House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels is healing and looking for answers

Anthony Daniels Undergoes Kidney Transplant Surgery

Anthony Daniels has recently undergone kidney transplant surgery, a step that came sooner than expected, raising some questions. He participated in Alabama Politics this week to discuss his ongoing recovery, during which his wife donated one of her kidneys. They also touched on the quest to understand the causes behind his kidney damage. Daniels expressed gratitude for the support he’s received from colleagues across the political spectrum who have been affected by health issues.

“We’re now looking into it, trying to figure out what was contributing to this, or maybe even blocking it. I really wish someone could just tell me what happened,” Daniels shared. “We suspect it might be related to COVID, or possibly the vaccine. Honestly, we just don’t know.”

He reflected on how such an experience has made him recognize the kindness and care present even amid political differences. “I’ve checked in with many people—regardless of their party—and it reinforces the idea that compassion still exists despite all the disagreements,” he added.

After experiencing fatigue at the start of the 2025 legislative session, Daniels sought help from House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter and visited a doctor in Montgomery. It was there he learned about his dangerously low kidney function. As the weeks passed, the situation became surreal, with doctors confirming that he was facing kidney failure without any clear reason.

Daniels mentioned that he undergoes routine health assessments every year and usually has blood tests twice a year, but there were no indications from his primary care physician that his kidneys were in distress. He added that there’s no history of drug use, alcohol consumption, or any underlying conditions that could have led to such a sudden decline in health.

“That’s why we’re investigating so thoroughly; I’ve never been informed about any issues,” he said. “Perhaps they missed minor signs because they weren’t specifically looking for kidney-related problems, but I really want to get to the root of it.”

For now, both Daniels and his wife, Dr. Tenesia Daniels, are back home, recovering ahead of schedule, although Anthony is progressing a bit faster. He noted that recovery tends to be easier for organ recipients compared to donors since recipients aren’t losing any organs during the process.

Interestingly, Daniels now has three kidneys. “Most people probably don’t understand how it works; they think they just replace the old one with a new one,” he explained. “I didn’t know either. But, yes, I have my old kidneys functioning and the new one complementing them.”

He’s currently jogging five or six miles daily while managing steroids and anti-rejection medications that help maintain his health without gaining too much weight. He’s also re-engaging in political discussions, collaborating with Democrats and giving his Republican peers a bit of a challenge.