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Chris grew up in Taylor Mill. He earned his bachelor's degree from The Citadel and a master's degree in business administration from Northern Kentucky University. He has volunteered for groups such as the Board of Directors of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Site Based Decision Making Council at Ryland Elementary, and various children's sports leagues. He lives with his wife and six children in Ryland Heights, and he attends Hickory Grove Baptist Church.

Chris previously worked as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army and as the operations manager at McD Concrete, a family business he later purchased.

Chris McDaniel is a state senator in State Senate District 23. He was first elected in 2012 and is serving his 3rd term.

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As a state representative, reduced the personal income tax to 5%.

As a state senator, reduced the personal income tax to 5%.

Believes spending on infrastructure will create short-term jobs and provide long-term economic benefits.

- As a state senator, reduced the personal income tax to 5%.
- Believes spending on infrastructure will create short-term jobs and provide long-term economic benefits.

Economy

Fox 19, Kentucky state senator continues to propose legislation to limit governor’s pardoning power

Supports SB 2, which would create the Kentucky Guardians Program, allowing veterans and retired law enforcement to enhance school safety.

Supports a bill to allow local school boards to hire veterans and retired law enforcement as armed guardians to "enhance student defense."

Supports SB 147, which establishes state-wide standards for adult-oriented businesses, ensures child safety, and prohibits explicit performances on government properties.

Supports a bill defining and limiting explicit performances and adult-oriented businesses.

Supports SB 249, which requires sex offenders to display their full names on social media and establishes penalties for non-compliance.

Supports a bill requiring sex offenders to display their full names on social media.

Supports SB 153, which exempts individuals 70 or older from jury service and simplifies the qualification process.

Supports a bill to exempt people at least 70 years old from jury duty.

Opposes the actions of former Governor Matt Bevin in releasing violent offenders, and supports legislation to impose stricter measures and accountability for such actions.

Supports legislation to stop a governor from pardoning people within 30 days of an election.

Supports enhancing child protection laws by making possession of child sex dolls and computer-generated child pornography felonies, and allowing such evidence to be used as probable cause for searches.

Supports a bill that having a "child sex doll" or computer-generated child pornography is a felony.

- Supports a bill to allow local school boards to hire veterans and retired law enforcement as armed guardians to "enhance student defense."
- Supports a bill defining and limiting explicit performances and adult-oriented businesses.
- Supports a bill requiring sex offenders to display their full names on social media.
- Supports a bill to exempt people at least 70 years old from jury duty.
- Supports legislation to stop a governor from pardoning people within 30 days of an election.
- Supports a bill that having a "child sex doll" or computer-generated child pornography is a felony.

Public Safety

Kentucky General Assembly, Senate Bill 150

Opposes abortion, saying "Human life begins at conception and I will be an unabashed supporter for it. Whether born or unborn, each person deserves an equal chance to live and live life to its fullest."

Opposes access to abortion, saying "Human life begins at conception and I will be an unabashed supporter for it. Whether born or unborn, each person deserves an equal chance to live and live life to its fullest."

Opposes "gender-affirming" surgeries for minors.

Opposes "gender-affirming" surgeries for minors and supported bill requiring schools to notify parents if a student uses mental or sexual health services in schools.

- Opposes access to abortion, saying "Human life begins at conception and I will be an unabashed supporter for it. Whether born or unborn, each person deserves an equal chance to live and live life to its fullest."
- Opposes "gender-affirming" surgeries for minors and supported bill requiring schools to notify parents if a student uses mental or sexual health services in schools.

Healthcare

Supports fully funding teacher pensions, increasing the SEEK allocation, and investing in school safety.

Supported increased funding for teacher pensions, the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) school funding from the state, and school safety.

Supports SB 6, which prohibits endorsement of "discriminatory concepts" in higher education, mandates course neutrality, and allocates diversity efforts to support Pell Grant students.

Supports a bill to limit what colleges can teach about race and racism and ban endorsement of "discriminatory concepts" in higher education.

- Supported increased funding for teacher pensions, the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) school funding from the state, and school safety.
- Supports a bill to limit what colleges can teach about race and racism and ban endorsement of "discriminatory concepts" in higher education.

Education

Believes in moving constitutional office elections to even-numbered years to save local governments approximately $20 million annually.

Believes in moving elections for governor and other offices to the even-numbered years to save money.

Supports SB 80, which "strengthens election integrity by refining Kentucky's voter ID laws" and removing student or employee IDs and credit or debit cards as identification options.

Supports a bill to restrict voting access by limiting what is acceptable as a voter ID. 

Supports a bill banning the use of AI-altered media in political messages without disclosure, to ensure fair elections and allow affected candidates to seek legal action against creators of such content.

Supports a bill to require disclosure of any artificial intelligence (AI) used in political messages.

- Believes in moving elections for governor and other offices to the even-numbered years to save money.
- Supports a bill to restrict voting access by limiting what is acceptable as a voter ID. 
- Supports a bill to require disclosure of any artificial intelligence (AI) used in political messages.

Voting & Elections

Supports identifying barriers to deploying nuclear power generation resources and related technologies, including regulatory, statutory, financial, social, environmental, workforce, and educational barriers.

Supports a bill to promote the development of nuclear power.

- Supports a bill to promote the development of nuclear power.

Energy & the Environment

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Chris McDaniel

Chris previously worked as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army and as the Operations Manager at McD Concrete, a family business he later purchased.

Chris McDaniel currently serves as a state senator in Kentucky's 23rd District. He was first elected in 2013 and is serving his 3rd term.

As Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee Chair, focused on prudent spending of Kentucky's $63 billion budget, ensuring taxpayer dollars are used wisely and returned to local regions.

Wants Kentucky's $63 billion two-year budget to spend less money and send more money to regions.

Supports eliminating the income tax in Kentucky.

Believes the budgeting philosophy since 2017 is effective, as indicated by recent revenue receipts.

Believes improving the solvency of the teachers' retirement system is crucial, noting that despite significant financial investments, the funding ratio has only improved by 0.9 percent since 2017.

Believes in fiscal discipline and supports the Senate's role in budget preparation after executive recommendations, adhering to constitutional guidelines on revenue-raising and appropriation measures.

Opposes "progressive tax and spend ideas" and supports fiscal discipline.

- Wants Kentucky's $63 billion two-year budget to spend less money and send more money to regions.
- As a state senator, reduced the personal income tax to 5%.
- Believes spending on infrastructure will create short-term jobs and provide long-term economic benefits.

Supports bill to allow local school boards to hire veterans and retired law enforcement as armed guardians to "enhance student defense."

Supports bill defining and limiting explicit performances and adult-oriented businesses.

Supports bill requiring sex offenders to display their full names on social media.

Supports bill to exempt people at least 70 years old from jury duty.

Believes in enhancing accountability to prevent misuse of executive power during sensitive political periods.

Supports bill that having a "child sex doll" or computer-generated child pornography is a felony.

- Supports bill to allow local school boards to hire veterans and retired law enforcement as armed guardians to "enhance student defense."
- Supports bill defining and limiting explicit performances and adult-oriented businesses.
- Supports bill requiring sex offenders to display their full names on social media.
- Supports bill to exempt people at least 70 years old from jury duty.
- Supports legislation to stop a governor from pardoning people within 30 days of an election.
- Supports bill that having a "child sex doll" or computer-generated child pornography is a felony.

Supports access to affordable healthcare and insurance.

Supports sexual and mental health services in schools with parental notification, except if it risks child abuse or neglect.

Supports parental notification of a child using sexual or mental health services in schools, unless it risks child abuse or neglect.

Supports allowing medical practitioners to make decisions for children with anomalous physical conditions and ensuring access to counseling services for those struggling with gender identity.

Supports Senate Bill 48, which adopts recommendations from the 2022 Cabinet for Health and Family Services Organizational Structure, Operations and Administration Task Force to address mismanagement in the state's largest executive branch.

Opposes "gender-affirming" surgeries for minors. Supported bill requiring schools to notify parents if a student uses mental or sexual health services in schools.

