Danny McCullars

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Danny McCullars

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Jacksonville State University, 1988

Personal

Birthplace

Anniston, Ala.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Certified public accountant

Contact

Campaign Facebook

Personal Facebook

Personal Twitter

Personal LinkedIn

Danny McCullars (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Alabama State Senate to represent District 12. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

McCullars completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Danny McCullars was born in Anniston, Alabama. He earned a bachelor's degree from Jacksonville State University in 1988. His career experience includes working as a certified public accountant. McCullars has been affiliated with the Government Finance Officers Association and AICPA.

Elections

2022

See also: Alabama State Senate elections, 2022

General election

General election for Alabama State Senate District 12

Keith Kelley defeated Danny McCullars in the general election for Alabama State Senate District 12 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Keith Kelley (R)	73.6	28,786
		Danny McCullars (D)	26.3	10,271
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	49

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 39,106
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for Alabama State Senate District 12

Keith Kelley defeated Wendy Ghee Draper in the Republican primary runoff for Alabama State Senate District 12 on June 21, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Keith Kelley	55.2	6,456
	Submit photo	Wendy Ghee Draper	44.8	5,235

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,691
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Danny McCullars advanced from the Democratic primary for Alabama State Senate District 12.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Alabama State Senate District 12

Wendy Ghee Draper and Keith Kelley advanced to a runoff. They defeated Wayne Willis in the Republican primary for Alabama State Senate District 12 on May 24, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Wendy Ghee Draper	39.3	7,083
✔		Keith Kelley	35.4	6,387
	Submit photo	Wayne Willis	25.3	4,560

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 18,030
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Danny McCullars completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by McCullars' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Certified Public Accountant #5790 (Alabama). Fifteen years direct financial management of political subdivisions including Alabama and Georgia cities and school board. I am in public practice having served over 250 small and medium businesses, non-profits and governments. My CPA board requires 40 continuing education hours annually with two in ethics. I am asking my constituents to 1. Hire and trust me to fiscally analyze budgets and expenses and make sound arguments for the future, and 2. Expect that I will turn to the district on personal values and carry the will of the people to Montgomery. I believe society begins with public education, and our chance at broad, wide ranging success ends with public education. It’s time Alabamians recognize a one party system is a prerequisite to authoritarian rule. The founders gave us a Republic. A Republic without a binary choice in November will fail in the end. Government is quite often common sense. However, common sense often eludes our government.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Choice between two parties is needed for a republic.
• Public education must work.
• District values will come with me to Montgomery.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Health. Alabama is one of twelve states not expanding Medicaid and 300,000 lack access to comprehensive care. Health providers (pharmacists, nurse practitioners, etc have a vital role in ensuring access and affordable care.

Public Education. The Legislature must demand school boards and the department of education are transparent and engaging. Public education is the greatest opportunity for wide ranging success, but accountability must be front of mind and districts must engage at high levels.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

MLK. Courage without regard to personal sacrifice. Some things are bigger than the individual.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

“It Was All a Lie” Evolution of GOP from 1980-2018 book.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Ensuring access to government services. Representing the values of constituents. Use expertise to keep fiscal house in order.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Distaste of government waste, fraud, and ambivalence. Overreach in personal lives.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Careful thought and consideration. Ensuring agencies are led by dynamic, qualified people.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I helped recover a Republic.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Moon landing. Five.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

CPA. Six years.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Willy Wonka

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Fleetwood Mac
Queen

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The Governor should be encouraged to have her priorities introduced. However, consensus can only come from vigorous debate.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Fielding a qualified workforce therefore recruitment of industry. Increasing intrusion into personal matters by the legislature contributes to the above.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

Unicameral legislature may push bills through more efficiently, but without proper consideration. The Senate is here to thoughtfully slow things down and see a broader picture.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes. Having been on the administrative side I see inefficiency and waste. The Alabama legislature should hold agencies much more accountable.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Absolutely. This cohesion is how a bill gets properly debated at face value.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Independent commission.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Health

Governmental Relations
Education

Confirmations

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Billy Beasley

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

No

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

A story of healthcare bankruptcy. If a sudden serious medical condition strikes, we fail as a society if access is denied because of insurance status.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Grant. Emergency powers are by definition an executive function.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Enduring policies must have broad based support. Compromise is absolutely necessary but increasingly difficult in these conspiracy days.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

2022 Elections

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Candidate

Alabama State Senate District 12

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Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the Alabama State Senate

Leadership

Majority Leader:Steve Livingston

Minority Leader:Bobby Singleton

Senators

District 1

Tim Melson (R)

District 2

Tom Butler (R)

District 3

Arthur Orr (R)

District 4

Garlan Gudger (R)

District 5

Matt Woods (R)

District 6

Larry Stutts (R)

District 7

Sam Givhan (R)

District 8

Steve Livingston (R)

District 9

Wes Kitchens (R)

District 10

Andrew Jones (R)

District 11

Lance Bell (R)

District 12

Keith Kelley (R)

District 13

Randy Price (R)

District 14

April Weaver (R)

District 15

Dan Roberts (R)

District 16

J.T. Waggoner (R)

District 17

Shay Shelnutt (R)

District 18

Rodger Smitherman (D)

District 19

Merika Coleman (D)

District 20

Linda Coleman-Madison (D)

District 21

Gerald Allen (R)

District 22

Greg Albritton (R)

District 23

Robert Stewart (D)

District 24

Bobby Singleton (D)

District 25

Will Barfoot (R)

District 26

Kirk Hatcher (D)

District 27

Jay Hovey (R)

District 28

Billy Beasley (D)

District 29

Donnie Chesteen (R)

District 30

Clyde Chambliss (R)

District 31

Josh Carnley (R)

District 32

Chris Elliott (R)

District 33

Vivian Figures (D)

District 34

Jack Williams (R)

District 35

David Sessions (R)

Republican Party (27)

Democratic Party (8)