He entered office in 1950 as a nonpartisan senator before turning Republican in 1952.

During his tenure, he created and passed a bill for the formation of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) in 1957.

He was a strong advocate of free speech, and believed that a university is like a fourth branch of government.

His elder brother, Democrat Robert I. McCarthy served in the State Assembly from 1948 to 1952 and Senate from 1954 to 1958. joinCalifornia: Election History of California- John F. "Jack" McCarthy

This article about a member of the California State Senate is a stub.