Rand Paul#U.S. Senate

Randal Howard Paul was born on January 7, 1963, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Carol (née Wells) and Ron Paul, who is also a politician and physician. The middle child of five, his siblings are Ronald "Ronnie" Paul Jr., Lori Paul Pyeatt, Robert Paul, and Joy Paul LeBlanc.{{Cite web |last=Stonington |first=Joel |date=October 4, 2010 |title=How Old Is Rand Paul? |url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/10/04/how-old-is-rand-paul |access-date=December 16, 2010 |website=Politics Daily}}{{Cite news |last=Leibovich |first=Mark |date=2010-06-05 |title=For Paul Family, Libertarian Ethos Began at Home |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/us/politics/06paul.html |access-date=2023-02-28 |issn=0362-4331}}

Paul was baptized in the Episcopal Church{{Cite web |last=O'Bryan |first=Jason |date=October 25, 2010 |title=What Is Rand Paul's Religion? |url=http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/10/25/what-is-rand-pauls-religion |access-date=January 31, 2011 |website=Politics Daily |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107181748/https://www.huffpost.com/ |url-status=dead }} and identified as a practicing Christian as a teenager.{{cite news |last=Wolfson |first=Andrew |title=Rand Paul rides tide of anti-Washington sentiment |work=The Courier-Journal|location=Louisville, Kentucky |date=October 18, 2010 |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/2166776301.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+18%2C+2010&author=Andrew+Wolfson&pub=Courier+-+Journal&edition=&startpage=n%2Fa&desc=Rand+Paul+rides+tide+of+anti-Washington+sentiment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629024018/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/2166776301.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+18,+2010&author=Andrew+Wolfson&pub=Courier+-+Journal&edition=&startpage=n%2Fa&desc=Rand+Paul+rides+tide+of+anti-Washington+sentiment |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |access-date=February 23, 2011}}

Despite his father's libertarian views and strong support for individual rights,{{cite web |last=Healy |first=Gene |author-link=Gene Healy |title=Rand Paul, Anti-Incumbent Republican |website=Cato Institute |date=May 18, 2010 |url=http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=11819 |access-date=February 8, 2011 |quote=Given father Ron's libertarian convictions, people often assume that he is named after the self-styled 'radical for capitalism' who wrote Atlas Shrugged.}} the novelist Ayn Rand was not the inspiration for his first name. Growing up, he went by "Randy",{{cite news |last= Leibovich |first=Mark |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/us/politics/06paul.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all |title=For Paul Family, Libertarian Ethos Began at Home |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 6, 2010 |date=June 6, 2010}} but his wife shortened it to "Rand".{{cite web |last=Rettig |first=Jessica |url=http://politics.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/06/03/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-rand-paul.html |title=10 Things You Didn't Know About Rand Paul |work=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=December 12, 2010 |date=June 3, 2010}}{{cite magazine |last=Burnette |first=Eric |url=http://www.louisville.com/content/gospel-according-paul-louisville-magazines-inside-look-us-senate-candidate-rand-paul-news |title=The Gospel According to Paul |magazine=Louisville |access-date=December 30, 2010 |date=September 7, 2010 |archive-date=October 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013100622/http://www.louisville.com/content/gospel-according-paul-louisville-magazines-inside-look-us-senate-candidate-rand-paul-news |url-status=dead }}

The Paul family moved to Lake Jackson, Texas in 1968, where he was raised{{cite news |last=Horowitz |first=Jason |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020303643.html |title=Running for Senate, Rand Paul lights a fire under Kentucky GOP |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 23, 2011|date=February 4, 2010}}{{cite web |last=Wolfford |first=David |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/229456/rand-against-machine/david-wolfford |title=Rand against the Machine |work=National Review |access-date=February 23, 2011 |date=April 5, 2010 |archive-date=November 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101155643/http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/229456/rand-against-machine/david-wolfford |url-status=dead }} and where his father began a medical practice and for a period of time was the only obstetrician in Brazoria County.{{Cite book |last=Watterson |first=Mark |title=Don't Weep for Me, America: How Democracy in America Became the Prince (While We Slept) |publisher=Dorrance Publishing |year=2008 |page=203 |isbn=978-0-8059-7890-2}}{{cite news |last=Sherman |first=Jerome L. |url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07215/806597-176.stm |title=Texas congressman brings presidential campaign to hometown |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=February 12, 2011 |date=August 3, 2007 |quote=He and his wife decided to settle in the southeastern Texan town of Lake Jackson, near the site of his military service. For a period, Paul was the only obstetrician in Brazoria County, and he delivered as many as 50 babies a month.}}

When Rand was 13, his father Ron Paul was elected to the United States House of Representatives.{{cite web |last=Straub |first=Bill |url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/sep/19/rand-paul/ |title=Off and running: Rand Paul |work=Evansville Courier & Press |access-date=February 23, 2011 |date=September 19, 2010 |archive-date=July 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719173116/http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/sep/19/rand-paul/ |url-status=dead }} That same year, Paul attended the 1976 Republican National Convention, where his father headed Ronald Reagan's Texas delegation.{{cite magazine |last1=Lizza |first1=Ryan |title=The Revenge of Rand Paul |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/06/revenge-rand-paul |access-date=October 8, 2014 |magazine=The New Yorker |date=October 6, 2014}} The younger Paul spent several summer vacations interning in his father's congressional office.{{cite news |title=Rand Paul's Mixed Inheritance |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/26/us/politics/rand-pauls-mixed-inheritance.html |access-date=January 27, 2014 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 25, 2014 |author-link1=Sam Tanenhaus |first1=Sam |last1=Tanenhaus |author-link2=Jim Rutenberg |first2=Jim |last2=Rutenberg}} In his teenage years, Paul studied the Austrian economists that his father respected, as well as the writings of Objectivist philosopher Ayn Rand. Paul went to Brazoswood High School and was on the swimming team and played defensive back on the football team.

Paul attended Baylor University from fall 1981 to summer 1984 and was enrolled in the honors program. During the time he spent at Baylor, he completed his pre-med requirements in two and a half years, was involved in the swim team and the Young Conservatives of Texas and was a member of a tongue-in-cheek secret organization, the NoZe Brotherhood, known for its irreverent humor.{{cite news |last=Brammer |first=Jack |url=http://www.kentucky.com/2010/08/11/1385157/paul-calls-allegations-in-gq-story.html |title=Paul: GQ allegations 'absolutely untrue' |work=Lexington Herald-Leader |access-date=February 27, 2011 |date=September 28, 2010 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200430/http://www.kentucky.com/2010/08/11/1385157/paul-calls-allegations-in-gq-story.html |url-status=dead }} He regularly contributed to The Baylor Lariat student newspaper. Paul left Baylor without completing his baccalaureate degree,{{cite news |title=Rand Paul's claim – twice in one day – that he has a biology degree |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2015/02/13/rand-pauls-claim-twice-in-one-day-that-he-has-a-biology-degree/?postshare=8041423829610892 |date=February 13, 2015 |newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Glenn |last=Kessler |access-date=February 13, 2015}} when he was accepted into his father's alma mater, the Duke University School of Medicine, which, at the time, did not require an undergraduate degree for admission to its graduate school. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1988 and completed his residency in 1993.{{cite news |last=Brammer |first=Jack |date=August 5, 2010 |title=Contrary to some media reports, Rand Paul has no bachelor's degree |url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/election/article44043144.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120111732/https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/election/article44043144.html |archive-date=January 20, 2019|work=Lexington Herald-Leader |access-date=September 4, 2021}}

After completing his residency at Duke University in ophthalmology, Paul moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he has been an "active, licensed physician" since 1993.{{cite web |last1=Wagner |first1=Bayliss |title=Fact check: Rand Paul is still licensed to practice ophthalmology |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/08/16/fact-check-rand-pauls-medical-licensed-wasnt-revoked/8111719002/ |website=USA Today |access-date=10 February 2022 |language=en |date=16 August 2021 }}{{cite web |last1=O'Rourke |first1=Clara |title=PolitiFact – No, Rand Paul's medical license wasn't revoked |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/aug/13/facebook-posts/no-rand-pauls-medical-license-wasnt-revoked/ |website=PolitiFact|publisher=The Poynter Institute |access-date=10 February 2022 |language=en |date=13 August 2021}} He worked for Downing McPeak Vision Centers for five years. In 1998, he joined a private medical group practice, the Graves Gilbert Clinic, in Bowling Green, for 10 years. In 2008, Paul formed his own private practice across the street from John Downing, his former employer at Downing McPeak. After his election to the U.S. Senate, he merged his practice with Downing's medical practice.{{cite web |last=Harmon |first=Hayley |title=Rand Paul's Practice Merges with Downing-McPeak |website=WBKO |date=January 5, 2011 |url=http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/Rand_Pauls_Practice_Merges_with_Downing-McPeak_112968089.html |access-date=March 12, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107095436/http://www.wbko.com/home/headlines/Rand_Pauls_Practice_Merges_with_Downing-McPeak_112968089.html |archive-date=January 7, 2011 }}

Paul has faced two malpractice lawsuits between 1993 and 2010; he was cleared in one case while the other was settled for $50,000.{{cite news |last=Van Benschoten |first=Amanda |title=Rand Paul's political rise surprises even those in Bowling Green |newspaper=The Courier-Journal |date=July 5, 2010 |url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100705/NEWS0106/7050340/Rand-Paul-s-political-rise-surprises-even-those-Bowling-Green |access-date=March 6, 2011}} His medical work has been praised by Downing and he has medical privileges at two Bowling Green hospitals. In April 2020, after recovering from COVID-19, Paul began volunteering at a hospital in Bowling Green, assisting them in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky.{{cite news |last1=Brammer |first1=Jack |title=Rand Paul says he has recovered from COVID-19 and is volunteering at a hospital |url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article241830831.html |access-date=April 7, 2020 |work=Lexington Herald Leader |date=April 7, 2020}}

Paul specializes in cataract and glaucoma surgeries, LASIK procedures, and corneal transplants. As a member of the Bowling Green Noon Lions Club, Paul founded the Southern Kentucky Lions Eye Clinic in 2009 to help provide eye surgery and exams for those who cannot afford to pay.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kulr8.com/news/state/13944012.html |work=KULR-TV |date=January 21, 2008 |access-date=April 4, 2009 |agency=Associated Press |title=Son of long-shot presidential hopeful to visit Montana |location=Billings, Montana |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525190721/http://www.kulr8.com/news/state/13944012.html |archive-date=May 25, 2010}} Paul won the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for Dedicated Humanitarian Services from the Lions Club International Foundation for his work establishing the Southern Kentucky Lions Eye Clinic.{{cite news |last1=Thomason |first1=Andrew |title=Rand Paul's balancing act |url=http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/rand-paul-s-balancing-act/article_3134ce1f-d32b-5098-8127-2a8f8b9dd592.html |access-date=August 15, 2014 |newspaper=Park City Daily News |date=September 5, 2010}}

In 1995, Paul was certified to practice by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO).{{cite web|url=https://abop.org/verify-a-physician/?fn=rand&ln=paul#physician-list-search-results|title=Verify a Physician|website=abop.org}} Three years earlier, the ABO had changed its certification program, which previously awarded lifetime certifications, and required ophthalmologists to recertify every 10 years, while those who had already been given lifetime certification were not required to recertify. Paul felt this was unfair and campaigned to have all ophthalmologists recertify every ten years.

In 1999, he incorporated the National Board of Ophthalmology (NBO) to offer an alternative certification system, at a cost substantially lower than that of the ABO.{{cite news |first=David A. |last=Fahrenthold |title=How Rand Paul tried to lead an eye doctors' rebellion |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-rand-paul-tried-to-lead-an-eye-doctors-rebellion/2015/02/01/010994da-9cd6-11e4-a7ee-526210d665b4_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 1, 2015 |access-date=April 9, 2015}}{{cite news |last=Weigel |first=David |author-link=David Weigel|title=Rand Paul: I passed my ophthalmology certification, but took a stand against the way the board operates |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 14, 2010 |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/06/rand_paul_i_passed_my_opthamal.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715232753/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/06/rand_paul_i_passed_my_opthamal.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 15, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2011}}{{cite web |last=Montopoli |first=Brian |title=Rand Paul's Addresses Ophthalmology Certification Questions |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rand-pauls-addresses-ophthalmology-certification-questions/ |work=CBS News |access-date=October 18, 2013 |date=June 14, 2010}} Board members were Paul, his wife, and his father-in-law.{{cite web|date=June 14, 2010|title=Rand Paul's Doctor Credentials Questioned for Lacking Top Board's Certification|url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/rand-pauls-doctor-credentials-questioned-for-lacking-top-boards-certification|access-date=October 18, 2013|work=Fox News|agency=Associated Press}} His father-in-law, the board's secretary, stated "I never did go to any meetings{{nbsp}}... There was really nothing involved. It was more just a title than anything else, for me". By Paul's estimate, about 50 or 60 doctors were certified by the NBO. The NBO was not accepted as an accrediting entity by organizations such as the American Board of Medical Specialties, and its certification was considered invalid by many hospitals and insurance companies. Paul did not file the required paperwork with the Kentucky Secretary of State's office for the NBO's renewal to operate in 2000. He recreated the board in 2005, but it was again dissolved in 2011.{{cite web |title=Certificate of Dissolution |url=https://app.sos.ky.gov/corpscans/24/0479924-09-99999-20111101-ADS-4902880-PU.pdf |website=Kentucky Secretary of State |access-date=February 5, 2013 |archive-date=August 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823090416/https://app.sos.ky.gov/corpscans/24/0479924-09-99999-20111101-ADS-4902880-PU.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Paul maintained his own ABO certification from 1995 to 2005. Specialty certification does not affect physician licensure, and Paul's medical license has been valid continuously, with no board actions, since June 1993.{{cite web |title=Kentucky: GenSearch Board of Medical Licensure |url=http://web1.ky.gov/GenSearch/LicenseList.aspx?AGY=5&FLD1=Paul&FLD2=29638&FLD3=0&FLD4=0&TYPE= |website=web1.ky.gov |access-date=10 February 2022}}

Paul was head of the local chapter of the Young Conservatives of Texas during his time at Baylor University. In 1984, Paul took a semester off to aid his father's campaign in the Republican primary for the 1984 U.S. Senate election in Texas, which the elder Paul eventually lost to fellow Representative Phil Gramm, who would go on to defeat Democratic nominee Lloyd Doggett in the general election.

While attending Duke University School of Medicine, Paul volunteered for his father's presidential campaign.

In response to the breaking of President George H. W. Bush's promise not to raise taxes, Paul founded the North Carolina Taxpayers Union in 1991. In 1994, he founded the anti-tax organization Kentucky Taxpayers United (KTU), and was chair of the organization from its inception. He has often cited his involvement with KTU as the foundation of his involvement with state politics.{{cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/10/14/rand-pauls-antitax-group-has-been-inactive-for-years/ |title=Rand Paul's Antitax Group Has Been Inactive for Years |first=Douglas A. |last=Blackmon |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=October 14, 2010 |access-date=November 3, 2010}} The group{{Cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB7405EA721DDBE&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work=Lexington Herald-Leader |title=56 Honored by Taxpayers Group |page=C4 |date=April 16, 1996 |access-date=April 4, 2009}}{{Cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB7350C1BCFAFDF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work=Lexington Herald-Leader |title=Legislators Honored as Anti-Tax 'Heroes' But Several Honorees Recently Voted for Tax |page=A12 |date=April 13, 2000 |access-date=April 4, 2009}} examined Kentucky legislators' records on taxation and spending and encouraged politicians to publicly pledge to vote uniformly against tax increases.{{Cite news |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A72916086/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=410a424f |title=8 Legislators Named Friends of Taxpayers |quote=Recognized by Kentucky Taxpayers United were Sens. Gex 'Jay' Williams and Dick Roeding and Reps. Charlie Walton, Paul Marcotte, Katie Stine, Tom Kerr, Dick Murgatroyd and Jon David Reinhardt {{interp|...}} Rand Paul, the group's chairman, said the organization did the ranking so voters could see where their lawmakers stand on the issues |last=Collins |first=Michael |work=Kentucky Post|location=Covington, Kentucky |date=April 16, 1996 |access-date=April 4, 2009|via=Gale OneFile: News}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-63443974.html |title=Not One Cent More |date=March 29, 2000 |access-date=April 4, 2009 |work=Kentucky Post |last=Paul |first=Rand}}{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Paul managed his father's successful 1996 congressional campaign, in which the elder Paul returned to the House after a twelve-year absence. The elder Paul defeated incumbent Democrat-turned-Republican Greg Laughlin in the Republican primary, despite Laughlin's support from the National Republican Congressional Committee and Republican leaders such as Newt Gingrich and George W. Bush.

The Wall Street Journal reported in 2010 that, although Paul had told a Kentucky television audience as recently as September 2009 that KTU published ratings each year on state legislators' tax positions and that "we've done that for about 15 years", the group had stopped issuing its ratings and report cards after 2002 and had been legally dissolved by the state in 2000 after failing to file registration documents.

Paul spoke on his father's behalf when his father was campaigning for office,{{cite web |url=http://www.ronpaul2008.com/events/rand-paul/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123211511/http://www.ronpaul2008.com/events/rand-paul |archive-date=January 23, 2008 |title=Dr. Rand Paul: Upcoming Events |website=Ron Paul 2008 |access-date=December 20, 2007}} including throughout the elder Paul's run in the 2008 presidential election, during which Rand campaigned door-to-door in New Hampshire{{Cite news |url=http://www.bgdailynews.com/articles/2007/06/06/news/news9.txt |work=Bowling Green Daily News |last=Gaines |first=Jim |title=Bowling Green ophthalmologist says father, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, stands a good chance in N.H. primary election |date=June 6, 2007 |access-date=April 4, 2009}} and spoke in Boston at a fundraising rally for his father on the 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party.{{cite news |last=Santora |first=Marc |title=Reinventing the revolution |url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/reinventing-the-revolution/ |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 16, 2007}}

In February 2014, Paul joined the Tea Party-affiliated conservative advocacy group FreedomWorks in filing a class action lawsuit charging that the federal government's bulk collection of Americans' phone records metadata is a violation of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.{{cite web |last=Glueck |first=Katie |title=Rand Paul files class-action suit vs NSA |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/02/rand-paul-national-security-agency-lawsuit-103423.html |website=Politico|date=February 12, 2014}}{{cite news |last=Fuller |first=Jaime |title=Rand Paul files suit against Obama, NSA Wednesday |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/02/12/rand-paul-files-suit-against-obama-nsa-today/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 12, 2014}}{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=James R. |title=Rand Paul files lawsuit against NSA, President Obama over phone surveillance |url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20140212/NEWS01/302120057/Rand-Paul-files-lawsuit-against-NSA-President-Obama-over-phone-surveillance |newspaper=Courier-Journal |date=February 12, 2014}} Commenting on the lawsuit at a press conference, Paul said, "I'm not against the National Security Agency, I'm not against spying, I'm not against looking at phone records... I just want you to go to a judge, have an individual's name and [get] a warrant. That's what the Fourth Amendment says." He also said there was no evidence the surveillance of phone metadata had stopped terrorism. Critics, including Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz{{cite news |last=Klimas |first=Jacqueline |title=Rand Paul pandering to GOP with NSA lawsuit, former Dem governor says |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/feb/12/ed-rendell-rand-paul-pandering-gop-nsa-lawsuit/ |newspaper=The Washington Times |date=February 12, 2014}} and Steven Aftergood, the director of the American Scientists' Project on Government Secrecy, called the lawsuit a political "stunt". Paul's political campaign organization said that the names of members of the public who went to Paul's websites and signed on as potential class-action participants would be available in the organization's database for future campaign use.{{cite news |last=Ballhaus |first=Rebecca |title=Rand Paul files class action lawsuit over NSA surveillance |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/02/12/rand-paul-files-class-action-lawsuit-over-nsa-surveillance |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 12, 2014}}

On the announcement of the filing of the lawsuit, Mattie Fein, the spokeswoman for and former wife of attorney Bruce Fein, complained that Fein's intellectual contribution to the lawsuit had been stolen and that he had not been properly paid for his work.{{cite news |last=Milbank |first=Dana |title=E-mails back claim that Sen. Rand Paul 'stole' NSA lawsuit |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2014/02/13/e-mails-back-claim-that-sen-rand-paul-stole-nsa-lawsuit |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 13, 2014}} Paul's representatives denied the charge, and Fein issued a statement saying that Mattie Fein had not been authorized to speak for him on the matter and that he had in fact been paid for his work on the lawsuit.

Paul is co-author of a book entitled The Tea Party Goes to Washington (2011){{Cite book |title=The Tea Party Goes to Washington |location=Nashville |publisher=Center Street |date=2011 |page=254}}{{cite news |last=Lowman |first=Stephen |title=Every Congress member to get Rand Paul's book |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 22, 2011 |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/political-bookworm/2011/02/every_member_of_congress_is_ge.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011045542/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/political-bookworm/2011/02/every_member_of_congress_is_ge.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2012 |access-date=March 5, 2011}} and also the author of Government Bullies (2012).{{ASIN|1455522759}} In 2013 and 2014, Paul was included in a list of the world's 100 most influential people by Time magazine,{{cite web |last=Gavin |first=Patrick |title=Politicians line Time's 100 list |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/times-100-list-90271.html |website=Politico|access-date=April 18, 2013 |date=April 18, 2013}}{{cite web |last=Lesniewski |first=Niels |title=Paul, Gillibrand Represent the Senate on Time's '100 Most Influential' |url=http://blogs.rollcall.com/wgdb/paul-gillibrand-represent-the-senate-on-times-100-most-influential/?dcz= |website=Roll Call |access-date=August 19, 2014 |date=April 24, 2014 |archive-date=May 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505050411/http://blogs.rollcall.com/wgdb/paul-gillibrand-represent-the-senate-on-times-100-most-influential/?dcz= |url-status=dead }} to which he is a contributor.{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/author/sen-rand-paul/ |title=Sen. Rand Paul |magazine=Time|access-date=March 20, 2017}}

{{Main|2010 United States Senate election in Kentucky}}

File:Rand Paul in Hawesville by Gage Skidmore.jpg, on November 21, 2009]]

In early 2009, some supporters of his father sought to draft Paul in a bid to replace beleaguered Republican U.S. senator Jim Bunning. Paul's potential candidacy was discussed in the Los Angeles Times{{cite news |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/03/ron-paul-defend.html |title=Ron Paul defends earmarks, says anti-pork McCain is just grandstanding |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 11, 2009 |access-date=November 3, 2010}} and locally in the Kentucky press.{{cite web |url=http://kywordsmith.com/#/rand-paul-issues/4533680792 |title=Rand Paul Set To Launch |date=May 9, 2009 |website=kywordsmith.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016134135/http://kywordsmith.com/#/rand-paul-issues/4533680792 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |access-date=June 6, 2009 }} Paul's father said, "Should Senator Bunning decide not to run, I think Rand would make a great U.S. Senator."{{cite journal |title=Congressman Paul's Statement on His Son Rand Paul |last=Martin |first=T. |journal=Pediatrics Week |date=March 21, 2009}} On April 15, Paul gave his first political speech as a potential candidate at a Tea Party rally held in his town of Bowling Green, where more than 700 people had gathered in support of the Tea Party movement.{{Cite book |title=The Tea Party Goes to Washington |location=Nashville |publisher=Center Street |date=2011}}{{page needed|date=June 2024}}

On May 1, Paul said that if Bunning, whose fundraising matched his poor numbers in opinion polling for the upcoming election,{{Cite web |url=http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/05/bunning-retirement-might-not-save-gop.html |title=Bunning Retirement Might Not Save GOP in Kentucky |website=FiveThirtyEight |first=Nate |last=Silver |date=May 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801041618/http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/05/bunning-retirement-might-not-save-gop.html |archive-date=August 1, 2009}} declined to seek a third term, he would almost certainly run in the Republican Party primary to succeed him,{{Cite web |url=http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/44184752.html |title=Dr. Rand Paul Ready To Enter Primary For Bunning's Seat |website=WBKO |date=May 1, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120529140108/http://www.wbko.com/news/headlines/44184752.html |archive-date=May 29, 2012 }} and formed an exploratory committee soon after, while still promising to stay out of the race if Bunning ultimately decided to run for reelection.{{cite web |url=http://kywordsmith.com/#/paul-forms-exploratary-cmte/4533578818 |title=Rand Paul To Form Exploratory Committee For U.S. Senate Bid... |date=May 14, 2009 |website=kywordsmith.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016134135/http://kywordsmith.com/ |archive-date=October 16, 2015}}

On July 28, Bunning announced that he would not run for reelection in the face of insufficient fundraising. The announcement left only Paul and Kentucky secretary of state Trey Grayson as the remaining candidates for the Republican nomination,{{cite web |last=Memoli |first=Mike |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/politics_nation/2009/06/ky_sen_potential_bunning_chall.html |title=Politics Nation – KY Sen: Potential Bunning Challenger Passes On Race |website=RealClearPolitics |date=June 15, 2009 |access-date=May 19, 2010}} with Paul announcing on August 5 that he would officially run for the U.S. Senate as a Republican.{{cite news |last=Gerth |first=Joseph |date=August 5, 2009 |url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090805/NEWS0106/908050401/Paul+says+he+will+run+for+Senate |title=Paul says he will run for Senate |work=Courier-Journal |access-date=August 5, 2009}}{{cite web |last=Giroux |first=Greg |date=August 5, 2009 |url=http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2009/08/rand-paul-declares-candidacy-f.html |title=Rand Paul Declares Candidacy For Kentucky Senate Seat |work=CQ Politics |access-date=August 7, 2009 }}{{dead link|date=July 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite web |last=Keck |first=Kristi |date=August 6, 2009 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/06/kentucky.senate.paul/ |title=Ron Paul's son following in father's footsteps |website=CNN|access-date=August 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809123009/http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/06/kentucky.senate.paul/ |archive-date=August 9, 2009 }}

On August 20, Paul's supporters planned a moneybomb to kick off his campaign. The official campaign took in $433,509 in 24 hours. His website reported that this set a new record in Kentucky's political fundraising history in a 24-hour period.{{cite web |url=http://www.randpaul2010.com/2009/08/rand-bomb-breaks-record/ |title=Rand Bomb Breaks Record |website=RandPaul2010.com |date=August 22, 2009 |access-date=November 3, 2010 |archive-date=April 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402071213/http://www.randpaul2010.com/2009/08/rand-bomb-breaks-record/ |url-status=dead }} A second moneybomb was held on September 23 to counter a Washington, D.C. fundraiser being held for Grayson by 23 Republican U.S. senators.{{cite web |url=http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2009/08/31/web-site-promotes-fight-to-raise-money-for-paul/ |title=Web site promotes 'fight' to raise money for Paul |first=Jack |last=Brammer |date=September 1, 2009 |website=Bluegrass Politics |access-date=February 2, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708015857/http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2009/08/31/web-site-promotes-fight-to-raise-money-for-paul/ |archive-date=July 8, 2011}} The theme was an Ultimate Fighting Championship "fight" between "We the People" and the "D.C. Insiders".{{cite web |url=http://www.kentuckyfight.com/ |title=Rand vs. Trey |date=September 1, 2009 |website=Kentucky Fight |access-date=February 2, 2020 |archive-date=June 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610033357/http://kentuckyfight.com/ |url-status=dead }} Later in the campaign, Paul claimed his pledge to not take money from lobbyists and senators who had voted for the bailout was only a "primary pledge";{{cite news |last=Schreiner |first=Bruce |title=Rand Paul flips, seeks money from bailout senators |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/feedarticle/9139316 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=June 23, 2010 |location=London}} he subsequently held a fundraiser in Washington, D.C., with the same senators who had been the target of the September 23 moneybomb. Paul ended up raising some $3 million during the primary period. Paul's fundraising was aided by his father's network of supporters.

Although Grayson was considered the frontrunner in July,{{cite web |url=http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2009/07/28/some-conservatives-skeptical-of-grayson/ |title=Some conservatives wary of Grayson |first=Jack |last=Brammer |date=July 28, 2009 |website=Bluegrass Politics |access-date=February 2, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024044332/http://bluegrasspolitics.bloginky.com/2009/07/28/some-conservatives-skeptical-of-grayson/ |archive-date=October 24, 2010}} Paul found success characterizing Grayson as a "career politician" and challenging Grayson's conservatism. Paul ran an ad in February that made an issue out of Grayson's 2008 admission that he voted for Bill Clinton when he was 20 years old.{{cite news |url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article44024586.html |title=Senate ads trade barbs on defense |first=Jack |last=Brammer |date=February 27, 2010 |newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader |access-date=February 2, 2020}} James Dobson, a Christian evangelical figure, endorsed Grayson on April 26, 2010, based on the advice of what Dobson described as "senior members of the GOP", but on May 3, the Paul campaign announced that Dobson had changed his endorsement to Paul{{cite web |url=http://www.randpaul2010.com/2010/05/dr-james-dobson-endorses-rand-paul/ |title=Dr. James Dobson Endorses Rand Paul |date=May 3, 2010 |website=RandPaul2010.com |access-date=February 2, 2020 |archive-date=March 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327082308/http://www.randpaul2010.com/2010/05/dr-james-dobson-endorses-rand-paul/ |url-status=dead }} after Paul and some Paul supporters had lobbied Dobson insisting on Paul's social conservative bona fides.{{cite news |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/05/james_dobson_endorses_rand_pau.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007101048/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/right-now/2010/05/james_dobson_endorses_rand_pau.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 7, 2012 |title=James Dobson endorses Rand Paul, apologizes for having previously backed his opponent |first=David |last=Weigel |date=May 3, 2010 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 2, 2020}} On May 18, Paul won the Republican primary with 59% of the vote to Grayson's 35%.{{cite web |url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/KY/15261/30235/en/summary.html |title=2010 Kentucky Primary results |website=Kentucky Secretary of State |access-date=February 2, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Official 2010 Kentucky Election Results |url=http://elect.ky.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Election%20Results/2010-2019/2010/off2010pri.pdf |website=Kentucky Secretary of State |access-date=November 26, 2014}}

File:Rand Paul at Bowman Field by Gage Skidmore.jpg in Louisville, Kentucky, on November 1, 2010]]

In the 2010 general election, Paul faced Kentucky attorney general Jack Conway. The campaign attracted $8.5 million in contributions from outside groups, of which $6 million was spent to help Paul and $2.5 million to help Conway. This money influx was in addition to the money spent by the candidates themselves: $6 million by Paul and $4.7 million by Conway.{{cite news |last=Steitzer |first=Stephanie |title=Outside groups spend big in U.S. Senate race |url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20101029/NEWS0106/310290083?nclick_check=1 |newspaper=Courier-Journal |date=October 29, 2010}}{{cite web |title=Super PACs |url=http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/outside-spending/race/KY-Senate |website=Sunlight Foundation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723051839/http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/outside-spending/race/KY-Senate |archive-date=July 23, 2012}}

On June 28, Paul supporters held their first post-primary online fundraising drive, this time promoted as a "money blast".{{cite web |url=http://www.gorandgo.com/ |title=Road to Victory Money Blast |website=GoRandGo.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522015721/http://www.gorandgo.com/ |archive-date=May 22, 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.whas11.com/news/local/Rand-Paul-supporters-plan-Moneyblast-95745464.html |title=Rand Paul supporters plan 'Moneyblast' |first=Joe |last=Arnold |date=June 7, 2010 |website=WHAS11 |access-date=February 2, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610221837/http://www.whas11.com/news/local/Rand-Paul-supporters-plan-Moneyblast-95745464.html |archive-date=June 10, 2010}}

