Kyle McCarter

{{Short description|American politician and diplomat (born 1962)}} {{for|the biblical scholar|P. Kyle McCarter Jr.}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Kyle McCarter |image = Kyle McCarter official photo.jpg |office = United States Ambassador to Kenya |president = Donald Trump |term_start = March 12, 2019 |term_end = January 20, 2021 |predecessor = Robert F. Godec |successor = Meg Whitman |state_senate1 = Illinois |district1 = 54th |term_start1 = January 9, 2013 |term_end1 = January 9, 2019 |predecessor1 = John O. Jones |successor1 = Jason Plummer |state_senate2 = Illinois |district2 = 51st |term_start2 = February 23, 2009 |term_end2 = January 9, 2013 |predecessor2 = Frank Watson |successor2 = Chapin Rose |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|6|27}} |birth_place = Waco, Texas, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Republican |spouse = Victoria Ramatowski |children = 3 |education = Oral Roberts University (BS) }} '''Kyle McCarter''' (born June 27, 1962)<ref>[https://www.watchdog.org/illinois/election-profile-st-senate-district-mccarter-vs-dudley/article_0a160e6b-e5ab-52aa-90ab-69fec878bd5d.html Illinois Watchdog: Election Profile: 51st Senate District McCarter vs. Dudley]{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="AllGov"/> is an American politician from Illinois and former diplomat. He served as the United States Ambassador to Kenya from 2019 to 2021. He previously served as a Republican member of the Illinois Senate from February 2009 to January 2019.

==Early life== McCarter was born in Waco, Texas, on June 27, 1962.<ref name="AllGov">{{cite web |title=U.S. Ambassador to Kenya: Who Is Kyle McCarter? |url=http://www.allgov.com/news/top-stories/us-ambassador-to-kenya-who-is-kyle-mccarter-180423?news=860458 |website=AllGov |access-date=23 March 2019}}</ref> He is the son of Mr. Calvin and Linda McCarter. He attended Muskogee High School and he completed his studies in 1980.<ref name="AllGov"/> McCarter graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1984 with a degree in accounting.<ref name="PVS">{{cite web | title=Kyle McCarter's Biography | url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/84157/kyle-mccarter#.Vse50mz2ZPY | publisher=Project Vote Smart | access-date=February 19, 2016}}</ref><ref name="ILGA">{{cite web | title=Senator Kyle McCarter (R) | url=http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=2174 | publisher=ilga.gov (99th General Assembly) }}</ref>

== Career == McCarter was a member of the St. Clair County board from 2000 until 2009, when he was appointed to the Illinois State Senate.<ref name="PVS"/><ref name="ILGA"/> McCarter also served for six years on the O'Fallon Chamber of Commerce board of directors, including two years as president and four years as chairman of the economic development committee.<ref name="ILGA"/>

===Businesses=== McCarter owns and operates Custom Product Innovations and Custom Coating Innovations in Lebanon, Illinois.<ref name="ILGA"/> McCarter's companies outsource parts of their production to China. McCarter said, "I go to China four to six times a year to visit with our manufacturers. It's a capitalist's dream over there."<ref name="China">{{cite news |last=Wuerz |first=Scott |date=August 8, 2005 |title=East Meets Metro-East |newspaper=Belleville News-Democrat |location=Illinois}}</ref>