- Opposes abortion, saying "Human life begins at conception and I will be an unabashed supporter for it. Whether born or unborn, each person deserves an equal chance to live and live life to its fullest."
- Opposes "gender-affirming" surgeries for minors. Supported bill requiring schools to notify parents if a student uses mental or sexual health services in schools.

Supports standardized sick leave for teachers statewide, capping annual days for retirement benefits, and mandates cost reporting to understand state financial obligations for educators' sick leave.

Believes every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, saying, "As a foster and adoptive parent, I know many children are born into difficult circumstances—and I also know there are countless loving homes ready and waiting to welcome them."

Supports bill to limit what colleges can teach about race and racism and ban endorsement of "discriminatory concepts" in higher education.

Believes Senate Bill 107 prevents "inappropriate political influence" from the Governor on hiring the commissioner of education, despite the Governor's veto claiming it "politicizes the process."

Wants to change how the state's commissioner of education is hired. Says that the bill prevents "inappropriate political influence" from the governor, while the governor said the bill "politicizes the process."

Believes the Kentucky General Assembly mistakenly thought they had fully paid off the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) liability, saying, "The Kentucky General Assembly paid off $380 million in liabilities for the program several years ago...only to later learn from TRS that the liability was still over $500 million."

Supports sex education starting in sixth grade with parental notification.

- Supported increased funding for teacher pensions, the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) school funding from the state, and school safety.
- Supports bill to limit what colleges can teach about race and racism and ban endorsement of "discriminatory concepts" in higher education.
- Wants to change how the state's commissioner of education is hired. Says that the bill prevents "inappropriate political influence" from the governor, while the governor said the bill "politicizes the process."

Believes in moving elections for governor and other offices to the even-numbered years to save money. The elections for the U.S. Congress are already scheduled in even years.

Supports Senate Bill (SB) 244, which changes ballot order determination to a draw, ensuring fairness for all candidates.

Proposes a constitutional amendment to restrict governors from issuing pardons 30 days before a gubernatorial election.

Supports a bill to restrict voting access by limiting what is acceptable as a voter ID.  It would remove student or employee IDs and credit or debit cards as identification options.

Believes the need for change in voting rights is evident in "former Governor Matt Bevin's careless and misguided actions."

Believes in reducing the on-site presence of state employees and realizing cost savings through transitioning workers to teleworking models.

- Believes in moving elections for governor and other offices to the even-numbered years to save money. The elections for the U.S. Congress are already scheduled in even years.
- Supports a bill to restrict voting access by limiting what is acceptable as a voter ID.  It would remove student or employee IDs and credit or debit cards as identification options.
- Supports a bill to require disclosure of any artificial intelligence (AI) used in political messages.

Believes demand for state-provided services has "skyrocketed."

Believes in determining necessary in-person staffing levels to maintain high-quality customer service for residents.

Believes in examining the impact of reduced in-person work hours since the pandemic on public service.

Supports Senate Joint Resolution 79, which would establish a nuclear energy development working group to set membership and outline tasks for promoting nuclear energy development.

Supports a bill to promote the development of nuclear energy.

Believes in consulting with various agencies, organizations, industries, and stakeholders to determine the role of the permanent nuclear energy commission.

As of September 23, 2024, Chris McDaniel’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Chris McDaniel is the Chair of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee in the Kentucky State Senate. He previously worked as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army and as the Operations Manager at McD Concrete, a family business he later purchased.

Chris McDaniel currently serves as a state senator in Kentucky's 23rd District. He was first elected in 2013 and is serving his 4th term.

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Kentucky State Senate. The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Kentucky General Assembly. 
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process. 
- There are 38 Kentucky state senators, each representing a single district. Senators must be at least 30 years old and reside in the state for at least six years before their election. 
- State senators are elected to four-year terms, with half of the Senate elected every two years. They only serve part-time.
- In addition to a $203 per day salary, state representatives also receive mileage reimbursements and a daily expense stipend of $182. 

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Kentucky Senate.

Criminal Justice

Kentucky

State Senator

Wants Kentucky's $63 billion two-year budget to spend less money.