamoja" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  34. 1 2 Kapos, Shia (February 25, 2022). "Mary Miller reveals the GOP divide on Ukraine". Politico Illinois Playbook . Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  35. ↑ Faught, Jamison. "J.C. Watts, Kyle McCarter considering joining open Senate race" . Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  36. ↑ Gerstenecker, Alan Lewis (February 14, 2007). "Fentanyl overdose killed daughter of County Board member, coroner's official says". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  37. ↑ Chicago Tribune (September 23, 2015). "A state senator's unusual vote". Daily Southtown. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
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