Chris McDaniel
Kentucky State Senator, District 23 since 2012. Ran in 4 elections between 2012 and 2024, winning 4. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- 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
Actuarial Analysis · Became law Apr 2026
Constitution, Ky. · Became law Apr 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where McDaniel sits in the Kentucky State Senate
McDaniel is closer to the center than 48% of the chamber's Republicans.
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.
| Date | Bill | McDaniel | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 14, 2026 | HB 139: AN ACT relating to elections and declaring an emergency. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 32–6 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | SB 1: AN ACT relating to education. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 31–7 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | SB 59: AN ACT relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and resources. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 31–7 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | SB 100: AN ACT relating to the Energy Planning and Inventory Commission and declaring an emergency. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 32–6 |
| Apr 14, 2026 | SB 65: AN ACT relating to deficient administrative regulations and declaring an emergency. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 32–6 |
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.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Kentucky State Senate, District 23 | Won | R+20.0 | R+15.0 | +5.0 |
| 2020 | Kentucky State Senate, District 23 | Won | R+15.3 | — | — |
| 2016 | Kentucky State Senate, District 23 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Kentucky State Senate, District 23 | Won | R+20.0 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive
Seats McDaniel has held
- Kentucky State Senate, District 23 · since 2012
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who McDaniel has run against
- Jennifer Sierra (D) · 2024 election, won
- Ryan Olexia (D) · 2020 election, won
- James Noll (D) · 2012 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive
How we know McDaniel
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/b32a95c9-42ba-449b-8581-97b9cef73c6a
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET