Chris McDaniel

McDaniel was born in Laurel, Mississippi.{{cite news |author= |title=Chris McDaniel, District 42 – Jones |url=http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/senate/mcdaniel.xml |newspaper=Mississippi State Senate |location=Jackson, Mississippi |publisher=State of Mississippi |access-date=June 10, 2014 }} He is the only child of Carlos and Charlotte McDaniel, and the grandson of Luke McDaniel, a country and rockabilly singer.{{cite web|url=https://mississippiconservativedaily.com/2014/06/01/senator-chris-mcdaniel-no-joining-hands-across-the-aisle/|title=Senator Chris McDaniel: No Joining Hands Across the Aisle|first=Mississippi Conservative|last=Daily|date=June 1, 2014|access-date=July 27, 2016|archive-date=July 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729171651/https://mississippiconservativedaily.com/2014/06/01/senator-chris-mcdaniel-no-joining-hands-across-the-aisle/}} He graduated with honors from Jones County Junior College and received a B.S. with honors from William Carey University in 1994. He then entered the University of Mississippi School of Law, graduating cum laude in 1997 with a Juris Doctor degree.[http://senatormcdaniel.com/biography Personal web page – Biography] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313140629/http://senatormcdaniel.com/biography |date=March 13, 2013 }} McDaniel resides with his family in Ellisville, Mississippi.

In 1997, McDaniel entered a two-year federal clerkship with United States District Court Judge Charles W. Pickering. After leaving that position, he joined the law firm Hortman Harlow Bassi Robinson & McDaniel,{{cite web|url=http://www.martindale.com/Hortman-Harlow-Bassi-Robinson/1022587-law-firm-office.htm|title=Hortman Harlow Bassi Robinson & McDaniel, PLLC profile at|publisher=Martindale.com|date=August 10, 2010|access-date=October 23, 2013}} becoming a partner in 2003. His areas of concentration include litigation, insurance defense, corporate law, products liability, commercial litigation, consumer products litigation, mass tort litigation, complex multi-party litigation, legislation, Constitutional law, and civil rights. He is licensed to practice law in Mississippi and Texas.{{cite web|url=http://www.martindale.com/Senator-Christopher-B-McDaniel/1022598-lawyer.htm|title=Senator Christopher B. McDaniel Lawyer Profile on |publisher=Martindale.com|access-date=October 23, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template=Customsource/MemberDirectory/MemberDirectoryDetail.cfm&ContactID=316685|title=State Bar of Texas|publisher=Texasbar.com|date=September 17, 2012|access-date=October 23, 2013}} In 2010, he was named one of the top 50 lawyers in Mississippi by the Mississippi Business Journal.{{cite web|url=http://msbusiness.com/blog/2010/11/21/sen-chris-mcdaniel|title=Sen. Chris McDaniel profile at|newspaper=Mississippi Business Journal|date=November 21, 2010|access-date=October 23, 2013|archive-date=November 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104013143/http://msbusiness.com/blog/2010/11/21/sen-chris-mcdaniel/}} He was acknowledged by Memphis Magazine, naming him a Rising Star and a Top Young Lawyer from 2008 to 2012.{{Cite web |title= Top Rated Laurel, MS General Litigation Attorney | Christopher McDaniel | Super Lawyers|url=https://profiles.superlawyers.com/mississippi/laurel/lawyer/christopher-b-mcdaniel/0adca203-3115-4672-ae38-dae2994fbb94.html}} He was selected as a national Super Lawyer in 2024, an honor received by only five percent of attorneys nationwide.{{Cite web |title=Super Lawyers Website |url=https://profiles.superlawyers.com/mississippi/laurel/lawyer/christopher-b-mcdaniel/0adca203-3115-4672-ae38-dae2994fbb94.html}} Further cementing his professional stature, he was distinguished as a national Lawyer of Distinction, an honor that recognizes excellence in practice.{{Cite web |title=Lawyers of Distinction |url=https://www.thelawyersofdistinction.com/profile/chris-mcdaniel/}}{{Cite web |title=Hortman Harlow Bassi Robinson & McDaniel Website |url=https://hortmanharlow.com/attorney-profiles/christopher-b-mcdaniel/}}

McDaniel has been recognized with the AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest distinction for legal excellence, awarded based on peer reviews by members of the bar and judiciary.{{Cite web |title=Sen. Christopher B. McDaniel Profile {{!}} Laurel, MS Lawyer {{!}} Martindale.com |url=https://www.martindale.com/attorney/sen-christopher-b-mcdaniel-1022598/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=www.martindale.com}} This rating reflects his superior legal knowledge, analytical capabilities, judgment, communication skills, and ethical standards.{{Cite web |title=Summary About Martindale-Hubbell and Its Marketing Solutions |url=https://www.martindale.com/about-martindale-hubbell/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=www.martindale.com}} Additionally, he has earned the Client Champion Platinum Award, which recognizes his exceptional dedication to client service, communication, and delivering outstanding results.{{Cite web |title=Sen. Christopher B. McDaniel Profile {{!}} Laurel, MS Lawyer {{!}} Martindale.com |url=https://www.martindale.com/attorney/sen-christopher-b-mcdaniel-1022598/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=www.martindale.com}} These honors reflect both the respect of his peers and the trust and satisfaction of his clients.

McDaniel is the former host of The Right Side Radio Show on WMXI 98.1 FM in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, nationally syndicated since 2006 by EBN Radio Network and Golden Broadcasters. The show was broadcast nationwide on ABC Radio Networks and the industry standard Starguide III system.{{cite web|url=http://www.matrixmediainc.com/shows/ebn.shtml|title=Matrix Media, Inc|publisher=Matrix Media, Inc.|date=August 7, 2005|access-date=October 23, 2013|archive-date=October 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019193539/http://www.matrixmediainc.com/shows/ebn.shtml}} It returned to local stations after McDaniel left the show.{{cite web|url=http://wmxi.com/content/right-side-radio-program|title=The Right Side Radio Program|publisher=WMXI|access-date=October 23, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630164511/http://wmxi.com/content/right-side-radio-program|archive-date=June 30, 2013}}{{cite web|author=LRG|url=http://www.therightsideamerica.net/|title=The Right Side Online at|publisher=Therightsideamerica.net|access-date=October 23, 2013|archive-date=October 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019094122/http://www.therightsideamerica.net/}}

McDaniel is a Republican who has served in the Mississippi Senate since 2008.

McDaniel was named 2010 Citizen of the Year by the Laurel Leader Call.

In 2012, McDaniel led a delegation to the Alamo Mission in San Antonio, Texas, for the dedication of a monument to the eight Mississippians who died when the fort was overrun in 1836.{{cite web|url=http://www.wdam.com/story/19894795/mississippians-who-died-at-siege-of-the-alamo-to-be-honored|title=Mississippians who died at siege of the Alamo to be honored|publisher=WDAM |date=October 19, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://us-senators.com/2012/11/texas-honors-mississippians-who-fought-at-the-alamo-sampling-history|title=Texas honors Mississippians who fought at the Alamo (Sampling History)|publisher=US Senators|date=November 1, 2012|access-date=October 23, 2013|archive-date=October 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019133517/http://us-senators.com/2012/11/texas-honors-mississippians-who-fought-at-the-alamo-sampling-history/}}{{cite web|url=http://legiscan.com/MS/text/SC623/id/607801|title=Bill Text: MS SC623 | 2012 | Regular Session | Engrossed |publisher=LegiScan|date=March 22, 2012 |access-date=October 23, 2013}}

McDaniel was honored in 2023 by the Mississippi Senate for his distinguished service, noting that his "service has been marked by his sound judgment, civility, courtesy and fairness.  He has set the highest standard in all of his many roles:  husband, father, attorney, radio communicator, statesman, community leader, leader in the Mississippi Senate, and as a true friend."{{Cite web |title=SR 105 (As Adopted by Senate) - 2023 Regular Session |url=https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2023/html/SR/SR0105PS.htm |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=billstatus.ls.state.ms.us}}

{{Main|2014 United States Senate election in Mississippi}}

In 2014, McDaniel ran for the U.S. Senate seat occupied by Thad Cochran.

Although McDaniel was not initially believed to pose a serious threat to Cochran, he proved a formidable challenger. Polling showed the lead swinging between the two and it eventually became a "50%-50% race".{{cite news | url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/could-tea-party-win-mississippi-change-2014-math-n121136 | title= Could a Tea Party Win in Mississippi Change the 2014 Math? | work=NBC News | date=June 3, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014}} McDaniel was vocal about his intention to repeal Obamacare and to work to lower the national debt.{{cite web|title=TEA Party Challenger Threatens to "Kill" O-Care|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/202751-tea-party-challenger-threatens-to-kill-obamacare/|work=The Hill|date=April 5, 2014|access-date=April 6, 2014}}

The primary was considered a marquee establishment-versus-Tea Party fight. Cochran's seniority and appropriating skills contrasted with the junior status of the rest of the state's congressional delegation.{{cite news | title=Most Fascinating Races of 2014: Mississippi Senate | url=http://atr.rollcall.com/our-favorite-things-mississippi-senate/ | work=Roll Call | date=December 26, 2012 | access-date=December 31, 2013 | author=Abby Livingston | archive-date=December 29, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229054747/http://atr.rollcall.com/our-favorite-things-mississippi-senate/ }} The primary was called "nasty"{{cite news | url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/208000-will-mississippi-mudslinging-topple-first-senate-incumbent/ | title=Biggest Super Tuesday casualty? | work=The Hill | date=June 3, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Alexandra Jaffe}} and full of "bizarre" twists.{{cite news| url=http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2014/06/01/miss-voters-ready-end-senate-primary/9854249 | title=Miss. voters ready for end to Senate primary | work=The Clarion-Ledger | date=June 2, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Deborah Barfield Berry}}

In May 2014, a scandal emerged when a McDaniel supporter allegedly entered a nursing home where Cochran's bedridden wife was living and took pictures of her. The images were posted to a blog, intending to advance the rumor that Cochran was having affairs while his wife was receiving care.{{cite news | url=http://djournal.com/news/bruising-senate-battle-nears-finish | title=Bruising Senate battle nears finish | work=DJournal | date=June 1, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Bobby Harrison | archive-date=June 6, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606221245/http://djournal.com/news/bruising-senate-battle-nears-finish/ }}{{cite news | url=http://www.businessinsider.com/mississippi-senate-race-thad-cochran-chris-mcdaniel-wife-photo-2014-5 | title=This Is The Single Nastiest Campaign Fight In America | work=Business Insider | date=May 20, 2014 | access-date=June 3, 2014 | author=Brett Logiurato}} Four people were arrested in connection with the incident. The connection to the McDaniel campaign was disputed. One of the arrested included McDaniel ally Mark Mayfield, who was vice chairman of the state's Tea Party.{{cite web | last1=Ohlheiser | first1=Abby | title=The Bizarre Scandal That Could Tear Apart the Tea Party's Best Hope for a Primary Win | url=http://www.thewire.com/politics/2014/05/the-bizarre-scandal-that-could-tear-apart-the-tea-partys-best-hope-for-a-primary-win/371504/ | website=The Wire | access-date=June 8, 2014 | archive-date=May 26, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140526135013/http://www.thewire.com/politics/2014/05/the-bizarre-scandal-that-could-tear-apart-the-tea-partys-best-hope-for-a-primary-win/371504/ }} In response, McDaniel said, "the violation of the privacy of Mrs. Cochran [was] out of bounds for politics and reprehensible."{{cite web | last1=LoGiurato | first1=Brett | title=A Top Mississippi Tea Party Official And Two Others Have Been Arrested In Connection With The Bizarre Senate Race | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mississippi-senate-arrest-cochran-wife-photo-rose-2014-5 | website=Business Insider | date= May 22, 2014 | access-date=September 5, 2018}}

Neither candidate won a majority in the primary election; McDaniel won 49.46% of the vote to Cochran's 49.02%.{{cite web|url=https://www.fec.gov/resources/cms-content/documents/2014senate.pdf|title=Official Election Results for United States Senate, 2014 |website=FEC.gov |access-date=February 20, 2022}} A runoff election was held on June 24.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/05/us/politics/cochran-and-mcdaniel-mississippi-primary-runoff.html | title=Mississippi's G.O.P. Senate Primary Headed to a Runoff | last=Martin | first=Jonathan | date=June 4, 2014 | newspaper=The New York Times | access-date=June 4, 2014}} Despite trailing in most of the polls,{{cite web | url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2014/senate/ms/mississippi_senate_republican_primary_runoff-5094.html#polls | title=Polling Data | date=June 24, 2014 | access-date=February 22, 2015 | work=Real Clear Politics}} Cochran won with 51.01% of the vote to McDaniel's 48.99%.{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/10/upshot/voting-totals-reveal-crucial-boost-from-blacks-in-cochrans-victory.html?abt=0002&abg=0 | title=Precinct Data | date=July 9, 2014 | access-date=February 22, 2015 | work=The New York Times}}.

