Rand Paul facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Rand Paul


Chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Gary Peters
Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee
In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Rob Portman
Succeeded by	Gary Peters
Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee
In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Ben Cardin
Succeeded by	Joni Ernst
United States Senator from Kentucky
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2011 Serving with Mitch McConnell
Preceded by	Jim Bunning

Personal details
Born	Randal Howard Paul (1963-01-07) January 7, 1963 (age 62) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Kelley Ashby (m. 1990)
Children	3
Relatives	Ron Paul (father)
Education	Baylor University Duke University (MD)
Signature

Randal Howard Paul (born January 7, 1963) is an American politician. He has been a United States senator for Kentucky since 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Paul describes himself as a "constitutional conservative." He also supports the Tea Party movement. His ideas are similar to his father's, Ron Paul, who was a U.S. Representative.

Paul studied at Baylor University and then at the Duke University School of Medicine. He worked as an ophthalmologist (an eye doctor) in Bowling Green, Kentucky, from 1993 until he was elected to the Senate in 2010. He was re-elected in 2016 and again in 2022.

Paul ran for the Republican nomination in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He first disagreed with Donald Trump during the primary elections. However, he supported Trump after he won the nomination. Paul became one of Trump's main supporters in the Senate.

Early Life and Education

Randal Howard Paul was born on January 7, 1963, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His parents are Carol and Ron Paul. Ron Paul is also a politician and a doctor. Rand is the middle child of five siblings.

Paul was raised in Lake Jackson, Texas, after his family moved there in 1968. His father started a medical practice there. When Rand was 13, his father was elected to the United States House of Representatives.

As a teenager, Paul spent summers working in his father's office in Congress. He also studied economic ideas that his father admired. Paul went to Brazoswood High School. He was on the swimming and football teams.

Paul attended Baylor University from 1981 to 1984. He was in the honors program and completed his pre-med studies quickly. He also wrote for the student newspaper. Paul left Baylor without finishing his first degree. He was accepted into the Duke University School of Medicine, his father's alma mater. He earned his medical degree in 1988. He finished his medical training in 1993.

Medical Career

After finishing his training at Duke University Medical Center, Paul moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky. He has been an active, licensed doctor there since 1993. He worked for different medical groups. In 2008, he started his own private practice. After he was elected to the Senate, he combined his practice with his former employer's.

Paul specializes in eye surgeries like cataract and glaucoma operations. He also performs LASIK procedures and corneal transplants. In 2009, Paul started the Southern Kentucky Lions Eye Clinic. This clinic helps people who cannot afford eye surgery and exams. He received an award for his work with the clinic.

National Board of Ophthalmology

In 1995, Paul was certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO). This board certifies eye doctors. The ABO changed its rules to require doctors to recertify every 10 years. Paul thought this was unfair to older doctors who had lifetime certifications.

In 1999, he created the National Board of Ophthalmology (NBO). This was an alternative way to get certified. The NBO was not accepted by major medical organizations. Its certifications were not considered valid by many hospitals and insurance companies. Paul kept his own ABO certification until 2005. His medical license has always been valid.

Political Involvement

Paul was involved in politics from a young age. He led a local group of young conservatives at Baylor University. In 1984, he took time off from college to help his father's campaign for the U.S. Senate.

While at Duke University, Paul volunteered for his father's presidential campaign. In 1991, he founded the North Carolina Taxpayers Union. This group opposed tax increases. In 1994, he started Kentucky Taxpayers United (KTU). This group encouraged politicians to promise not to raise taxes.

Paul managed his father's successful campaign for Congress in 1996. His father returned to the House of Representatives after a 12-year break. Paul often spoke for his father during his presidential campaigns, including in 2008.

In 2014, Paul and a group called FreedomWorks filed a lawsuit. They argued that the government collecting Americans' phone records was against the Fourth Amendment. Paul said he was not against spying. He just wanted the government to get a judge's warrant for individual names.

Paul has also written books. These include The Tea Party Goes to Washington (2011) and Government Bullies (2012). Time magazine included him in its list of the world's 100 most influential people in 2013 and 2014.

Becoming a U.S. Senator

Primary Campaign

In early 2009, people suggested Paul run for the U.S. Senate. He would replace Senator Jim Bunning. Paul gave his first political speech at a Tea Party rally in Bowling Green. Over 700 people attended.

On May 1, Paul said he would likely run if Senator Bunning did not seek re-election. Bunning announced on July 28 that he would not run. This left Paul and Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson as the main Republican candidates. Paul officially announced his Senate campaign on August 5.

Paul's supporters held online fundraising events. His campaign raised over $433,000 in 24 hours. This set a new record for fundraising in Kentucky. Paul raised about $3 million during the primary election. His father's network of supporters helped with fundraising.

Paul presented Grayson as a "career politician." He also questioned Grayson's conservative views. On May 18, Paul won the Republican primary. He received 59% of the votes.

General Election Campaign

In the 2010 general election, Paul ran against Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway. Outside groups spent a lot of money on this campaign. About $6 million was spent to help Paul. About $2.5 million was spent to help Conway.

Paul defeated Conway in the general election. He won with 56% of the votes. Conway received 44%.

In the U.S. Senate

First Term (2011–2013)

Paul being sworn in as a senator by Vice President Joe Biden, with his family, in the U.S. Capitol, January 2011

Paul was sworn in on January 5, 2011. His father, Ron Paul, was also serving in the House of Representatives at the same time.

Paul was assigned to several important committees. These included Energy and Natural Resources, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and Small Business. He also helped form the Senate Tea Party Caucus.

His first idea for a law was to cut $500 billion from federal spending in one year. This included big cuts to government departments. He later suggested a five-year plan to balance the national budget.

In 2011, Paul opposed U.S. involvement in the Libyan Civil War. He said President Barack Obama should have asked Congress for permission. During the debt ceiling crisis, Paul said he would only support raising the debt limit if a balanced budget amendment was passed.

Paul also blocked a bill that would provide benefits for elderly and disabled refugees. He was concerned it could help terrorists. He lifted his block after leaders promised an investigation into how refugees are chosen.

Second Term (2013–2015)

For his second term, Paul joined the Foreign Relations committee. He also kept his spots on other committees.

On March 6–7, 2013, Paul spoke for almost 13 hours in the Senate. This is called a filibuster. He wanted to delay a vote on a new CIA Director. Paul questioned the use of drones by the Obama administration. He wanted a promise that drones would not target non-combatants in the U.S. The Attorney General responded that the President would not use drone strikes against American citizens on American soil without proper legal steps. Paul was happy with this answer.

Paul speaking during his filibuster in the Senate on March 6, 2013

In March 2013, Paul, with other senators, threatened another filibuster. This one was against new gun control laws. Also in March, Paul supported Senator Mitch McConnell's re-election campaign.

When Detroit declared bankruptcy, Paul said the government should not bail it out. He believed a federal bailout would send the wrong message to other cities.

In September, Paul said the U.S. should not get involved militarily in the Syrian Civil War. He argued that opposition to military action led to diplomatic progress.

Paul helped block a treaty with Switzerland. He argued it would affect Americans' privacy. He received an award for his public policy work. In December 2014, Paul supported changes to U.S. policy towards Cuba. These changes would ease trade restrictions.

Third Term (2015–2017)

In 2015, Paul re-introduced a bill to make the Federal Reserve more transparent. He also introduced the FAIR Act. This act would limit how the government can take private property.

Paul spoke for over ten hours on May 20, 2015. He was against renewing a part of the Patriot Act. This section was prevented from being renewed on June 1.

After the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February 2016, Paul said he would oppose any Supreme Court nominee from President Obama.

Paul spoke at the National Rifle Association of America on May 20. He called for getting rid of gun-free zones. He said tragedies often happen in these places.

Fourth Term (2017–2019)

In March 2017, Paul introduced a bill called the Stop Arming Terrorists Act. This bill would stop the U.S. government from helping groups like Al Qaeda and ISIL.

Paul questioned President Trump's missile strike in Syria in April 2017. He said the U.S. was not attacked. He believed Congress should authorize any further action.

Paul was one of 22 senators who asked President Trump to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. This agreement deals with climate change.

In October 2017, Paul said he would not vote for the Republican budget. He wanted billions of dollars in spending removed from the plan.

Affordable Care Act Repeal

On January 25, 2017, Paul introduced a bill to replace the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). His plan included a $5,000 tax credit for each person. It would not require everyone to have health coverage.

Paul spoke with President Trump about healthcare. He suggested that repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act should be two separate bills. Paul said Republicans agreed on repealing the act but disagreed on how to replace it.

After the bill was pulled from a vote, Paul thanked House conservatives. He called the bill "ObamaCare Lite." He later discussed healthcare with Trump at a golf club.

Paul said he would vote for a partial repeal. However, he would not support new government entitlement programs. He believed these were in both the House and Senate versions of the bill. Paul also said a bill called Graham-Cassidy would not pass. He tweeted that it kept "90% of Obamacare."

On September 22, President Trump tweeted that anyone who voted against the healthcare bill would be known as "the Republican who saved Obamacare." Paul responded that he would not be forced to support the bill.

Fifth Term (2019–2021)

In January 2019, Paul criticized Senator Mitt Romney. Romney had written an article criticizing President Trump. Paul said Romney's criticism was bad for the country and the Republican Party.

On July 17, 2019, Paul blocked a bill to renew the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. He wanted to add an amendment to offset the new spending with other cuts. Comedian Jon Stewart and a 9/11 first responder criticized Paul. They said he was being hypocritical about spending. Paul responded that he always insists on "pay-go provisions" for new spending.

Paul speaking at a Turning Point USA event in 2020

In November 2019, Paul asked the media to reveal the identity of the Trump Ukraine whistleblower. He threatened to reveal the name himself.

In September 2020, Paul was the only Republican to vote against a COVID-19 aid package. He joined Democrats in voting against it. Paul's concern was that it would add to the national debt.

After the 2020 presidential election, Paul claimed the election was "stolen." He later accepted the official election results.

Sixth Term (2023–2025)

In March 2023, Paul blocked a bill that would ban the app TikTok in the United States. He said a ban would violate First Amendment rights. He also said U.S. tech companies have failed to protect user data.

On January 11, 2024, Paul announced he had a major announcement about the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries. The next day, he launched a website called "Never Nikki." He opposed Nikki Haley's foreign policy ideas. He said he liked Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but did not officially endorse anyone.

Committee Assignments

Paul serves on several important Senate committees:

Committee on Foreign Relations
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Subcommittee on Children and Families (chairman)
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
- Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia (chairman)
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Ranking Member)

2016 Presidential Campaign

Paul speaking at the 2013 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, on March 14, 2013

Paul was considered a possible candidate for president since 2013. He gave the Tea Party response to President Obama's State of the Union address in 2013. This made some people think the 2016 Republican primary race had begun.

Paul spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). He won the presidential straw poll there for three years in a row. This made some people see him as a front-runner.

In April 2014, Paul said the Republican Party needed to attract more people. He said it should not be seen as the party of "fat cats, rich people and Wall Street." He wanted conservatives to focus on justice and help for the unemployed. He also wanted them to oppose government surveillance. This would attract young people, Hispanic voters, and Black voters.

Paul officially announced his presidential campaign on April 7, 2015. He raised $1 million within a day of his announcement.

Leaving the Presidential Race

Paul announced he was ending his presidential campaign on February 3, 2016. This was shortly after the Iowa caucus, where he finished in fifth place.

Political Views

Paul supports the Tea Party movement. He calls himself a "constitutional conservative."

Immigration

In September 2017, the Trump administration announced it would end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Paul said the executive order that created DACA was illegal. He believed Congress needed to work together to fix the program.

In 2019, Paul was one of 11 Republicans who voted against Trump's request for "emergency border funding."

Climate Change

Paul has not fully accepted the scientific agreement on climate change. Scientists agree that global warming is real, happening, and mostly caused by humans. Paul has said that pollution emissions are subject to "onerous regulation." In 2018, he called for an investigation into a grant for educating meteorologists about climate change. He called it "propagandizing."

Animal Rights

In 2021, Paul and Senator Cory Booker supported the FDA Modernization Act 2.0. This law removed the rule that new drugs must be tested on animals before human trials. It became law in December 2022.

Disease Control

In 2009, Paul suggested that mandatory vaccination would be like martial law. In 2015, he said most vaccinations should be voluntary. He believed parents should have the freedom to decide for their children.

Paul has shared false claims about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and other vaccines. He once said he heard of children getting "profound mental disorders after vaccines." However, he posted a photo of himself getting vaccinated in February 2015.

In October 2023, Paul published a book called Deception: The Great Covid Cover-Up.

Health Care

Paul supports getting rid of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). He is against universal health care. He once compared it to slavery.

Instead, Paul favors expanding health savings accounts. He also wants to provide a $5,000 tax credit. His plan would allow health insurance to be sold across state lines. It would also let individuals and small businesses group together to buy insurance. His plan would protect people with pre-existing conditions for two years.

Term Limits

In November 2019, Paul signed a pledge to support a constitutional amendment. This amendment would limit senators to two terms. In 2022, he was elected for his third term. He said he supports term limits for everyone, not just for some. He is a co-sponsor of the constitutional amendment.

Economic Issues

Paul supports a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This would require Congress to balance the budget every year. He has suggested a "Penny Plan" to cut federal spending by 1% each year. This would balance the budget in five years. Paul has opposed raising the debt ceiling without big spending cuts.

When he ran for president in 2016, Paul proposed a "Fair and Flat Tax" plan. He said it would "repeal the entire IRS tax code." It would replace it with a low, broad tax of 14.5% on individuals and businesses.

Paul has introduced legislation to audit the Federal Reserve. He believes there should be a real audit of the Fed's decisions and operations.

Personal Life

Paul with his family on the Capitol steps

Paul is married to Kelley Paul (née Ashby), who is a writer. They got married on October 20, 1990. They have three sons: William (born 1992), Duncan, and Robert. William and Duncan went to the University of Kentucky. Robert attended a private school in the Washington, D.C. area. The family lives in Bowling Green, Kentucky. They have been active members of the Presbyterian church and more recently attended a United Methodist church.

Images for kids

Paul speaking at a Tea Party rally in Hawesville, Kentucky, on November 21, 2009
Paul greeting supporters at Bowman Field in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 1, 2010
Paul campaigning with his father, Ron Paul, for his 2012 presidential campaign in Waterloo, Iowa, on August 10, 2011
Paul at the 2019 Turning Point USA Winter Gala at Mar-a-Lago
Paul being interviewed by Jerry Doyle at Liberty Political Action Conference (LPAC) 2011 in Reno, Nevada, September 16, 2011
Paul in New Hampshire, August 13, 2015
Paul and his father Ron Paul at an event hosted in their honor at CPAC 2011 in Washington, D.C.