the Club for Growth. McCarter is running to the right of Shimkus, saying he is insufficiently conservative and an "insider." 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. 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. In early 2016, McCarter's campaign refunded $52,000 in campaign contributions that had been accepted against FEC rules. McCarter ultimately lost the primary to Shimkus, receiving 39.63 percent of the vote. 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. 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." On March 28, 2018, Trump announced he was nominating McCarter to the position. He was scrutinized by Democrats during his committee hearing and was reported out of committee on a 12–9 vote. The United States Senate confirmed McCarter by voice vote on January 2, 2019. He presented his credentials to President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 12, 2019. He left office on January 20, 2021. Later career Following his ambassadorship, McCarter moved to Oklahoma. He considered, but ultimately declined, a run for U.S. Senate in 2022 special election in Oklahoma. Personal life McCarter and his wife Victoria lived in Lebanon, Illinois before moving to Oklahoma after his ambassadorship. They have two living children: Zach and Austin. Their daughter Amber died in 2006 at the age of 21 from a heroin overdose. References External links State Department biography Biography, bills and committees at the Illinois General Assembly By session: 100th,99th 98th, 97th, 96th State Senator Kyle McCarter constituency site Kyle McCarter for Congress Profile on Ballotpedia 1962 births 20th-century American businesspeople 21st-century American businesspeople 21st-century American politicians Ambassadors of the United States to Kenya Businesspeople