In the aftermath of the election, the McDaniel campaign claimed there were signs of voter fraud. The campaign asserted that about 3,300 Democrats had voted for Cochran in the runoff. The campaign said it was investigating whether the crossover voting violated Mississippi law.{{cite news|last1=Wagster Pettus|first1=Emmily|title=Home> Politics McDaniel Not Giving up GOP Runoff Against Cochran|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/mcdaniel-giving-gop-runoff-cochran-24386838 |agency=Associated Press|access-date=July 2, 2014|date=July 1, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703001133/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/mcdaniel-giving-gop-runoff-cochran-24386838|archive-date=July 3, 2014}} A day after the state party certified the election results, Senator Ted Cruz and some Tea Party groups backed an investigation of alleged voter fraud in the runoff.{{cite web|last1=Espo |first1=David|title=Cruz, Tea Party Groups Want Probe of Miss. Runoff|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/miss-gop-certifies-cochran-victory-mcdaniel-24460341|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=July 9, 2014}} Cruz also told reporters that groups aligned with Cochran's campaign had run racially charged ads designed to persuade black voters to vote against McDaniel.{{cite web |title=Cruz wants investigation of Cochran-McDaniel runoff results |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/07/08/cruz-wants-investigation-of-cochran-mcdaniel-runoff-results/ |publisher=CNN |access-date=July 9, 2014 |archive-date=July 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712090544/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/07/08/cruz-wants-investigation-of-cochran-mcdaniel-runoff-results/ }} Of the ads, McDaniel said that the GOP is "a party that does not need to play the race card to win."{{cite web|title=Chris McDaniel Opens Legal Challenge in Mississippi GOP Primary Race|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/08/chris-mcdaniel-opens-legal-challenge-in-mississippi-gop-primary-race/|work=ABC News|date=August 4, 2014}}

In July 2014, the Mississippi Supreme Court rejected McDaniel's request for access to poll books without voters' birthdates blacked out, which his attorneys argued were needed to identify fraudulent votes.{{cite web|last1=Pender|first1=Geoff|title=Court rules against McDaniel in voting records appeal|url=http://www.clarionledger.com/story/politicalledger/2014/07/17/mcdaniel-cochran-records-court-ruling/12787709/|work=The Clarion-Ledger|access-date=July 18, 2014}} In August, a Mississippi judge dismissed McDaniel's challenge.{{cite web|title=Chris McDaniel challenge tossed in Mississippi|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/chris-mcdaniel-challenge-dismissed-mississippi-110453.html#ixzz3BpaK814B|magazine=Politico|date=August 29, 2014 |access-date=August 30, 2014}} In October, the Mississippi Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's dismissal in a 4–2 decision.{{cite web|title=McDaniel v. Cochran |url=http://courts.ms.gov/Images/Opinions/CO98646.pdf}}

{{Main|2018 United States Senate special election in Mississippi}}

File:Chris McDaniel logo.svg

McDaniel originally declared that he would run against Senator Roger Wicker in the 2018 Republican primary.{{cite web|last1=Taylor|first1=Jessica|title=Mississippi GOP Senator Gets A Familiar Challenger From The Right|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/02/26/589006073/mississippi-gop-senator-gets-a-familiar-challenger-from-the-right|website=NPR|date=February 26, 2018|access-date=February 27, 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Bradner|first1=Eric|title=Conservative firebrand Chris McDaniel to enter Mississippi Senate race, setting up divisive GOP primary|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/26/politics/chris-mcdaniel-mississippi-senate-gop-primary/index.html|website=CNN|date=February 26, 2018 |access-date=February 27, 2018}} On March 5, 2018, Thad Cochran announced he would resign effective April 1, 2018, due to health concerns.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/05/mississippi-senator-thad-cochran-announces-he-is-stepping-down|title=Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran announces he is stepping down|last=Jacobs|first=Ben|date=March 5, 2018|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=March 5, 2018}} Republican governor Phil Bryant appointed Cindy Hyde-Smith to fill the vacancy created by Cochran's resignation.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/20/politics/mississippi-senate-appointment/index.html|title=Governor picks Cindy Hyde-Smith to replace Cochran|author1=Eric Bradner |author2=Kaitlan Collins |author3=Ashley Killough|date=March 20, 2018|publisher=CNN}} A nonpartisan blanket primary to fill the vacancy for the remainder of Cochran's Senate term was scheduled for November 6, 2018. These developments prompted McDaniel to cease his primary challenge to Wicker and instead run in the nonpartisan blanket primary to fill Cochran's vacated seat. McDaniel said, "by announcing early, we are asking Mississippi Republicans to unite around my candidacy and avoid another contentious contest among GOP members that would only improve the Democrats' chances of winning the open seat." He was the second candidate to enter the race. The first, Democrat Mike Espy, declared his candidacy shortly after Cochran announced his resignation.{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/insurgent-conservative-chris-mcdaniel-switches-races-in-mississippi/2018/03/14/9cddb1ca-27ca-11e8-bc72-077aa4dab9ef_story.html|title=Insurgent conservative Chris McDaniel switches races in Mississippi|last1=Costa|last2=Sullivan|first1=Robert|first2=Sean|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 14, 2018|access-date=March 14, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sunherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article205180389.html|title=Chris McDaniel softens his insurgency as he switches race|author=Hampton, Paul|newspaper=Sun Herald|date=March 14, 2018|access-date=March 14, 2018}} Hyde-Smith later defeated McDaniel in a nonpartisan blanket primary with two Democrats and two Republicans contending for the office; McDaniel received 16.4% of the vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.sos.ms.gov/elections-voting/election-results/2018-election-results/2018-general-election-runoff|title=2018 GENERAL ELECTION RUNOFF|website=Mississippi Secretary of State|access-date=February 20, 2022}}

