RepublicanIn office since Nov 2012

Chris McDaniel

Kentucky State Senator, District 23 since 2012. Next on the ballot in 2028.

Kentucky State Senator, District 23

In office
14 yrs
Since 2012
Bills became law
2
5 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed
5.1%
Chamber median 2.2%
With party
99%
On votes splitting the parties
Last margin
+20.0
Won 2024
Next election
2028
Nov 7, 2028

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

  • 2026-2028 Budget Preparation and Submission Statutory · co-chair
  • Appropriations and Revenue · co-chair
  • Appropriations and Revenue · chair
  • Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board Statutory · ex officio
  • Licensing and Occupations
  • Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations
  • Local Government
  • Public Pension Oversight Board
  • State Government
  • State and Local Government

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 5 sponsored · 2 became law
BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw
SB 185 AN ACT relating to Kentucky State University and declaring an emergency.
Actuarial Analysis · Became law Apr 2026
SB 10 AN ACT proposing to amend Section 77 of the Constitution of Kentucky relating to limiting the Governor's…
Constitution, Ky. · Became law Apr 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where McDaniel sits in the Kentucky State Senate

McDaniel is closer to the center than 48% of the chamber's Republicans.

Dem. medianRep. medianMcDanielMore liberalMore conservative

Closest: Aaron Reed, Matt Deneen, Scott Madon

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:50 PM ET

With McDaniel’s party

  • Votes with the chamber's Republicans99%

Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Kentucky State Senate.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: McDaniel’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time McDaniel was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

YearRaceResultMargin
2024Kentucky State Senate, District 23WonR+20.0
2020Kentucky State Senate, District 23WonR+15.3
2016Kentucky State Senate, District 23Won—
2012Kentucky State Senate, District 23WonR+20.0

Source: 99chambers results archive

Seats McDaniel has held

Source: 99chambers results archive

Who McDaniel has run against

  • Jennifer Sierra (D) · 2024 general, won
  • Ryan Olexia (D) · 2020 general, won
  • James Noll (D) · 2012 general, won

Source: 99chambers results archive

How we know McDaniel

One person, matched across every source we use.

Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET