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{{Short description|American politician ( | {{Short description|American politician (1944–2025)}} | ||
{{Use mdy dates|date= | {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} | ||
{{Infobox officeholder | {{Infobox officeholder | ||
|name = Carolyn McCarthy | |name = Carolyn McCarthy | ||
|image = Carolyn McCarthy 2012 portrait.jpeg | |image = Carolyn McCarthy 2012 portrait.jpeg | ||
|caption = McCarthy in 2012 | |||
|state = [[New York (state)|New York]] | |state = [[New York (state)|New York]] | ||
|district = {{ushr|New York|4|4th}} | |district = {{ushr|New York|4|4th}} | ||
| Line 11: | Line 12: | ||
|successor = [[Kathleen Rice]] | |successor = [[Kathleen Rice]] | ||
|birth_name = Carolyn Cook | |birth_name = Carolyn Cook | ||
|birth_date = {{birth date | |birth_date = {{birth date|1944|1|5}} | ||
|birth_place = | |birth_place = New York City, U.S. | ||
|death_date = | |death_date = {{death date and age|2025|6|26|1944|1|5}} | ||
|death_place = | |death_place = [[Fort Myers, Florida]], U.S. | ||
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ( | |party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] (before 2003)<br>[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] (2003–2025){{Efn |name=Party |McCarthy first ran for Congress as a Democrat in 1996, and spent her entire congressional tenure in the Democratic caucus, but was registered as a Republican voter until 2003.<ref name="Gootman">{{cite web |date=April 29, 2003 |author= Gootman, Elissa |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/29/nyregion/metro-briefing-new-york-mineola-mccarthy-quietly-changes-registration.html |title=McCarthy Quietly Changes Registration |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref>}} | ||
|otherparty = [[House Democratic Caucus]] (1997–2015) | |||
|spouse = {{Marriage|Dennis McCarthy|1967|1993|end=died}} | |spouse = {{Marriage|Dennis McCarthy|1967|1993|end=died}} | ||
|children = 1 | |children = 1 | ||
| | |education = Glen Cove Nursing School | ||
|module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Rep. Carolyn McCarthy Speaks in Support of Legislation to Prevent Child Abuse in Residential Programs.ogg|title= | |module = {{Listen |pos=center |embed=yes |filename=Rep. Carolyn McCarthy Speaks in Support of Legislation to Prevent Child Abuse in Residential Programs.ogg |title=McCarthy's voice |type=speech |description=McCarthy supporting legislation to prevent child abuse in [[residential care]] programs.<br/>Recorded June 20, 2008}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
On January 8, 2014, she announced that she would not run for re-election that November, citing health; she retired in January 2015<ref | '''Carolyn McCarthy''' (née '''Cook'''; January 5, 1944 – June 26, 2025) was an American politician who served as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]], representing {{ushr|NY|4}} from 1997 to 2015. A native of the suburban [[Long Island]] community of [[Mineola, New York]], she worked as a nurse and was a registered [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]. However, she was motivated to enter politics after her husband was killed and her son was wounded in the 1993 [[Long Island Rail Road shooting]]. She became an advocate for [[gun control]] legislation, and in 1996, she was elected to the House as a Democrat, defeating a Republican incumbent. She served a total of nine terms. | ||
On January 8, 2014, she announced that she would not run for re-election that November, citing health; she retired in January 2015<ref>{{cite news |url=http://wantagh.patch.com/groups/politics-and-elections/p/mccarthy-will-not-seek-reelection-wantagh |work=[[Patch Media|Wantagh-Seaford Patch]] |title=McCarthy will not seek re-election |last=Walter |first=Geoffrey |date=January 8, 2014 |access-date=July 8, 2016}}</ref> and was succeeded by fellow Democrat [[Kathleen Rice]]. | |||
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
McCarthy was born Carolyn Cook in [[Brooklyn]], New York, and was raised in [[Mineola, New York | McCarthy was born Carolyn Cook in [[Brooklyn]], New York, on January 5, 1944, and was raised in [[Mineola, New York]], on [[Long Island]].<ref name="Haberman">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/nyregion/carolyn-mccarthy-dead.html |title=Carolyn McCarthy, Who Turned a Gunman's Massacre Into a Crusade, Dies at 81 |last=Haberman |first=Clyde |date=June 26, 2025 |access-date=June 26, 2025 |newspaper=The New York Times |url-access=limited}}</ref> Her father was a [[boilermaker]] and her mother worked at [[F. W. Woolworth Company|Woolworth]].<ref name="NYT110796">{{cite news | ||
|date= July 13, 1996 | |date= July 13, 1996 | ||
|last= Barry | |last= Barry | ||
| Line 34: | Line 37: | ||
|title= L.I. Widow's Story: Next Stop, Washington | |title= L.I. Widow's Story: Next Stop, Washington | ||
|newspaper= The New York Times | |newspaper= The New York Times | ||
|access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref> In her youth, she was an athlete and wanted to become a [[Physical education class|physical education]] teacher but found reading challenging and later was diagnosed with [[dyslexia]]. After caring for a boyfriend who was injured in a car accident, | |access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref> In her youth, she was an athlete and wanted to become a [[Physical education class|physical education]] teacher but found reading challenging and later was diagnosed with [[dyslexia]]. She then studied at the Glen Cove Nursing School.<ref name="Haberman" /> After caring for a boyfriend who was injured in a car accident and being moved by the care given to him by nursing staff, Cook decided to work as a [[Licensed Practical Nurse]].<ref name="Haberman" /><ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Schick |editor1-first=Elizabeth A. |url=https://archive.org/details/currentbiography1998eliz/page/414/mode/1up?q=%22Carolyn+McCarthy%22 |title=Current Biography Yearbook, 1998 |date=1998 |publisher=[[H. W. Wilson Company]] |location=New York |isbn=978-0-8242-0957-5 |page=414}}</ref> In 1967, she married Dennis McCarthy; they had a son, Kevin, and lived in Mineola.<ref name="Haberman" /> | ||
By 1993, both McCarthy's husband and son worked for [[Prudential Securities]] in Manhattan, and commuted on the [[Long Island Rail Road]] (LIRR).<ref name="Haberman" /> On December 7 of that year, Dennis McCarthy was killed and Kevin was severely injured on an LIRR train at the [[Merillon Avenue (LIRR station)|Merillon Avenue]] station in the village of [[Garden City, New York|Garden City]], when 35-year-old Colin Ferguson [[1993 Long Island Rail Road shooting|opened fire on passengers]].<ref>{{cite news | |||
|date=December 15, 1993 | |date=December 15, 1993 | ||
|author= Marks, Peter | |author= Marks, Peter | ||
| Line 48: | Line 51: | ||
|title= A Year Later, the Demons Remain; Fear Still Haunts L.I.R.R. Shooting Survivors | |title= A Year Later, the Demons Remain; Fear Still Haunts L.I.R.R. Shooting Survivors | ||
|newspaper= The New York Times | |newspaper= The New York Times | ||
|access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref> McCarthy responded to the crime by launching a campaign for more stringent [[gun control]] that eventually propelled her to Congress in 1996 on the Democratic ticket. She defeated freshman Republican [[Dan Frisa]] by a large margin. In the biographical 1998 | |access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref> Carolyn McCarthy responded to the crime by launching a campaign for more stringent [[gun control]] that eventually propelled her to Congress in 1996 on the Democratic ticket. She defeated freshman Republican [[Dan Frisa]] by a large margin. In the biographical 1998 television movie ''[[The Long Island Incident]]'', which portrayed these events, she was played by actress [[Laurie Metcalf]].<ref>{{cite news | ||
|date= May 2, 1998 | |date= May 2, 1998 | ||
|last= Joyner | |last= Joyner | ||
| Line 59: | Line 62: | ||
==U.S. House of Representatives== | ==U.S. House of Representatives== | ||
During her time in Congress, McCarthy was described as "the [[doyenne]] of anti-gun advocates in the House" and "the fiercest gun-control advocate in Congress".<ref | During her time in Congress, McCarthy was described as "the [[doyenne]] of anti-gun advocates in the House" and "the fiercest gun-control advocate in Congress".<ref>{{cite news|title=Stick to Your Guns, Senator|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/226943/stick-your-guns-senator/dave-kopel|newspaper=National Review|date=February 24, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Carolyn McCarthy unveils gun-control bill|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/01/mccarthy-unveils-gun-control-bill-047565|newspaper=Politico|date=January 13, 2011}}</ref> She made attempts to broaden her policy portfolio, but was never able to entirely shed the label of being a one-issue congresswoman. She acknowledged this, saying in 2009 that although she is also known for her education and district work, she is still the "gun lady".<ref name="WP Political Bio" /> | ||
McCarthy was a registered Republican before her first run for Congress, although she ran for office as a Democrat and "evolved" over the years into a reliable Democratic vote. She voted with her party 98.1 percent of the time during the [[111th Congress]].<ref name="WP Political Bio">{{cite news|title=Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) U.S. Representative (since January 1997)|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/carolyn-mccarthy-d-ny/gIQAiZEKAP_topic.html#t-a-glance|newspaper=Washington Post|date=July 24, 2012|access-date=August 25, 2017|archive-date=August 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825020739/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/carolyn-mccarthy-d-ny/gIQAiZEKAP_topic.html#t-a-glance|url-status=dead}}</ref> | McCarthy was a registered [[Republican party (U.S.)|Republican]] before her first run for Congress, although she ran for office as a Democrat and "evolved" over the years into a reliable Democratic vote. She voted with her party 98.1 percent of the time during the [[111th Congress]].<ref name="WP Political Bio">{{cite news |title=Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) U.S. Representative (since January 1997) |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/carolyn-mccarthy-d-ny/gIQAiZEKAP_topic.html#t-a-glance |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=July 24, 2012 |access-date=August 25, 2017 |archive-date=August 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825020739/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/carolyn-mccarthy-d-ny/gIQAiZEKAP_topic.html#t-a-glance |url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
=== Committee assignments === | === Committee assignments === | ||
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|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070630171348/http://carolynmccarthy.house.gov/?sectionid=155§iontree=155&itemid=613 | |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070630171348/http://carolynmccarthy.house.gov/?sectionid=155§iontree=155&itemid=613 | ||
|archive-date= June 30, 2007 | |archive-date= June 30, 2007 | ||
}}</ref> Shooter [[Seung-Hui Cho]] had passed a background check despite his mental health issues owing to an inconsistent sharing of records between the federal and state governments.<ref name="NYT061407" /> McCarthy introduced (H.R. 2640, the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007) to remedy this problem. The bill, with the support of the [[National Rifle Association]], was passed by the House and signed by President [[George W. Bush|Bush]].<ref name="NYT061407">{{cite news | }}</ref> Shooter [[Seung-Hui Cho]] had passed a background check despite his [[mental health]] issues owing to an inconsistent sharing of records between the federal and state governments.<ref name="NYT061407" /> McCarthy introduced (H.R. 2640, the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007) to remedy this problem. The bill, with the support of the [[National Rifle Association]], was passed by the House and signed by President [[George W. Bush|Bush]].<ref name="NYT061407">{{cite news | ||
|date=June 14, 2007 | |date=June 14, 2007 | ||
|author1=Palank, Jacqueline |author2=Urgina, Ian | |author1=Palank, Jacqueline |author2=Urgina, Ian | ||
| Line 137: | Line 140: | ||
|title= House Votes to Bolster Database on Gun Buyers | |title= House Votes to Bolster Database on Gun Buyers | ||
|newspaper= The New York Times | |newspaper= The New York Times | ||
|access-date=March 29, 2008}}</ref><ref name="ND010808" /> McCarthy said her next priority was closing the [[gun show loophole]].<ref name="ND010808">{{cite | |access-date=March 29, 2008}}</ref><ref name="ND010808" /> McCarthy said her next priority was closing the [[gun show loophole]].<ref name="ND010808">{{cite news |date=January 8, 2008 |last=Eisenberg |first=Carol |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/nation/ny-usgun095530870jan09,0,7931141.story |title=Bush signs long-stalled gun-control legislation |newspaper=[[Newsday]] |access-date=February 5, 2008 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> | ||
In January 2012, McCarthy along with Senator [[Dianne Feinstein]] from California proposed a bill which would "ban the sale, transfer, manufacturing of importation of 150 specific firearms including semiautomatic rifles or pistols that can be used with a detachable or fixed ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds and have specific military-style features, including pistol grips, grenade launchers or rocket launchers." McCarthy spoke on the bill saying, "The American people are on our side this time, and we do outnumber some of the people who are fighting against us this time."<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/01/24/lawmakers-to-unveil-new-assault-weapons-ban/?tid=ts_carousel |title= Lawmakers Unveil New Assault Weapons Ban |last= McCarthy |first= Carolyn |date= January 24, 2012 |newspaper= The Washington Post}}</ref> | In January 2012, McCarthy along with Senator [[Dianne Feinstein]] from California proposed a bill which would "ban the sale, transfer, manufacturing of importation of 150 specific firearms including semiautomatic rifles or pistols that can be used with a detachable or fixed ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds and have specific military-style features, including pistol grips, grenade launchers or rocket launchers." McCarthy spoke on the bill saying, "The American people are on our side this time, and we do outnumber some of the people who are fighting against us this time."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/01/24/lawmakers-to-unveil-new-assault-weapons-ban/?tid=ts_carousel |title=Lawmakers Unveil New Assault Weapons Ban |last=McCarthy |first=Carolyn |date=January 24, 2012 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> | ||
On a 2007 episode of MSNBC's program [[Tucker (television program)|Tucker]], Tucker Carlson interviewed McCarthy about the [[Virginia Tech massacre]] and her proposed reauthorization of the [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban]]. She said that the legislation would ban [[Clip (firearms)|large capacity "clips"]] and "shoulder things that go up."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna18200226 |title='Tucker' for April 18 - Tucker - NBC News |work=NBC News |date=April 19, 2007 |access-date=September 6, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite | On a 2007 episode of [[MSNBC]]'s program ''[[Tucker (television program)|Tucker]]'', Tucker Carlson interviewed McCarthy about the [[Virginia Tech massacre]] and her proposed reauthorization of the [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban]]. She said that the legislation would ban [[Clip (firearms)|large capacity "clips"]] and "shoulder things that go up."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna18200226 |title='Tucker' for April 18 - Tucker - NBC News |work=NBC News |date=April 19, 2007 |access-date=September 6, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |first=Jacob |last=Sullum |url=https://reason.com/blog/2013/02/01/one-assault-weapon-banner-says-barrel-sh |title=One 'Assault Weapon' Banner Says Barrel Shrouds Are Sometimes OK; Another Doesn't Know What They Are |date=February 1, 2013 |magazine=[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/01/02/carolyn-mccarthy-retiring/20599293/|title = 'Gun Lady' Carolyn McCarthy finally going home| website=[[USA Today]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/nra-mocks-congresswoman-whose-husband-died|title=NRA mocks congresswoman whose husband died in mass shooting|website=[[MSNBC]] |date=March 18, 2013 }}</ref> | ||
===War in Iraq=== | ===War in Iraq=== | ||
| Line 149: | Line 152: | ||
|title= Final Vote Results For Roll Call 455 | |title= Final Vote Results For Roll Call 455 | ||
|publisher= [[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]] | |publisher= [[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]] | ||
|access-date=January 31, 2008}}</ref> In 2006, she voted in support of a Republican resolution in support of the war.<ref>{{cite | |access-date=January 31, 2008}}</ref> In 2006, she voted in support of a Republican resolution in support of the war.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 17, 2006 |last=Palmer |first=J. Jioni |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-ushous174785265jun17,0,4181826.story |title=Breaking ranks on Iraq |newspaper=Newsday |access-date=January 31, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217020936/http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-ushous174785265jun17%2C0%2C4181826.story |archive-date=February 17, 2008 }}</ref> | ||
===Death penalty=== | ===Death penalty=== | ||
In her 1996 race, McCarthy said she was against the | In her 1996 race, McCarthy said she was against the death penalty but added that she wouldn't support repeal because her district supported it.<ref>{{cite news | ||
|date= November 6, 1996 | |date= November 6, 1996 | ||
|last= Barry | |last= Barry | ||
| Line 163: | Line 166: | ||
===Hearing loss=== | ===Hearing loss=== | ||
McCarthy | McCarthy was one of the strongest advocates of hearing loss detection, prevention, and treatment. A onetime nurse, she repeatedly championed the Hearing Aid Tax Credit Act, which is designed to help those with hearing loss to afford [[hearing aid]]s.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}} | ||
===Abortion=== | ===Abortion=== | ||
McCarthy consistently supported [[Pro-choice|a pro-choice abortion platform]]. In 1997, McCarthy voted against a ban on late-term | McCarthy consistently supported [[Pro-choice|a pro-choice abortion platform]]. In 1997, McCarthy voted against a ban on [[late-term abortion]]s. In 2003, she was rated 100% by [[NARAL]], and in 2006 she was rated 0% by the [[NRLC]]; both scores indicate a strongly pro-choice stance.<ref>{{cite web|title=Carolyn McCarthy|url=http://www.issues2000.org/NY/Carolyn_McCarthy.htm|publisher=On The Issues|access-date=May 31, 2012}}</ref> | ||
===Age discrimination === | ===Age discrimination === | ||
| Line 179: | Line 182: | ||
===Special education=== | ===Special education=== | ||
McCarthy, who | McCarthy, who had [[dyslexia]], testified in support of the [[Individuals with Disabilities Education Act]] and co-sponsored an act to fund early detection of dyslexia.<ref name="NYT062297" /><ref>{{cite web | ||
|date= May 13, 1998 | |date= May 13, 1998 | ||
|url= http://republicans.edlabor.house.gov/archive/hearings/105th/fc/special51398/mccarthy.htm | |url= http://republicans.edlabor.house.gov/archive/hearings/105th/fc/special51398/mccarthy.htm | ||
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|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080131061602/http://carolynmccarthy.house.gov/?sectionid=11&parentid=1§iontree=11&itemid=693 | |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080131061602/http://carolynmccarthy.house.gov/?sectionid=11&parentid=1§iontree=11&itemid=693 | ||
|archive-date= January 31, 2008 | |archive-date= January 31, 2008 | ||
}}</ref> The increase passed but was later | }}</ref> The increase passed but was later vetoed by President [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite news | ||
|date=October 6, 2007 | |date=October 6, 2007 | ||
|author= Pear, Robert | |author= Pear, Robert | ||
| Line 230: | Line 233: | ||
===Tea party=== | ===Tea party=== | ||
In a 2011 press release, McCarthy expressed her sentiments on the [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]], saying "It's time to stop letting the Tea Party hold the House of Representatives hostage."<ref | In a 2011 press release, McCarthy expressed her sentiments on the [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]], saying "It's time to stop letting the Tea Party hold the House of Representatives hostage."<ref>{{cite web|title=Tea Party Republicans Block Vote to Decrease Taxes for 160 Million Americans|url=http://carolynmccarthy.house.gov/recent-news/tea-party-republicans-block-vote-to-decrease-taxes-for-160-million-americans/|publisher=House Bio|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421084613/http://carolynmccarthy.house.gov/recent-news/tea-party-republicans-block-vote-to-decrease-taxes-for-160-million-americans|archive-date=April 21, 2012}}</ref> | ||
<!-- == Ratings == | <!-- == Ratings == | ||
McCarthy received a rating of 8% from the [[American Conservative Union]] in 2005, and holds a lifetime ACU rating of 20%.<ref>{{cite web | McCarthy received a rating of 8% from the [[American Conservative Union]] in 2005, and holds a lifetime ACU rating of 20%.<ref>{{cite web | ||
| Line 258: | Line 261: | ||
==Political campaigns== | ==Political campaigns== | ||
The Fourth District and its predecessors had been in Republican hands since 1953,<ref>[[Henry J. Latham]] 1953–58, [[Seymour Halpern]] 1959–63, [[John W. Wydler]] 1963–73, [[Norman F. Lent]] 1973–93, [[David A. Levy]] 1993–95, [[Daniel Frisa]] 1995–97</ref> even though Nassau County | The Fourth District and its predecessors had been in Republican hands since 1953,<ref>[[Henry J. Latham]] 1953–58, [[Seymour Halpern]] 1959–63, [[John W. Wydler]] 1963–73, [[Norman F. Lent]] 1973–93, [[David A. Levy]] 1993–95, [[Daniel Frisa]] 1995–97</ref> even though [[Nassau County, New York|Nassau County]] has leaned Democratic for president since [[1992 United States presidential election|1992]].<ref>{{cite web | ||
|url= http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ | |url= http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/ | ||
|title= United States Presidential Election Results | |title= United States Presidential Election Results | ||
|publisher= Dave Liep's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections | |publisher= Dave Liep's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections | ||
|access-date=January 31, 2008}}</ref> In 1996, the district's first-term [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] incumbent [[Dan Frisa]] was running for re-election at the time that McCarthy testified at a congressional hearing against an ultimately unsuccessful Republican attempt to repeal the [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban]] in a congressional hearing.<ref>{{cite news | |access-date=January 31, 2008}}</ref> In [[1996 United States House of Representatives elections#New York|1996]], the district's first-term [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] incumbent [[Dan Frisa]] was running for re-election at the time that McCarthy testified at a congressional hearing against an ultimately unsuccessful Republican attempt to repeal the [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban]] in a congressional hearing.<ref>{{cite news | ||
|date= March 22, 1996 | |date= March 22, 1996 | ||
|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/22/us/congressional-roundup-personal-plea-on-gun-ban.html | |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/22/us/congressional-roundup-personal-plea-on-gun-ban.html | ||
| Line 283: | Line 286: | ||
|title= A Woman Comes to Politics Via Personal Trial | |title= A Woman Comes to Politics Via Personal Trial | ||
|work= The New York Times | |work= The New York Times | ||
|access-date=July 13, 2013}}</ref> announced she would run against him in the primary. | |access-date=July 13, 2013}}</ref> announced she would run against him in the primary. However, local Republican officials showed no support for her candidacy.<ref name="NYT110796" /> So, with the support of the local and national Democratic parties, and the endorsement of ''[[Newsday]]'', the local daily newspaper, McCarthy ran as a Democrat and defeated Frisa by seventeen points.<ref>{{cite web | ||
|date= November 5, 1996 | |date= November 5, 1996 | ||
|url= http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe1996/hrny.htm | |url= http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/fe1996/hrny.htm | ||
|title= 1996 U.S. House of Representatives Results | |title= 1996 U.S. House of Representatives Results | ||
|publisher= [[Federal Election Commission|FEC]] | |publisher= [[Federal Election Commission|FEC]] | ||
|access-date=January 31, 2008}}</ref> Afterwards, some Republicans tried unsuccessfully to persuade her to run as a Republican in 1998.<ref>{{cite news | |access-date=January 31, 2008}}</ref> Afterwards, some Republicans tried unsuccessfully to persuade her to run as a Republican in [[1998 United States House of Representatives elections in New York|1998]].<ref>{{cite news | ||
|date= November 7, 1996 | |date= November 7, 1996 | ||
|last= Lambert | |last= Lambert | ||
| Line 304: | Line 307: | ||
|title= McCarthy Is Re-elected by a Slim Margin | |title= McCarthy Is Re-elected by a Slim Margin | ||
|newspaper= The New York Times | |newspaper= The New York Times | ||
|access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref> In 2004, she faced [[Hempstead (village), New York|Hempstead]] mayor [[James Garner (politician)|James Garner]]. | |access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref> In [[2004 United States House of Representatives elections in New York|2004]], she faced [[Hempstead (village), New York|Hempstead]] mayor [[James Garner (politician)|James Garner]]. The race was expected to be competitive, but McCarthy won easily, taking 63% of the vote. | ||
Although McCarthy | Although McCarthy always served as a Democrat, she did not change her voter registration from Republican until 2003.<ref name="Gootman" /> | ||
===2010=== | ===2010=== | ||
{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 4}} | {{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 4}} | ||
Before the election, it was reported that Democrats were concerned that McCarthy was in danger of losing her seat.<ref | Before the election, it was reported that Democrats were concerned that McCarthy was in danger of losing her seat.<ref>{{cite news|title=New York Democrats anxious as Long Island Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, other pols face barrafgeNew York Democrats anxious as Long Island Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, other pols face barrage|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-10-25/news/27079112_1_house-races-new-york-democrats-race-with-gop-challenger|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130055442/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-10-25/news/27079112_1_house-races-new-york-democrats-race-with-gop-challenger|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2013|newspaper=New York Daily News | first=Kenneth R.|last=Bazinet|date=October 25, 2010}}</ref> In the end, however, McCarthy defeated Republican challenger [[Fran Becker|Francis X. Becker, Jr]], by a margin of 54% to 46%.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Freedlander |first1=David |title=McCarthy Declares Victory |url=http://www.observer.com/2010/politics/mccarthy-declares-victory |access-date=June 27, 2025 |work=[[The New York Observer]] |date=November 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107173942/http://www.observer.com/2010/politics/mccarthy-declares-victory |archive-date=November 7, 2010 |language=en}}</ref> | ||
Earlier in 2010, it was widely reported that McCarthy was considering entering the [[United States Senate special election in New York, 2010|2010 special senatorial election]] to challenge Senator [[Kirsten Gillibrand]], owing to the latter's support for gun rights.<ref>{{cite news |author=Danny Hakim |author2=Nicholas Confessore |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/nyregion/24senator.html |title=Paterson Picks Gillibrand for Senate Seat |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 24, 2009 |access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref><ref> | Earlier in 2010, it was widely reported that McCarthy was considering entering the [[United States Senate special election in New York, 2010|2010 special senatorial election]] to challenge Senator [[Kirsten Gillibrand]], owing to the latter's support for gun rights.<ref>{{cite news |author=Danny Hakim |author2=Nicholas Confessore |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/nyregion/24senator.html |title=Paterson Picks Gillibrand for Senate Seat |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 24, 2009 |access-date=July 14, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/northeast/view/2009_01_23_New_York_pol_fumes_over_Senate_choice/ |title=New York pol fumes over Senate choice |work=[[Boston Herald]] |agency=Associated Press |date=January 23, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090618005527/http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/northeast/view/2009_01_23_New_York_pol_fumes_over_Senate_choice/ |archive-date=June 18, 2009 |language=en}}</ref> Gillibrand had been appointed to the seat on January 23, 2009, by Governor [[David Paterson]] to succeed [[Hillary Clinton]], who had left the Senate to become Secretary of State in the new [[Presidency of Barack Obama|Obama administration]]. McCarthy commented, saying: "I've spent 15 years trying to prevent gun violence in this country, and if he [Paterson] does pick her [Gillibrand] and if no one goes and primaries her, I will primary her." She said she would not let New York be represented by someone with a 100% rating of the NRA. On MSNBC's ''[[Hardball with Chris Matthews]]'', McCarthy said that she thought Gillibrand was working for the [[National Rifle Association|NRA]].<ref>{{cite news|title=150 Minutes With Carolyn McCarthy|url=https://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/encounter/54343/|newspaper=NY News and Feature}}</ref> On June 4, 2009, however, McCarthy announced that she would not mount a primary challenge to Gillibrand.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kleefeld |first=Eric |url=http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/06/mccarthy-not-challenging-gillibrand-in-2010-senate-primary.php |title=McCarthy Not Challenging Gillibrand In 2010 Senate Primary | TPMDC |publisher=[[Talking Points Memo]] |date=June 4, 2009 |access-date=July 12, 2010}}</ref> | ||
===2012=== | ===2012=== | ||
{{see also|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 4}} | {{see also|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New York#District 4}} | ||
In early 2012 there was a question as to whether redistricting might eliminate McCarthy's district.<ref | In early 2012, there was a question as to whether redistricting might eliminate McCarthy's district.<ref>{{cite news|title=L.I. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy's district on the chopping block|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-02-08/news/31039503_1_redrawing-congressional-boundaries-congressional-seats-district|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130041956/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-02-08/news/31039503_1_redrawing-congressional-boundaries-congressional-seats-district|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2013|newspaper=New York Daily News | first=Kenneth|last=Lovett|date=February 8, 2012}}</ref> In the end, her district was left essentially intact.<ref>{{cite news|title=Redistrict plan may put McCarthy in uphill battle|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-02-09/news/31043501_1_redistrict-plan-district-boundaries-mccarthy|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130074450/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-02-09/news/31043501_1_redistrict-plan-district-boundaries-mccarthy|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 30, 2013|newspaper=New York Daily News | first1=Alison|last1=Gendar|first2=Kenneth|last2=Lovett|date=February 9, 2012}}</ref> | ||
== Electoral history == | == Electoral history == | ||
| Line 328: | Line 325: | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" | {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" | ||
! colspan=5|New York's 4th U.S. Congressional District<ref>{{cite | ! colspan=5|New York's 4th U.S. Congressional District<ref>{{cite news | ||
|url= http://elections.syracuse.com/dynamic/external/pre-election/profilesdistricts/NY04.html?SITE=NYSYRELN&SECTION=POLITICS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT | |url= http://elections.syracuse.com/dynamic/external/pre-election/profilesdistricts/NY04.html?SITE=NYSYRELN&SECTION=POLITICS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT | ||
|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130204041512/http://elections.syracuse.com/dynamic/external/pre-election/profilesdistricts/NY04.html?SITE=NYSYRELN&SECTION=POLITICS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT | |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130204041512/http://elections.syracuse.com/dynamic/external/pre-election/profilesdistricts/NY04.html?SITE=NYSYRELN&SECTION=POLITICS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT | ||
| Line 334: | Line 331: | ||
|archive-date= February 4, 2013 | |archive-date= February 4, 2013 | ||
|title= New York House District 4 – Previous Election Results | |title= New York House District 4 – Previous Election Results | ||
| | |newspaper= [[The Post-Standard]] |location=[[Syracuse, New York]] | ||
|access-date= February 3, 2008 | |access-date= February 3, 2008 | ||
}}</ref> | }}</ref> | ||
| Line 344: | Line 341: | ||
! style="width: 40px"|±% | ! style="width: 40px"|±% | ||
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan = 2 | 2012 | | rowspan = 2 | [[2012 United States House of Representatives elections in New York|2012]] | ||
||Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | ||Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| 138,561 | | style="text-align:right;"| 138,561 | ||
| Line 354: | Line 351: | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| 32% | | style="text-align:right;"| 32% | ||
|- style="background:white;" | |- style="background:white;" | ||
| rowspan = 2 | 2010<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://videos.news12.com/2010GenElecLI/results.htm |title=News 12 Long Island General Election Results 2010 |access-date=October 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113130642/http://videos.news12.com/2010GenElecLI/results.htm#Nassau%20County |archive-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | | rowspan = 2 | [[2010 United States House of Representatives elections in New York|2010]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://videos.news12.com/2010GenElecLI/results.htm |title=News 12 Long Island General Election Results 2010 |access-date=October 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113130642/http://videos.news12.com/2010GenElecLI/results.htm#Nassau%20County |archive-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ||
||Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | ||Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| 89,828 | | style="text-align:right;"| 89,828 | ||
| Line 364: | Line 361: | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| 46% | | style="text-align:right;"| 46% | ||
|- style="background:white;" | |- style="background:white;" | ||
| rowspan = 2 | 2008 | | rowspan = 2 | [[2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New York|2008]] | ||
||Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | ||Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | ||
| style="text-align:right;"|164,028 | | style="text-align:right;"|164,028 | ||
| Line 374: | Line 371: | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| 38% | | style="text-align:right;"| 38% | ||
|- style="background:white;" | |- style="background:white;" | ||
| rowspan = 2 | 2006 | | rowspan = 2 | [[2006 United States House of Representatives elections in New York|2006]] | ||
|| Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | || Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| 101,861 | | style="text-align:right;"| 101,861 | ||
| Line 385: | Line 382: | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| | | style="text-align:right;"| | ||
|- style="background:white;" | |- style="background:white;" | ||
| rowspan = 2 | 2004 | | rowspan = 2 | [[2004 United States House of Representatives elections in New York|2004]] | ||
|| Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | || Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| 159,969 | | style="text-align:right;"| 159,969 | ||
| Line 396: | Line 393: | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| | | style="text-align:right;"| | ||
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan = 2 | 2002 | | rowspan = 2 | [[2002 United States House of Representatives elections in New York|2002]] | ||
|| Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | || Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| 93,651 | | style="text-align:right;"| 93,651 | ||
| Line 407: | Line 404: | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| | | style="text-align:right;"| | ||
|- style="background:white;" | |- style="background:white;" | ||
| rowspan = 2 | 2000 | | rowspan = 2 | [[2000 United States House of Representatives elections in New York|2000]] | ||
|| Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | || Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| 136,703 | | style="text-align:right;"| 136,703 | ||
| Line 418: | Line 415: | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| | | style="text-align:right;"| | ||
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan = 2 | 1998 | | rowspan = 2 | [[1998 United States House of Representatives elections in New York|1998]] | ||
|| Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | || Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| 90,256 | | style="text-align:right;"| 90,256 | ||
| Line 429: | Line 426: | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| | | style="text-align:right;"| | ||
|- style="background:white;" | |- style="background:white;" | ||
| rowspan = 2 | 1996 | | rowspan = 2 | [[1996 United States House of Representatives elections#New York|1996]] | ||
|| Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | || Carolyn McCarthy ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]) | ||
| style="text-align:right;"| 127,060 | | style="text-align:right;"| 127,060 | ||
| Line 446: | Line 443: | ||
|} | |} | ||
== | ==Illness and death== | ||
McCarthy announced on June 3, 2013, that she | McCarthy announced on June 3, 2013, that she had a treatable form of lung cancer.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rep. Carolyn McCarthy says she has lung cancer|url=http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/politics&id=9126052|publisher=WABC TV|access-date=June 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613184009/http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news%2Fpolitics&id=9126052|archive-date=June 13, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Though a heavy smoker for some forty years, she publicly attributed her cancer to [[asbestos]], and in November 2013, she announced she would sue more than 70 companies that she blamed for asbestos exposure. She said that her father and brother, whose clothes she washed, worked with asbestos.<ref name="Haberman" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/11/ny_rep_carolyn_mccarthy_a_longtime_smoker_sues_asbestos_companies_over_her_lung.html|title = NY Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, a longtime smoker, sues asbestos companies over her lung cancer|date = November 15, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://survivingmesothelioma.com/?s=asbestos/|title=You searched for asbestos/|date=April 22, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/01/08/rep-mccarthy-announces-plan-to-retire-from-congress-at-end-of-term/|title = Rep. Carolyn McCarthy Announces Plan to Retire from Congress at End of Term|date = January 8, 2014}}</ref> The lawsuit was criticized by ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' columnist [[Joe Nocera]], who claimed McCarthy was part of a growing trend of cigarette smokers suing companies that once used asbestos, citing her nearly lifelong "pack-a-day" habit as evidence that she was knowingly bringing a bogus case and partaking in a widespread "asbestos scam".<ref>{{cite news | ||
|date= December 2, 2013 | |date= December 2, 2013 | ||
|last= Nocera | |last= Nocera | ||
| Line 456: | Line 453: | ||
|newspaper= The New York Times | |newspaper= The New York Times | ||
|access-date=June 23, 2015}}</ref> | |access-date=June 23, 2015}}</ref> | ||
McCarthy, who moved to [[Fort Myers, Florida]] after leaving Congress, died at home on June 26, 2025, at the age of 81.<ref name="Haberman" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/obituaries/carolyn-mccarthy-obituary-blu7hqga |title=Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, former congresswoman and prominent gun control advocate, dies at 81 |last=Brodsky |first=Robert |date=June 26, 2025 |access-date=June 26, 2025 |newspaper=Newsday}}</ref> | |||
==Recognition== | ==Recognition== | ||
In January 2025, President [[Joe Biden]] named McCarthy as a recipient of the [[Presidential Citizens Medal]], along with nineteen others.<ref>{{cite web | author=The White House | title=President Biden Announces Recipients of the Presidential Citizens Medal | website=The White House | date=January 2, 2025 | url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/02/president-biden-announces-recipients-of-the-presidential-citizens-medal/ | access-date=January 3, 2025}}</ref> | |||
In January 2025, President Joe Biden named McCarthy as a recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal, along with nineteen others.<ref | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [[Women in the United States House of Representatives]] | * [[Women in the United States House of Representatives]] | ||
==Notes== | |||
{{notelist}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 468: | Line 469: | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{wikisource | {{wikisource|works=or}} | ||
* {{CongLinks | congbio=m000309 | votesmart=693 | fec=H6NY04112 | congress=carolyn-mccarthy/1503 }} | *{{IMDb name| 2095077}} | ||
* {{CongLinks | congbio=m000309 | votesmart=693 | fec=H6NY04112 | congress=carolyn-mccarthy/1503 }} | |||
{{s-start}} | {{s-start}} | ||
| Line 488: | Line 478: | ||
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from New York|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[New York's 4th congressional district]]|years=1997–2015}} | {{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from New York|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[New York's 4th congressional district]]|years=1997–2015}} | ||
{{s-aft|after=[[Kathleen Rice]]}} | {{s-aft|after=[[Kathleen Rice]]}} | ||
{{s-end}} | {{s-end}} | ||
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= | |||
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=105th–113th [[United States Congress]] |state=[[United States congressional delegations from New York|New York]]}} | |||
{{USCongRep/NY/105}} | {{USCongRep/NY/105}} | ||
{{USCongRep/NY/106}} | {{USCongRep/NY/106}} | ||
| Line 508: | Line 495: | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCarthy, Carolyn}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:McCarthy, Carolyn}} | ||
[[Category:1944 births]] | [[Category:1944 births]] | ||
[[Category:2025 deaths]] | |||
[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]] | |||
[[Category:20th-century New York (state) politicians]] | [[Category:20th-century New York (state) politicians]] | ||
[[Category:21st-century American women politicians]] | |||
[[Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives]] | |||
[[Category:21st-century New York (state) politicians]] | |||
[[Category:Activists from New York (state)]] | |||
[[Category:American gun control activists]] | [[Category:American gun control activists]] | ||
[[Category:American nurses]] | [[Category:American nurses]] | ||
[[Category:American politicians with disabilities]] | |||
[[Category:American women nurses]] | [[Category:American women nurses]] | ||
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)]] | [[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)]] | ||
[[Category:Female members of the United States House of Representatives]] | [[Category:Female members of the United States House of Representatives]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:New York (state) Republicans]] | ||
[[Category:People from Mineola, New York]] | |||
[[Category:Politicians from Brooklyn]] | |||
[[Category:Politicians from Nassau County, New York]] | [[Category:Politicians from Nassau County, New York]] | ||
[[Category:Politicians with dyslexia]] | |||
[[Category:Presidential Citizens Medal recipients]] | [[Category:Presidential Citizens Medal recipients]] | ||
[[Category:Women in New York (state) politics]] | [[Category:Women in New York (state) politics]] | ||
Latest revision as of 10:27, 1 July 2025
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Carolyn McCarthy (née Cook; January 5, 1944 – June 26, 2025) was an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Template:Ushr from 1997 to 2015. A native of the suburban Long Island community of Mineola, New York, she worked as a nurse and was a registered Republican. However, she was motivated to enter politics after her husband was killed and her son was wounded in the 1993 Long Island Rail Road shooting. She became an advocate for gun control legislation, and in 1996, she was elected to the House as a Democrat, defeating a Republican incumbent. She served a total of nine terms.