On January 30, 2023, McDaniel announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor of Mississippi in 2023, challenging incumbent Delbert Hosemann in the Republican primary.{{cite news |last1=Pender |first1=Geoff |title=Chris McDaniel announces Lt. Gov. run, comes out swinging against fellow Republican Hosemann |url=https://mississippitoday.org/2023/01/30/chris-mcdaniel-delbert-hosemann-lieutenant-governor/ |access-date=2 February 2023 |publisher=Mississippi Today |date=30 January 2023}} McDaniel lost this race.

McDaniel's political views are generally described as far-right,{{cite news |author=Adam Ganucheau |author2=Bobby Harrison |author3=Larrison Campbell |author4=Erica Hensley |url=https://mississippitoday.org/2018/11/06/in-historic-senate-showdown-mississippi-will-elect-first-woman-or-first-african-american/|title=In historic Senate showdown, Mississippi will elect first woman or first African American|newspaper=Mississippi Today|quote=far-right challenger, state Sen. Chris McDaniel|date=November 6, 2018}}{{cite news|author=Sean Sullivan & Robert Costa|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/chris-mcdaniel-plans-to-hold-wednesday-rally-amid-senate-run-intrigue/2018/02/26/7c9a0bd4-1b13-11e8-ae5a-16e60e4605f3_story.html|date=February 26, 2016|title=Chris McDaniel of Mississippi plans to hold rally amid Senate-run intrigue|quote=His far-right views have spurred fear among some GOP leaders that he is a liability in the general election.}} a label he has rejected.{{Cite web |last1=Carter |first1=Josh |last2=Smith |first2=Quentin |date=2023-08-03 |title=Chris McDaniel knows that he's controversial |url=https://www.wlbt.com/2023/08/03/chris-mcdaniel-knows-that-hes-controversial/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=www.wlbt.com |language=en}} According to McDaniel, the political thinkers that have influenced his views include: Thomas Jefferson, Frédéric Bastiat, Friedrich Hayek, Robert Taft, Russell Kirk, Barry Goldwater, William F. Buckley and Ronald Reagan.{{Cite web |author=Ray Nothstine |date=2013-07-11 |title=5 Questions on Liberty with Mississippi State Senator Chris McDaniel |url=https://rlo.acton.org/archives/57231-5-questions-with-mississippi-state-senator-chris-mcdaniel.html |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Religion & Liberty Online |language=en-US}}

As a first-term senator in 2010, McDaniel urged his fellow state senators to override Governor Haley Barbour's veto of eminent domain legislation that would prevent government from taking private land for use by private companies.{{cite web|last=Harrison|first=Bobby|title=McDaniel has made waves in the Senate|url=http://djournal.com/news/mcdaniel-made-waves-senate/|newspaper=Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal|access-date=April 9, 2014|archive-date=April 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413154623/http://djournal.com/news/mcdaniel-made-waves-senate/}} The override effort failed by two votes, but began a ballot initiative to amend the Mississippi Constitution. The ballot initiative passed the following year.{{cite news|title=Mississippi Voters Approve Eminent Domain Restrictions|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mississippi-voters-approve-eminent-domain-restrictions|date=November 9, 2011|agency=Associated Press|work=Fox News}}

In April 2010, McDaniel led a lawsuit seeking to have the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) deemed unconstitutional.{{cite web|last=Freedman|first=Adam|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/229956/i-roe-i-v-obamacare/adam-freedman|title=Roe v. Obamacare at|magazine=National Review |date=June 15, 2010|access-date=October 23, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Pickert|first=Kate|url=http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2057477,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311143534/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,2057477,00.html|archive-date=March 11, 2011|title=Health Care Law's Legal War: Personal, Partisan Battles|magazine=Time |date=March 7, 2011|access-date=October 23, 2013}}

McDaniel has said of former attorney general Janet Reno, "I'm not even sure Janet Reno was a woman".{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/06/politics/kfile-mcdaniel-league-of-south/index.html|title=GOP Senate hopeful's radio show listed pro-southern secession group as a 'favorite' website|first=Andrew |last=Kaczynski|work=CNN|access-date=March 6, 2018}} He has said that the Democratic Party is the party of "sex on demand, the party that supports the homosexual agenda". On January 22, 2017, McDaniel responded on Facebook to the 2017 Women's March by referring to marchers as "a bunch of unhappy liberal women" and stated that he opposes using federal funds to pay for birth control and abortion.{{cite web|url=http://www.wapt.com/article/chris-mcdaniel-slams-unhappy-liberal-women-after-march/8631112|title=Chris McDaniel slams 'unhappy liberal women' after march|last=Williams|first=Angela|date=January 23, 2017|access-date=March 23, 2018}}

In 2007, McDaniel's immigration policy, as stated on his website, plagiarized text from a number of anti-immigration groups.{{Cite news|author=Andrew Kaczynski & Gideon Resnick|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/andrewkaczynski/in-first-run-for-office-chris-mcdaniel-plagiarized-immigrati|title=In First Run For Office, Chris McDaniel Plagiarized Immigration Plan|work=BuzzFeed News|date=June 14, 2014}} McDaniel opposes a pathway to citizenship or temporary work permits for undocumented immigrants.{{cite web |last1=Nowrasteh |first1=Alex |title=New Anti-Immigration Pledge Violates American Principles |url=https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/new-anti-immigration-pledge-violates-american-principles |website=www.cato.org |access-date=3 February 2023 |quote=The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) has sponsored a pledge for political candidates to oppose legal immigration as well as amnesty for unauthorized immigrants. FAIR's pledge has already garnered some signatories like Mississippi state senator Chris McDaniel}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/american-views-on-immigration-shifting-2014-5?IR=T|title=A Big Shift Is Happening In American Views On Immigration|work=Business Insider|access-date=September 26, 2018}} He opposes increases in residency permits and work visas.

In a September 2018 appearance on American Family Radio, in reference to the allegation of sexual assault against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, McDaniel contended that sexual assault allegations "99 percent of the time are just absolutely fabricated." No research supports this claim.{{cite web|author=Larrison Campbell|url=https://mississippitoday.org/2018/09/19/fact-check-mcdaniels-claim-that-women-fake-99-percent-of-sexual-assault-claims|title=Fact check: McDaniel's claim that women fake '99 percent' of sexual assault claims|date=September 19, 2018|work=Mississippi Today}}{{cite web|url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/rape-allegations-fabricated/|author=Alex Kasprak|title=Are 99% of Rape Allegations 'Absolutely Fabricated'?|work=Snopes|date=September 25, 2018}} The McDaniel campaign argued the quote was taken out of context, claiming the attacks against Kavanaugh were politically motivated in nature.{{Cite web |date=2018-09-18 |title=GOP Senate candidate defends Kavanaugh: Rape allegations are 'absolutely fabricated 99 percent of the time' |url=https://deadstate.org/gop-senate-candidate-defends-kavanaugh-rape-allegations-are-absolutely-fabricated-99-percent-of-the-time/ |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=DeadState |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Pettus |first=Emily Wagster |title=Chris McDaniel in defense of Brett Kavanaugh: 99% of allegations from the past 'fabricated' |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/09/19/chris-mcdaniel-brett-kavanaugh-sexual-assault-claims-fabricated/1360406002/ |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=The Clarion-Ledger |language=en-US}}

In his 2018 Senate campaign, McDaniel promised to preserve Mississippians' right to decide the flag of Mississippi, which at that time bore an image of the Confederate battle flag. This former flag features in McDaniel's campaign materials.{{cite news

|title=It's all fake': in Trump's heartland, talk of White House chaos rings hollow

|first=Ashton

|last=Pittmann

|newspaper=The Guardian

|date=September 9, 2018

|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/sep/09/trump-supporters-mississippi-white-house-op-ed-woodward}} McDaniel has spoken at conferences held by the Sons of Confederate Veterans.{{cite web|url=https://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/11/chris-mcdaniel-missed-scv-conference|title=Mississippi Senate Candidate Says He Didn't Speak at Neo-Confederate Conference|last1=Murphy|first1=Tim|magazine=Mother Jones |access-date=June 10, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/mcdaniel-now-says-he-did-not-attend-neo-confederate-event|title=McDaniel Now Says He Only Attended One Neo-Confederate Event|last1=Strauss|first1=Daniel|website=Talking Points Memo|date=November 2013|access-date=June 10, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20131024/NEWS/131024016/McDaniel-others-refute-story-about-him-Confederate-event|title=McDaniel, others refute story about him at Confederate event|website=The Clarion-Ledger |access-date=June 10, 2014}} In 2006–2007, he made controversial statements on reparations for slavery, race, and women on his talk radio show.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/chris-mcdaniel-audio-slavery-race-women-105587.html|title=Chris McDaniel audio: Slavery, race, women|last1=Schultheis|first1=Emily|website=Politico |access-date=June 10, 2014|quote=Asked, for example, about reparations for slavery, McDaniel said: 'If they pass reparations, and my taxes are going up, I ain't paying taxes.' And on having to learn Spanish, he said: 'You'll have to learn just enough to ask where the bathroom is. Baños. Baños. That's what you say.' He also, when asked to translate 'Do you have a sister?' replied, 'What about mamacita? ... Mamacita works....I'm an English-speaking Anglo. I have no idea what it means, actually, but I've said it a few times, just for, you know, fun. And I think it basically means, "Hey, hot mama." Or, you know, "You're a fine looking young thing."'}}{{cite web|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/04/10/miss-senate-hopeful-chris-mcdaniel-riffed-on-mamacita-reparations/|title=Miss. Senate Hopeful Chris McDaniel Riffed on 'Mamacita,' Reparations|date=April 10, 2014|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=June 18, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/06/06/319672327/dont-call-me-mamacita-i-am-not-your-mommy|title=Don't Call Me 'Mamacita.' I Am Not Your Mommy.|date=June 6, 2014|publisher=NPR|access-date=June 18, 2014}}

In August 2017, McDaniel claimed on his Twitter account that Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate States Army, was opposed to slavery.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chris-mcdaniel-robert-e-lee_us_5b75b477e4b02b415d76c25c|title=The Internet Schools GOP Senate Candidate Chris McDaniel About Robert E. Lee And Slavery|author=Moye, David|date=August 16, 2018|website=Huffington Post|access-date=August 17, 2018}} (Lee accepted "the extinction of slavery" provided for by the Thirteenth Amendment, but believed slavery was good for black people, publicly opposed racial equality, and opposed granting African Americans the right to vote and other political rights.)John McKee Barr. Loathing Lincoln: An American Tradition from the Civil War to the Present (LSU Press, 2014), 59.Eric Foner. "[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/books/review/eric-foner-robert-e-lee.html The Making and the Breaking of the Legend of Robert E. Lee]". The New York Times (August 28, 2017).{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/06/the-myth-of-the-kindly-general-lee/529038/|title=The Myth of the Kindly General Lee|author=Serwer, Adam|date=June 4, 2017|magazine=The Atlantic|access-date=August 17, 2018}} McDaniel later defended his views on Lee in a Facebook post that was discovered to have been plagiarized from Dinesh D'Souza.{{Cite news|url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/08/is-robert-e-lee-a-hero-gop-candidate-polls-twitter.html|title=Is Robert E. Lee a Hero? GOP Candidate's Twitter Poll Isn't Going as He Hoped|last=Raymond|first=Adam K.|work=Daily Intelligencer|access-date=August 31, 2018|language=en}}

The website for McDaniel's broadcast show "The Right Side Radio Show" listed the website of the League of the South—a secessionist "Southern Nationalist" organization—as one of his favorite websites. When asked about this in 2018, McDaniel's spokesperson said McDaniel "has never endorsed the League of the South and has nothing to do with them."

McDaniel is married to Jill Tullos McDaniel, who was the 1995 Miss Mississippi USA.{{cite web|author=Jason, Vannatta |url=http://www.missmississippiusa.com/halloffame.html|title=Welcome To Miss Mississippi Usa And Miss Mississippi Teen Usa|publisher=Missmississippiusa.com|access-date=October 23, 2013}} They have two children. McDaniel is a Southern Baptist.{{cite news |author= |title=Member Profile, Hon. Sen. Chris McDaniel |url=http://www.rnla.org/bio/BioDetail.asp?MemberID=5375 |newspaper=Republican National Lawyers Association |location=Washington, DC |access-date=June 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019112719/http://www.rnla.org/bio/BioDetail.asp?MemberID=5375 |archive-date=October 19, 2013 }}{{cite web|url=http://msbusiness.com/blog/2012/05/27/carey-inducts-alumni|title=Carey inducts alumni|newspaper=Mississippi Business Journal|date=May 27, 2012|access-date=October 23, 2013|archive-date=October 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019165630/http://msbusiness.com/blog/2012/05/27/carey-inducts-alumni/}}

;Mississippi's 42nd State Senate district election, 2007

{{Election box begin no change|title=Republican primary results}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Chris McDaniel |votes=2,790|percentage=77.27%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Alvis Jeffcoat|votes=821|percentage=22.73%}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=3,611|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=General election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Chris McDaniel|votes=10,261|percentage=60.87%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (US)|candidate=Martin C. "Popcorn" Beech|votes=6,596|percentage=39.13%}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=16,857|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Republican Party (United States)}}

{{Election box end}}

;Mississippi's 42nd State Senate district election, 2011

{{Election box begin no change|title=Republican primary results}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Chris McDaniel (incumbent)|votes=11,472|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=11,472|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=General election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Chris McDaniel (incumbent)|votes=17,590|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=17,590|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Republican Party (United States)}}

{{Election box end}}

;2014 United States Senate election in Mississippi

{{Election box begin no change|title=Republican primary results}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Chris McDaniel|votes=157,733|percentage=49.46%}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Thad Cochran (incumbent)|votes=156,315|percentage=49.02%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Thomas Carey|votes=4,854|percentage=1.52%}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=318,902|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=Republican primary runoff results}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Thad Cochran (incumbent)|votes=194,972|percentage=51.01%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Chris McDaniel|votes=187,249|percentage=48.99%}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=382,197|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box end}}

;Mississippi's 42nd State Senate district election, 2015

{{Election box begin no change|title=Republican primary results}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Chris McDaniel (incumbent)|votes=9,983|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=9,983|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=General election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Chris McDaniel (incumbent)|votes=12,489|percentage=85.81%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (US)|candidate=Johnny Ishmel Henry|votes=2,065|percentage=14.19%}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=14,554|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Republican Party (United States)}}

{{Election box end}}

;2018 United States Senate special election in Mississippi

{{Election box begin no change|title=First round}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Cindy Hyde-Smith (incumbent)|votes=389,995|percentage=41.25%}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Mike Espy|votes=386,742|percentage=40.90%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Chris McDaniel|votes=154,878|percentage=16.38%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Nonpartisan politician|candidate=Tobey Bartee|votes=13,852|percentage=1.47%}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=945,467|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box end}}

;Mississippi's 42nd state Senate district election, 2019

{{Election box begin no change|title=Republican primary results}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Chris McDaniel (incumbent)|votes=10,420|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=10,420|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=General election}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Chris McDaniel (incumbent)|votes=15,728|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=15,728|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Republican Party (United States)}}

{{Election box end}}

;2023 Mississippi lieutenant gubernatorial election

{{Election box begin no change|title=Republican primary results}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Delbert Hosemann (incumbent)|votes=198,979|percentage=52.11%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Chris McDaniel|votes=162,708|percentage=42.61%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Tiffany Longino|votes=20,143|percentage=5.28%}}

{{Election box total no change|votes=381,830|percentage=100.00%}}

{{Election box end}}

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{wikiquote}}

• [http://mcdaniel2014.com/ Chris McDaniel for U.S. Senate]
• [http://hortmanharlow.com/attorney-profiles/christopher-b-mcdaniel/ Profile] at Hortman Harlow Bassi Robinson & McDaniel
• {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=69837 | fec= | congress= }}
• {{C-SPAN|75496}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McDaniel, Chris}}

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