Paul's campaign got off to a rough start after his comments on the Civil Rights Act of 1964 stirred controversy.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/20/AR2010052003500.html |title=Rand Paul comments about civil rights stir controversy |first1=Krissah |last1=Thompson |first2=Dan |last2=Balz |date=May 21, 2010 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 2, 2020}} Paul stated that he favored nine out of ten titles of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but that had he been a senator during the 1960s, he would have raised some questions on the constitutionality of Title II of the Act.{{Cite episode |title=Rand Paul Says He Has A Tea Party 'Mandate' |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126985068 |access-date=September 10, 2010 |series=All Things Considered |series-link=All Things Considered |network=NPR |date=May 19, 2010}} Paul said that he abhors racism, and that he would have marched with Martin Luther King Jr. to repeal Jim Crow laws. He later released a statement declaring that he would have voted for the Act and stated "unequivocally ... that I will not support any efforts to repeal the Civil Rights Act of 1964".{{cite web |url=http://www.whas11.com/community/blogs/political-blog/Rand-Paul-sits-down-with-Joe-Arnold-to-address-recent-controversial-statements-94665159.html |title=More raw video: Rand Paul sits down with Joe Arnold to address recent controversial statements |website=Whas11.com |access-date=November 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527092834/http://www.whas11.com/community/blogs/political-blog/Rand-Paul-sits-down-with-Joe-Arnold-to-address-recent-controversial-statements-94665159.html |archive-date=May 27, 2010 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.randpaul2010.com/2010/05/rand-paul-sets-the-record-straight/ |title=Rand Paul Sets the Record Straight |website=Randpaul2010.com |date=May 20, 2010 |access-date=November 3, 2010 |archive-date=March 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323195411/http://www.randpaul2010.com/2010/05/rand-paul-sets-the-record-straight |url-status=dead }} Later he generated more controversy by characterizing statements made by Obama administration officials regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill cleanup as sounding "un-American".{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/21/rand-paul-obama-sounds-un_n_584661.html |title=Rand Paul: Obama Sounds 'Un-American' For Criticizing BP Over Gulf Oil Spill |work=The Huffington Post |date=May 21, 2010 |first=Sam |last=Stein |access-date=November 3, 2010}} Paul defeated Conway in the general election with 56% of the vote to Conway's 44%.

File:Rand Paul ceremonial swearing in.jpg, along with his family, in the Old Senate Chamber in the U.S. Capitol, January 2011]]

File:Rand Paul & Ron Paul (6050794700).jpg in Waterloo, Iowa, on August 10, 2011]]

Paul was sworn in on January 5, 2011, along with his father, who was simultaneously in the House of Representatives.{{cite web |last=Douglas |first=William |title=Father watches with pride as Rand Paul becomes U.S. senator |website=The McClatchy Company |date=January 5, 2011 |url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/01/05/106256/father-watches-with-pride-as-rand.html#storylink=misearch |access-date=January 29, 2011 |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915035943/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/01/05/106256/father-watches-with-pride-as-rand.html#storylink=misearch |url-status=dead }}

Paul was assigned to be on the Energy and Natural Resources, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and Small Business committees.{{cite news |title=Four committee assignments for Rand Paul |work=Lexington Herald-Leader |date=January 28, 2011 |url=http://www.kentucky.com/2011/01/28/1614138/four-committee-assignments-for.html |access-date=January 29, 2011}} Paul also formed the Senate Tea Party Caucus with Jim DeMint and Mike Lee as its inaugural members.{{cite news |last=Sonmez |first=Felicia |title=Rand Paul announces Senate Tea Party Caucus |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 14, 2011 |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011/01/rand-paul-announces-senate-tea.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127173059/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011/01/rand-paul-announces-senate-tea.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 27, 2011 |access-date=January 29, 2011}} His first legislative proposal was to cut $500 billion from federal spending in one year. This proposal included cutting the Department of Education by 83 percent and the United States Department of Homeland Security by 43 percent, as well as folding the Department of Energy into the Department of Defense and eliminating the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Seven independent agencies would be eliminated, and food stamps would be cut by 30 percent. Under Paul's proposal, defense spending would be reduced by 6.5 percent and international aid would be eliminated.{{cite news |last=Straub |first=Bill |title=Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul rolls out budget ax |work=Evansville Courier & Press |date=January 28, 2011 |url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/jan/27/sen-paul-rolls-out-budget-ax/ |access-date=January 29, 2011}}{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=James R. |date=January 25, 2011 |title=Senator Rand Paul seeks $500 billion in federal spending cuts |work=The Courier-Journal |location=Louisville, Kentucky |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/2248953991.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+25%2C+2011&author=James+R+Carroll&pub=Courier+-+Journal&edition=&startpage=n%2Fa&desc=Senator+Rand+Paul+seeks+%24500+billion+in+federal+spending+cuts |access-date=January 31, 2011 |archive-date=July 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727115911/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courier_journal/access/2248953991.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+25%2C+2011&author=James+R+Carroll&pub=Courier+-+Journal&edition=&startpage=n%2Fa&desc=Senator+Rand+Paul+seeks+%24500+billion+in+federal+spending+cuts |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last=Freddoso |first=David |date=January 26, 2011 |title=A detailed look at the Rand Paul spending bill |work=The Washington Examiner |url=http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/01/detailed-look-rand-paul-spending-bill |access-date=April 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511125605/http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/01/detailed-look-rand-paul-spending-bill |archive-date=May 11, 2011 |url-status=dead }} He later proposed a five-year budget plan intended to balance the budget.{{cite web |last=Bruce |first=Mary |title=Sen. Paul Unveils 5-Year Budget Plan: Eliminates Four Federal Agencies |website=ABC News |date=March 17, 2011 |url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/03/sen-paul-unveils-5-year-budget-plan-eliminates-four-federal-agencies.html |access-date=March 24, 2011}}

