Keansburg Native Son Makes Forbes' '30 Under 30' List

KEANSBURG, NJ — A man who grew up in Keansburg and is now the deputy political director for Joe Biden's presidential campaign talks about being from the gritty, blue-collar Raritan bayfront town and how it helped shape his political views.

John McCarthy — just named to Forbes' national "30 Under 30" list for 2020 — also talks about how growing up in a place like Keansburg drew him to someone like Biden.

"Keansburg was a great place to grow up, and I had an incredibly supportive family," said McCarthy, 28. "While not expressly involved in politics, my grandfather was fire chief of our hometown, and my dad is a union carpenter there. They represented exactly what this community is about: hard-working people who dedicate themselves to expanding opportunity for their family. Those values definitely committed me to the Democratic Party, and inspired me to get involved in politics."

McCarthy has come far from his Keansburg roots: He is a national strategist for the Democratic party and was previously national director of faith and heritage outreach for Hillary Clinton's historic 2016 campaign. This December, he was named to the prestigious Forbes' list for his work in national U.S. politics., under Forbes' law + policy category.

"An avowed centrist, McCarthy works on engagement for former Vice President Joe Biden, seeking endorsements and support from federal officials, local precinct captains and everyone in between," Forbes wrote in their profile of him.

In fact, it's being from Keansburg that connected McCarthy to Biden, he says.

"Joe Biden understands places like Keansburg, and he's never forgot communities like ours," said McCarthy. "Growing up in Scranton, PA he always likes to talk about the values that hard-working communities instill: toughness, resiliency and hope. I think at a time in our country where people feel incredibly divided, he reminds us of those key qualities that bring us together."

McCarthy is not the only Monmouth County local to make this year's Forbes list: Kayla Giovinazzo, who runs Jersey company Eat Clean Bro with her husband, was also named. The husband-wife team live in Morganville; Eat Clean Bro operates out of Freehold. Giovinazzo made it under the food + drink category.

McCarthy first got involved in politics when he was 15 years old. At 18 he was elected chair of the Keansburg Democratic party. He's worked for local Democratic Congressman Frank Pallone, who represents this area in Washington. On Capitol Hill he was Chief of Staff to Congressman Brendan F. Boyle, a Democrat who represents the Philadelphia area in D.C.

McCarthy graduated with honors from the Catholic University of America, where he currently serves on the Board of Governors. He is a member of the Monmouth County Democratic Party executive board.

Keep reading: Morganville Resident On Forbes' '30 Under 30' List