===Non-profits=== McCarter and his wife, Victoria, lived and worked in Kenya for ''Each1Feed1'', a Christian ministry that gives care and education for orphans and widows, in 1987–1988 and built Faith Medical Clinic.<ref name="Each1Feed1">{{cite web | title=Our Team - Each1Feed1 | url=http://eachonefeedone.org/who-we-are/ | website=eachonefeedone.org | access-date=February 19, 2016}}</ref><ref name="How&What"/> McCarter currently is the international director and Victoria is the director of education for ''Each1Feed1'', and they travel to Kenya several times a year.<ref name="Each1Feed1"/><ref name="Challenge">{{cite news | last1=Schabbing | first1=Dawn | title=State Sen. Kyle McCarter to Challenge U.S. Rep. John Shimkus | url=http://www.effinghamdailynews.com/news/local_news/state-sen-kyle-mccarter-to-challenge-u-s-rep-john/article_995ac4cd-98bb-506f-a89d-fd747bf09692.html | date=October 7, 2015 | newspaper=Effingham Daily News | access-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref> McCarter is also a supporter of Mercy Ministries, a charitable Christian organization.<ref name="Challenge"/><ref>{{cite news | title=Mercy Ministries Close Friend and Supporter Kyle McCarter Appointed to Illinois State Senate | url=http://www.mercyministriesnews.com/2009/04/mercy-ministries-close-friend-and.html | date=April 28, 2009 | publisher=mercyministriesnews.com | access-date=February 19, 2016 | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034750/http://www.mercyministriesnews.com/2009/04/mercy-ministries-close-friend-and.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Illinois State Senate== After Republican state senator Frank Watson resigned, shortly after suffering a stroke, McCarter was appointed to fill his place in the Illinois State Senate in February 2009.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Spates | first1=Alicia | title=Kyle McCarter of Lebanon Picked by GOP for State Senate Seat | url=http://herald-review.com/news/local/kyle-mccarter-of-lebanon-picked-by-gop-for-state-senate/article_d5815e16-6cf8-5713-8d11-55d9c6b96614.html | date=February 22, 2009 | publisher=herald-review.com | access-date=February 19, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Senate appointment">{{cite news |url=http://www.bnd.com/news/local/story/705890.html |title=O'Fallon alderman named to St. Clair County Board |date=March 27, 2009 |newspaper=Belleville News Democrat }}{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= State Senator Frank Watson Resigns from Senate Will Focus on Health |url= http://www.wgel.com/daily/2009/02-02-09.htm |publisher= WGEL |date= February 2, 2009 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090206200915/http://wgel.com/daily/2009/02-02-09.htm |archive-date= February 6, 2009 |df= mdy-all }}</ref> McCarter was described as "a reliable GOP vote in the state senate."<ref name="How&What">{{cite news | last1=Bustos | first1=Joseph | title=How did McCarter land ambassadorship to Kenya, and what's his future when the job ends? | url=https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article225238830.html | date=January 31, 2019 | newspaper=Belleville News-Democrat | access-date=February 19, 2019}}</ref>

On May 31, 2011, McCarter accused Democratic state Sen. Mike Jacobs of punching him after a debate over an electricity rate increase, a claim Jacobs denied by saying in a televised interview that "the senator was full of shit" and "someone who couldn't even really polish my shoes".<ref name="huffingtonpost.com">[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/01/illinois-legislative-sess_n_869604.html 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.</ref> McCarter had noted that Jacobs' father was a registered lobbyist for the utility, but Jacobs' response was that "one thing he would not allow to happen would be for anyone to question my integrity." Jacobs also said this information had been fully disclosed, his constituents were aware of it, "and they would make a decision based on that". It was reported that McCarter filed a police statement over the incident.<ref name="huffingtonpost.com"/><ref>[https://www.stltoday.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/article_a86223f2-9c83-596a-89a8-8525e4024699.html Ill. senators get physical, involve police]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} St. Louis Today.com. June 1, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2011.</ref>

After the Senate redistricting, parts of the old 51st, 54th, and 58th districts were combined to create the new 54th Senate District. Another incumbent Republican, John O. Jones, was also drawn into the 54th district. However, Jones failed to adequately meet the petition filing requirements and did not appear on the ballot. After Jones ruled out an independent bid, McCarter ran successfully for the 54th district.<ref>{{cite news|first=Hannah|last=Douglas|title=State Sen. John O. Jones retires|newspaper=The Southern Illinoisan|date=January 9, 2013|access-date=January 3, 2019|url=https://thesouthern.com/news/local/state-sen-john-o-jones-retires/article_55ec9dc4-5a18-11e2-91f3-001a4bcf887a.html}}</ref>

He chose not to seek reelection in 2018.<ref name="How&What"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://capitolfax.com/2017/08/07/rep-fortner-to-retire-at-end-of-term/|title=Rep. Fortner to retire at end of term|last=Miller|first=Rich|newspaper=Capitol Fax|location=Springfield, Illinois|date=August 7, 2017|access-date=August 7, 2017}}</ref> He was succeeded in the Illinois Senate by Jason Plummer.<ref>{{cite web|editor-last=Barlow|editor-first=Sarah E.|title=Biographies of New Senate Members|work=First Reading|publisher=Illinois Legislative Research Unit|date=November 15, 2018|volume=32|number=2|access-date=December 12, 2018|pages=10|url=http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lru/Nov2018FirstRdg.pdf}}</ref>

===Committee assignments=== As of the 100th General Assembly, McCarter sits on the following committees: Appropriations II; *Environment and Conservation (Minority Spokesperson); Public Health; Local Government; Labor; and State Government.<ref name="ILGA"/>

===Legislative positions=== ====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.<ref name="bullying"/> McCarter voted against the bill because he believed such programs would be used to promote homosexuality.<ref name="bullying"/> 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."<ref name="bullying">{{cite news | last1=McDermott | first1=Kevin | title=Illinois Conservatives Defeat Anti-Bullying Measure, Citing Gay 'Agenda' | url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/illinois/illinois-conservatives-defeat-anti-bullying-measure-citing-gay-agenda/article_1310d016-a437-11e1-8d9e-0019bb30f31a.html | date=May 22, 2012 | newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch | access-date=February 28, 2016}}</ref>

==2016 campaign for U.S. Congress== {{main|2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois#District 15}} 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.<ref name="Conservative">{{cite web|url=http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article38146497.html|title=McCarter kicks off campaign against Shimkus; declares himself more conservative|work=Belleville News-Democrat|last=Brueggemann|first=Brian|date=October 7, 2015|access-date=February 19, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Announce">{{cite web|url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2015-10-07/update-rauner-backing-shimkus-over-mccarter.html|title=Update: Rauner backing Shimkus over McCarter|date=October 7, 2015 |access-date=February 19, 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Conservative"/>

McCarter has received Tea Party support, as well as support from other conservative groups, including the Club for Growth.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Bustos | first1=Joseph | title=Club for Growth Endorses McCarter Over Shimkus | url=http://www.bnd.com/news/politics-government/election/article53343265.html | date=January 6, 2016 | publisher=bnd.com | access-date=February 19, 2016}}</ref><ref name="RunDown">{{cite news | last1=McDermott | first1=Kevin | title=A Short Run-Down of Illinois' Primary Situation Headed Toward March 15 | url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/kevin-mcdermott/a-short-run-down-of-illinois-primary-situation-headed-toward/article_fa92320a-283d-55ba-8e9e-1e65aba8d860.html | date=February 16, 2016 | publisher=stltoday.com | access-date=February 19, 2015}}</ref> McCarter is running to the right of Shimkus, saying he is insufficiently conservative and an "insider."<ref name="Conservative"/>

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.<ref name="Spending">{{cite news |date=November 5, 2015 |title=McCarter, seeking congressional seat, faces questions over spending from state campaign fund |url=http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article43251459.html |newspaper=Belleville News-Democrat |location=Illinois |access-date=January 10, 2016}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Announce"/> In early 2016, McCarter's campaign refunded $52,000 in campaign contributions that had been accepted against FEC rules.<ref name="IllegalContribs">{{cite web | last1=Kacich | first1=Tom | title=Tom Kacich: McCarter Has to Make $52,000 in Campaign Donation Refunds | url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2016-02-03/tom-kacich-mccarter-has-make-52000-campaign-donation-refunds.html | date=February 3, 2016 | publisher=The News-Gazette | access-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref>

McCarter ultimately lost the primary to Shimkus, receiving 39.63 percent of the vote.<ref name=primaryresults>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=SKR13%2f24Geo%3d |title=Election Results – General Primary – 3/15/2016 |publisher=Illinois State Board of Elections |access-date=January 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202210230/https://www.elections.il.gov/ElectionResults.aspx?ID=SKR13%2f24Geo%3d |archive-date=December 2, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Senator McCarter Letter of Recommendation Kenya Ambassadorship 051117.pdf |url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwE0M3sQIPv1YUNHVnlicHhoQTg/view |website=Google |access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite web | last1=Palermo | first1=Gregg | title=The next U.S. ambassador to Kenya could hail from Metro East | url=https://fox2now.com/2017/05/11/the-next-u-s-ambassador-to-kenya-could-hail-from-metro-east/ | date=May 11, 2017 | publisher=KTVI | access-date=February 20, 2019}}</ref> On March 28, 2018, Trump announced he was nominating McCarter to the position.<ref>{{cite press release|author=|title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Posts|date=March 28, 2018|publisher=White House Office|access-date=April 19, 2018|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-personnel-key-administration-posts-3/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bustos|first=Joseph|title=Local state senator nominated as next ambassador to Kenya|date=March 28, 2018|newspaper=Belleville News-Democrat|access-date=April 19, 2018|url=http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article207210839.html}}</ref> He was scrutinized by Democrats during his committee hearing and was reported out of committee on a 12–9 vote.<ref name="How&What"/> The United States Senate confirmed McCarter by voice vote on January 2, 2019.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Bustos | first1=Joseph | title=Kyle McCarter, state senator from metro-east, named U.S. ambassador to Kenya | url=https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article223867410.html | date=January 3, 2019 | newspaper=Belleville News-Democrat | access-date=January 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last1=Vidija | first1=Patrick | title=New US ambassador Kyle McCarter speaks Kiswahili, opposes gay unions | url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2019/01/04/new-us-ambassador-kyle-mccarter-speaks-kiswahili-opposes-gay-unions_c1872906 | date=January 4, 2019 | newspaper=The Star | access-date=January 6, 2019}}</ref> He presented his credentials to President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 12, 2019.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1105416620082675712 |user=USAmbKenya |title=Just presented credentials to his Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta. Officially in place and ready to work side by side. Tutafanya kazi pamoja. |date=2019-03-12}}</ref> He left office on January 20, 2021.

==Later career== Following his ambassadorship, McCarter moved to Oklahoma.<ref name="Kapos2022"/> He considered, but ultimately declined, a run for U.S. Senate in 2022 special election in Oklahoma.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Faught |first=Jamison |title=J.C. Watts, Kyle McCarter considering joining open Senate race |url=https://www.muskogeepolitico.com/2022/03/jc-watts-kyle-mccarter-considering.html |access-date=2022-06-29}}</ref>

== Personal life == McCarter and his wife Victoria lived in Lebanon, Illinois before moving to Oklahoma after his ambassadorship.<ref name="ILGA"/><ref name="Kapos2022">{{cite news|last=Kapos|first=Shia|title=Mary Miller reveals the GOP divide on Ukraine|date=February 25, 2022|newspaper=Politico Illinois Playbook|access-date=February 25, 2022|url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/illinois-playbook/2022/02/25/mary-miller-reveals-the-gop-divide-on-ukraine-00011726}}</ref> They have two living children: Zach and Austin.<ref name="PVS"/><ref name="ILGA"/> Their daughter Amber died in 2006 at the age of 21 from a heroin overdose.<ref name="PVS"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Gerstenecker|first=Alan Lewis|title=Fentanyl overdose killed daughter of County Board member, coroner's official says|url=https://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/article_406767a8-2c9b-568b-9fc6-b96844aed955.html|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=February 14, 2007}}</ref><ref name="drugs">{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/daily-southtown/opinion/ct-sta-reeder-heroin-st-0924-20150923-story.html|title=A state senator's unusual vote|author=Chicago Tribune|date=September 23, 2015|work=Daily Southtown|access-date=February 19, 2016}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * [https://ke.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/ State Department biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306042802/https://ke.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/our-ambassador/ |date=March 6, 2019 }} * [http://my.ilga.gov/Member/Index/1964?tab=1&chamber=S Biography, bills and committees] at the Illinois General Assembly ** By session: [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=100&MemberID=2371 100th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=2174 99th] [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=98&MemberID=1964 98th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=97&MemberID=1754 97th], [http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=96&MemberID=1562 96th] * {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=84157 | fec= | congress= }} * [http://www.senatormccarter.com/ State Senator Kyle McCarter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205013323/http://www.senatormccarter.com/ |date=February 5, 2016 }} constituency site * [http://www.kylemccarter.com/ Kyle McCarter for Congress] * [https://ballotpedia.org/Kyle_McCarter Profile] on Ballotpedia

{{s-start}} {{s-dip}} {{s-bef|before=Robert F. Godec}} {{s-ttl|title=United States Ambassador to Kenya|years=2019–2021}} {{s-aft|after=Meg Whitman}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCarter, Kyle}} Category:1962 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Kenya Category:Businesspeople from Illinois Category:Candidates in the 2016 United States elections Category:County board members in Illinois Category:Republican Party Illinois state senators Category:Oral Roberts University alumni Category:People from Lebanon, Illinois Category:People from Waco, Texas Category:21st-century members of the Illinois General Assembly