Kyle McCarter (born June 27, 1962) 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. He is the son of Mr. Calvin and Linda McCarter. He attended Muskogee High School and he completed his studies in 1980. McCarter graduated from Oral Roberts University in 1984 with a degree in accounting. Career McCarter was a member of the St. Clair County board from 2000 until 2009, when he was appointed to the Illinois State Senate. 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. Businesses McCarter owns and operates Custom Product Innovations and Custom Coating Innovations in Lebanon, Illinois. 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." 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. Kyle currently is the International Director and Victoria is the Director of Education for Each1Feed1, and they travel to Kenya several times a year. McCarter is also a supporter of Mercy Ministries, a charitable Christian organization. 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. McCarter was described as "a reliable GOP vote in the state senate." 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". 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,