Current Position: U.S. Representative (since January 2005)
Why He Matters
You don’t get much more conservative than McHenry. Residents of North Carolina’s 10th district, one of the most Republican in the nation, wouldn’t want it any other way. A former chairman of the state College Republicans, McHenry wasted no time getting into politics, and, after joining the House at age 29, was its youngest member until 2009.
After chastising Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in his 2008 presidential bid for being too liberal, and being labeled by the former House majority leader from Texas “the next Tom DeLay,” McHenry has earned a 100-percent conservative rating from the American Conservative Union, which makes him the most conservative member of North Carolina's House delegation. From founding NotHillary.com — which began in 2000 to oppose Hillary Rodham Clinton’s (D-N.Y.) Senate run — to relentless attacks on the new Obama administration, McHenry is likely to become a familiar face in the post-Obama Republican Party.
As the GOP rebuilds by returning to its roots, McHenry’s appointment by House Majority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) as his deputy whip shows that his aggressive tactics are working to gain him real clout in the Republican House minority.
At a Glance
Current Position: House Deputy GOP Whip
Career History: Real estate broker (2000 to 2002); North Carolina state representative (2002-2004)
Birthday: Oct. 22, 1975
Hometown: Cherryville, N.C.
Alma Mater: Belmont Abbey College, B.A., 1999
Spouse: Single
Religion: Catholic
DC Office: 224 Cannon House Building, Washington DC 20510 202-225-0316
District Offices: Hickory, 828-327-6100; Shelby, 704-481-0578; Spruce Pine, 828-765-2729.
Email
Website
Path to Power
Born in Gastonia, N.C., McHenry attended North Carolina State University before transferring to Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C. He became chairman of the North Carolina Federation of College Republicans and expanded that into a prominent role at the College Republican National Committee, where he was treasurer.
In 1998, while a junior in college, McHenry ran for a seat in the state House of Representatives; although he won the nomination by prevailing upon college Republicans to volunteer on his behalf, he lost the general election to the father of one of his high-school classmates. The next year, after receiving his B.A. in history, he became a realtor and worked for a media consulting firm, where he contributed to Rick Lazio’s 2000 Senate campaign against Clinton in New York.
In 2000, McHenry volunteered for the campaign of George W. Bush, and was rewarded the following year with a position in the new administration as a special assistant to Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. After six months, McHenry returned to North Carolina prepared to once again run for the state House of Representatives, and was elected in 2002.
2004 House Contest
Two years later, when Cass Ballenger (R) announced his retirement from the House, McHenry jumped into the race, focusing his campaign on conservative Christian values, which he labeled as “pro-life, pro-gun, anti-gay-marriage.” Running a largely grassroots effort, McHenry came in second in the Republican primary, qualifying him for a run-off election against Catawba County Sheriff David Huffman (R).
Although Huffman accused McHenry of holding all-night parties at his house, which doubled as his campaign headquarters and a residence for campaign staffers, McHenry received the GOP nomination, although his slim 85-vote victory was certified only after a recount. In the general election, McHenry easily defeated Democrat Anne Fischer, whose campaign was in such financial distress she lost her home to foreclosure.
In 2006, McHenry faced down a challenge by Democrat Richard Carsner. In 2008, he was chastised by state Republicans after saying his opponent, Democrat Daniel Johnson, a veteran who lost both his legs in an attack, was hand-picked by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) (though they had no relationship) and was funded by Washington liberal groups (though nearly all of his funding was local). Still, McHenry prevailed, 57.6 percent to 42.4 percent.
Since joining the House, McHenry has become a member of three committees: Budget, Financial Services and Oversight and Government Reform. In addition to his deputy whip appointment, he has also been made vice chairman of finance for the National Republican Congressional Committee executive committee, overseeing its expenditures.
The Issues
Given that the 10th district comprises mostly manufacturing and blue-collar jobs, it’s no surprise that McHenry has focused his legislative efforts on job creation. However, McHenry’s conservative ideals have prompted attention to national issues, including Social Security reform.
Health Care
McHenry opposes health-care systems in which the government plays a role; he has proposed, instead, programs where small businesses can link together and pool their resources in jointly purchasing health care, so they can provide similar benefits that large businesses can (also known as “association health care plans”).
Consumer Protection
Since the beginning of the subprime mortgage lending crisis, McHenry has worked on legislation to combat predatory practices by lenders. His bill forcing mortgage lenders to simplify the forms required of homebuyers was passed by the House in 2007.
Energy
Although McHenry strongly supports drilling for oil off-shore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, he admits that reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable and authored a bill awarding up to $1 billion for any American who can develop an adequate replacement. Meanwhile, he is a proponent of nuclear energy and has advocated developing “clean coal” technology. On the demand side of the issue, however, McHenry has been pessimistic of efforts to change energy consumption; in 2007, he snidely mocked Democrats for a plan providing tax rebates to those who commute to work via bicycle.
Foreign Relations
McHenry has disapproved of much American aid to foreign nations, and crafted legislation to limit aid to nations that do not extradite suspects accused of killing U.S. law-enforcement officers. Given the manufacturing and blue-collar base of his district, McHenry is predictably more protectionist on trade matters, having voted against the Central American Free Trade Agreement.
Abortion
McHenry is vigorously anti-abortion rights and has made the issue a prominent one in each of his re-election campaigns.
Gun Control
McHenry has strongly opposed any efforts to restrict gun ownership of private citizens.
Campaign Finance and Election Reform
McHenry blasted President Clinton for his aggressive pursuit of campaign cash. In college, he once drew attention to himself by dressing as Abraham Lincoln at a Clinton appearance and waving a sign reading, “Who’s been sleeping in my bed?” to mock Clinton's overnight guests who contributed money to the Democratic National Committee and stayed in the White House's Lincoln bedroom.
However, in McHenry’s own career as a politician, he’s been slammed for taking contributions from a company he was investigating for alleged CEO payout fraud. In matters of the polls themselves, McHenry voted against the Voting Rights Act — which outlawed discriminatory voting practices — before his aide was hit with voter-fraud charges relating to his 2004 campaign for the House.McHenry used funds from his political action committee to pay for the aide’s defense (resulting in a dismissal of the charges for an agreement to perform community service and pay a fine), even though McHenry was not yet a member of the House at the time of the alleged crimes.The subsequent investigation led to MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann naming him the “Worst Person in the World” on the show Countdown.
The Network
McHenry’s staunch conservative ideals and attack-dog quips against the majority Democrats have gained him heavy, and increasing, support among national Republicans. Befriended early in his House career by then-House Majority Leader DeLay, McHenry quickly gained notice by President Bush and credibility among House GOP leaders.
But some early allies, such as Karl Rove, distanced themselves from McHenry in 2008 after reports that he made negative comments about presidential candidate
McCain. On the House Financial Services Committee, McHenry has worked on mortgage-lender regulations with another Texas representative, Democrat Al Green.
McHenry was the only freshman to be part of the whip team, picked by House GOP Whip
Eric Cantor (R-Va.); the two continue to work closely on shaping the Republican policy agenda and talking points for the House minority party.“He’s got an awful lot of promise,” Cantor told National Journal.
McHenry also has strong support from former House GOP whip and now-Missouri gubernatorial candidate Roy Blunt, who has organized fundraisers on McHenry’s behalf.Americans for Tax Reform’s
Grover Norquist has contributed to his campaigns and praised him as a rising star who understands how the modern GOP works.