On January 8, 2014, she announced that she would not run for re-election that November, citing health; she retired in January 2015[1] and was succeeded by fellow Democrat Kathleen Rice.
Early life
McCarthy was born Carolyn Cook in Brooklyn, New York, on January 5, 1944, and was raised in Mineola, New York, on Long Island.[2] Her father was a boilermaker and her mother worked at Woolworth.[3] In her youth, she was an athlete and wanted to become a physical education teacher but found reading challenging and later was diagnosed with dyslexia. She then studied at the Glen Cove Nursing School.[2] After caring for a boyfriend who was injured in a car accident and being moved by the care given to him by nursing staff, Cook decided to work as a Licensed Practical Nurse.[2][4] In 1967, she married Dennis McCarthy; they had a son, Kevin, and lived in Mineola.[2]
By 1993, both McCarthy's husband and son worked for Prudential Securities in Manhattan, and commuted on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).[2] On December 7 of that year, Dennis McCarthy was killed and Kevin was severely injured on an LIRR train at the Merillon Avenue station in the village of Garden City, when 35-year-old Colin Ferguson opened fire on passengers.[5] Ferguson killed six and wounded 19 others.[6] Carolyn McCarthy responded to the crime by launching a campaign for more stringent gun control that eventually propelled her to Congress in 1996 on the Democratic ticket. She defeated freshman Republican Dan Frisa by a large margin. In the biographical 1998 television movie The Long Island Incident, which portrayed these events, she was played by actress Laurie Metcalf.[7]
U.S. House of Representatives
During her time in Congress, McCarthy was described as "the doyenne of anti-gun advocates in the House" and "the fiercest gun-control advocate in Congress".[8][9] She made attempts to broaden her policy portfolio, but was never able to entirely shed the label of being a one-issue congresswoman. She acknowledged this, saying in 2009 that although she is also known for her education and district work, she is still the "gun lady".[10] McCarthy was a registered Republican before her first run for Congress, although she ran for office as a Democrat and "evolved" over the years into a reliable Democratic vote. She voted with her party 98.1 percent of the time during the 111th Congress.[10]
Committee assignments
Caucus memberships
- Co-chair, Congressional Hearing Health Caucus
- Congressional Glaucoma Caucus
- Financial Literacy Caucus
- International Conservation Caucus
- U.S.-Israel Security Caucus
- Women's Caucus
Political positions
Gun control
McCarthy's husband Dennis was murdered in the 1993 Long Island Rail Road shooting, which first prompted her to run for Congress.[12]
McCarthy was one of the nation's most vocal gun control advocates. In 1997, she sponsored a bill requiring trigger locks on guns.[13] After the 1997 Empire State Building shooting, she introduced legislation to ban the sale of guns to tourists visiting the United States; afterwards, she received "threats serious enough to require police protection during most public appearances".[14] Later that year, McCarthy unsuccessfully opposed a Treasury bill provision that allowed the importation of weapons that had been modified in order to be compliant with the federal assault weapons ban.[15][16] In the aftermath of the Columbine High School massacre, McCarthy proposed a bill that would require firearms to be child-resistant, would make it more difficult for young adults to purchase guns, and would regulate gun shows.[17][18]
After the Federal Assault Weapons Ban expired in September 2004, McCarthy introduced the Assault Weapons Ban and Law Enforcement Protection Act of 2007 to reauthorize it in February 2007.
On April 16, 2007, after the Virginia Tech shootings, McCarthy issued a press release calling for "legislation to prevent further acts of gun violence".[19] Shooter Seung-Hui Cho had passed a background check despite his mental health issues owing to an inconsistent sharing of records between the federal and state governments.[20] McCarthy introduced (H.R. 2640, the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007) to remedy this problem. The bill, with the support of the National Rifle Association, was passed by the House and signed by President Bush.[20][21] McCarthy said her next priority was closing the gun show loophole.[21]
In January 2012, McCarthy along with Senator Dianne Feinstein from California proposed a bill which would "ban the sale, transfer, manufacturing of importation of 150 specific firearms including semiautomatic rifles or pistols that can be used with a detachable or fixed ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds and have specific military-style features, including pistol grips, grenade launchers or rocket launchers." McCarthy spoke on the bill saying, "The American people are on our side this time, and we do outnumber some of the people who are fighting against us this time."[22]
On a 2007 episode of MSNBC's program Tucker, Tucker Carlson interviewed McCarthy about the Virginia Tech massacre and her proposed reauthorization of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. She said that the legislation would ban large capacity "clips" and "shoulder things that go up."[23][24][25][26]
War in Iraq
McCarthy voted in favor of the Iraq War Resolution in 2002.[27] In 2006, she voted in support of a Republican resolution in support of the war.[28]
Death penalty
In her 1996 race, McCarthy said she was against the death penalty but added that she wouldn't support repeal because her district supported it.[29]
Hearing loss
McCarthy was one of the strongest advocates of hearing loss detection, prevention, and treatment. A onetime nurse, she repeatedly championed the Hearing Aid Tax Credit Act, which is designed to help those with hearing loss to afford hearing aids.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Abortion
McCarthy consistently supported a pro-choice abortion platform. In 1997, McCarthy voted against a ban on late-term abortions. In 2003, she was rated 100% by NARAL, and in 2006 she was rated 0% by the NRLC; both scores indicate a strongly pro-choice stance.[30]
Age discrimination
In 2003, McCarthy introduced legislation prohibiting companies from compelling the retirement of older employees and denying them pension and benefits.[31]
Special education
McCarthy, who had dyslexia, testified in support of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and co-sponsored an act to fund early detection of dyslexia.[13][32][33]
Children's health insurance program
In September 2007, McCarthy supported an increase of $35 billion for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the national program to provide health care for children from families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private health insurance. She said, "No child in the 4th Congressional District, Long Island, or anywhere throughout our nation should ever go without medical care."[34] The increase passed but was later vetoed by President George W. Bush.[35]
Stem cell research
McCarthy was a supporter of federally funded stem cell research but restricted to the use of embryos that would be discarded. In 2007, she supported the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act which did just thatTemplate:Clarify. It passed both the House and Senate but was later vetoed by President Bush.[36][37]
Financial reform
On November 4, 1999, McCarthy voted in favor of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.[38]
Tea party
In a 2011 press release, McCarthy expressed her sentiments on the Tea Party, saying "It's time to stop letting the Tea Party hold the House of Representatives hostage."[39]
Political campaigns
The Fourth District and its predecessors had been in Republican hands since 1953,[40] even though Nassau County has leaned Democratic for president since 1992.[41] In 1996, the district's first-term Republican incumbent Dan Frisa was running for re-election at the time that McCarthy testified at a congressional hearing against an ultimately unsuccessful Republican attempt to repeal the Federal Assault Weapons Ban in a congressional hearing.[42][43]
After Frisa voted for the repeal, McCarthy, a lifelong Republican,[44] announced she would run against him in the primary. However, local Republican officials showed no support for her candidacy.[3] So, with the support of the local and national Democratic parties, and the endorsement of Newsday, the local daily newspaper, McCarthy ran as a Democrat and defeated Frisa by seventeen points.[45] Afterwards, some Republicans tried unsuccessfully to persuade her to run as a Republican in 1998.[46]
She faced a close fight for reelection in 1998 against state assemblyman Gregory Becker.[47] In 2004, she faced Hempstead mayor James Garner. The race was expected to be competitive, but McCarthy won easily, taking 63% of the vote.
Although McCarthy always served as a Democrat, she did not change her voter registration from Republican until 2003.[48]
2010
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Before the election, it was reported that Democrats were concerned that McCarthy was in danger of losing her seat.[49] In the end, however, McCarthy defeated Republican challenger Francis X. Becker, Jr, by a margin of 54% to 46%.[50]
Earlier in 2010, it was widely reported that McCarthy was considering entering the 2010 special senatorial election to challenge Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, owing to the latter's support for gun rights.[51][52] Gillibrand had been appointed to the seat on January 23, 2009, by Governor David Paterson to succeed Hillary Clinton, who had left the Senate to become Secretary of State in the new Obama administration. McCarthy commented, saying: "I've spent 15 years trying to prevent gun violence in this country, and if he [Paterson] does pick her [Gillibrand] and if no one goes and primaries her, I will primary her." She said she would not let New York be represented by someone with a 100% rating of the NRA. On MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, McCarthy said that she thought Gillibrand was working for the NRA.[53] On June 4, 2009, however, McCarthy announced that she would not mount a primary challenge to Gillibrand.[54]
2012
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". In early 2012, there was a question as to whether redistricting might eliminate McCarthy's district.[55] In the end, her district was left essentially intact.[56]
Electoral history
Third-party candidates omitted, so percentages may not add up to 100%.
| New York's 4th U.S. Congressional District[57] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| 2012 | Carolyn McCarthy (D) | 138,561 | 62% | +8% |
| Fran Becker Jr. (R) | 72,673 | 32% | ||
| 2010[58] | Carolyn McCarthy (D) | 89,828 | 54% | -8% |
| Fran Becker Jr. | 77,483 | 46% | ||
| 2008 | Carolyn McCarthy (D) | 164,028 | 62% | -2.9% |
| Jack Martins (R) | 94,242 | 38% | ||
| 2006 | Carolyn McCarthy (D) | 101,861 | 64.9% | +1.9% |
| Martin W. Blessinger (R) | 55,050 | 35.1% | ||
| 2004 | Carolyn McCarthy (D) | 159,969 | 63.0% | +7.1% |
| James Garner (R) | 94,141 | 37.0% | ||
| 2002 | Carolyn McCarthy (D) | 93,651 | 55.9% | -4.7% |
| Marilyn F. O'Grady (R) | 72,882 | 43.5% | ||
| 2000 | Carolyn McCarthy (D) | 136,703 | 60.6% | +8.0 |
| Gregory R. Becker (R) | 87,830 | 38.9% | ||
| 1998 | Carolyn McCarthy (D) | 90,256 | 52.6% | -4.9 |
| Gregory R. Becker (R) | 79,984 | 46.6% | ||
| 1996 | Carolyn McCarthy (D) | 127,060 | 57.5% | |
| Daniel Frisa (R) | 89,542 | 40.5% | -9.7%[59] | |
Illness and death
McCarthy announced on June 3, 2013, that she had a treatable form of lung cancer.[60] Though a heavy smoker for some forty years, she publicly attributed her cancer to asbestos, and in November 2013, she announced she would sue more than 70 companies that she blamed for asbestos exposure. She said that her father and brother, whose clothes she washed, worked with asbestos.[2][61][62][63] The lawsuit was criticized by New York Times columnist Joe Nocera, who claimed McCarthy was part of a growing trend of cigarette smokers suing companies that once used asbestos, citing her nearly lifelong "pack-a-day" habit as evidence that she was knowingly bringing a bogus case and partaking in a widespread "asbestos scam".[64]
McCarthy, who moved to Fort Myers, Florida after leaving Congress, died at home on June 26, 2025, at the age of 81.[2][65]
Recognition
In January 2025, President Joe Biden named McCarthy as a recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal, along with nineteen others.[66]
See also
Notes
References
External links
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