Kevin Michael McCarty (born January 6, 1972) is an American politician who served in the California State Assembly from 2014 to 2024 and is the mayor-elect of the city of Sacramento. He is a Democrat who represented 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. McCarty was 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.

Background

McCarty was born in Washington D.C., the son of Barbara and Eliot McCarty. His mother is white and his father is African-American. After his parents separated when he was a small child, his mother moved with her children to Sacramento. 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. While on the City Council, McCarty worked as a legislative advocate for Preschool California.

Political career

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. 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. 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. 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

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

Electoral history