Dozens gather in Clovis for the grand opening of Congressman Kevin McCarthy’s campaign HQ

Dozens of people crammed into an office in a strip mall off Clovis Avenue on Saturday for the chance to meet Bakersfield Congressman and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

The Republican was in town for the grand opening of his new Clovis campaign headquarters.

TMcCarthy currently represents the south Valley (including Tulare and most of Kern County) in California’s 23rd Congressional District, but will be running the newly formed 20th district in the upcoming election. Thanks to redistricting, that district now encompasses a large swath of the south Valley, including Bakersfield, but also sections of Fresno County, including Clovis.

Although McCarthy has stopped through the Fresno area in recent months to visit with community leaders, Saturday’s event was the first time the congressman has had the chance to meet and talk to residents.

Aside from being the spot to pick up McCarthy swag — the T-shirt, yard signs, buttons and bumper stickers — having a campaign headquarters in Clovis will give constituents a place to be heard.

“I’m going to be here to listen. We may not always agree,” McCarthy said. “We will be part of this community.”

He said the next election could be a chance to flip the makeup of Congress and work on issues like gas prices, border security, public safety and police funding.

“People are excited,” he said.

McCarthy started the event with a quick campaign speech and then went to working the room, meeting and shaking hands with residents and answering questions for media, before directing people to several food trucks waiting outside.

“OK, it’s taco time,” he said.

McCarthy has served in Congress since 2006 after a four-year run in the Assembly.

This story was originally published March 19, 2022 at 3:02 PM.