In February, Paul was one of two Republicans to vote against extending three key provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act (roving wiretaps, searches of business records, and conducting surveillance of "lone wolves" — individuals not linked to terrorist groups).{{cite news |last=Sonmez |first=Felicia |title=Senate passes short-term extension of Patriot Act provisions |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 15, 2011 |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011/02/senate-to-vote-tuesday-on-shor.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105152914/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2011/02/senate-to-vote-tuesday-on-shor.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 5, 2013 |access-date=February 17, 2011}}{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/26/patriot-act-extension-passes-senate_n_867736.html |access-date=May 26, 2011 |website=The Huffington Post |date=May 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110528023752/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/26/patriot-act-extension-passes-senate_n_867736.html |archive-date=May 28, 2011 |first=Alexander |last=Belenky |title=Patriot Act Extension Passes Senate, Rand Paul Amendments Fail |url-status=dead}}

On March 2, Paul was one of nine senators to vote against a stopgap bill that cut $4 billion from the budget and would temporarily prevent a government shutdown, saying that it did not cut enough from the budget.{{cite web |last=Middleton |first=Neil |title=Yarmuth and Paul vote no on stopgap spending bill |website=WYMT-TV |date=March 2, 2011 |url=http://www.wkyt.com/blogs/neilsnotebook/Yarmuth_and_Paul_vote_no_on_stopgap_GOP_spending_bill_117271378.html |access-date=March 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718072456/http://www.wkyt.com/blogs/neilsnotebook/Yarmuth_and_Paul_vote_no_on_stopgap_GOP_spending_bill_117271378.html |archive-date=July 18, 2011}} One week later, he voted against the Democratic and Republican budget proposals to keep funding the federal government, saying that both bills did not cut enough spending. Both bills failed to pass the Senate. He later voted against stopgap measures on March 17 and April 8, both of which passed the senate.{{cite web |last=Jaffe |first=Matthew |title=Kickin' the Can: Senate Passes Stop-Gap Spending Plan, Buys Lawmakers Three More Weeks To Solve Funding Mess |website=ABC News |date=March 17, 2011 |url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/03/kickin-the-can-senate-passes-stop-gap-spending-plan-buys-lawmakers-three-more-weeks-to-solve-funding.html |access-date=April 9, 2011}}{{cite web |last=Wong |first=Scott |title=Rand Paul opposes temporary stopgap |work=Politico|date=April 9, 2011 |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/glennthrush/0411/Rand_Paul_opposes_temporary_stopgap_.html |access-date=April 9, 2011}}

On April 14, he was one of 19 senators to vote against a budget that cut $38.5 billion from the budget and funded the government for the remainder of the fiscal year.{{cite web |last=Bowman |first=Quinn |title=House, Senate Pass Bipartisan Budget Deal to Fund Government |website=Public Broadcasting Service |date=April 14, 2011 |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/04/house-passes-385-budget-deal-to-fund-government.html |access-date=May 26, 2011 |archive-date=January 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122015048/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/04/house-passes-385-budget-deal-to-fund-government.html |url-status=dead }}

Paul voiced opposition to U.S. intervention in the Libyan Civil War and has criticized President Barack Obama for not gaining congressional consent for Operation Odyssey Dawn.{{cite news |last=Straub |first=Bill |title=Kentucky Senator Paul berates Obama for 'cavalierly taking us to war{{'-}} |work=Evansville Courier & Press |date=March 30, 2011 |url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/mar/30/kentucky-senator-paul-berates-obama-cavalierly-tak/ |access-date=April 14, 2011}}{{cite news |last=Sonmez |first=Felicia |date=March 17, 2011 |title=Rand Paul opposes U.S. military involvement in Libya |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/rand-paul-opposes-us-military-involvement-in-libya/2011/03/17/ABkw6jl_blog.html |access-date=April 14, 2011}} During the debt ceiling crisis, the Senator stated that he would only support raising the debt ceiling if a balanced budget amendment was enacted.{{cite web |last=Klein |first=Rick |title=Sen. Rand Paul: No Debt Ceiling Increase Without Balanced Budget Amendment |url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/06/sen-rand-paul-no-debt-ceiling-increase-without-balanced-budget-amendment.html |website=ABC News |access-date=August 3, 2011 |date=June 30, 2011}} Paul was a supporter of the Cut, Cap and Balance Act, which was tabled by Democratic opposition.{{cite web |last=Hayward |first=John |title=Cut, Cap, and Balance Killed |url=http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=45039 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906131839/http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=45039 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 6, 2012 |work=Human Events |access-date=August 3, 2011 |date=July 22, 2011 }} On August 3, Paul voted against a bill that would raise the debt ceiling.{{cite web |last=Marchmon |first=Jay |title=Rand Paul reacts to passage of debt ceiling bill |url=http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/Rand-Paul-reacts-to-passage-of-debt-ceiling-bill-126594128.html |website=WPSD-TV |access-date=August 3, 2011 |date=August 2, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004215912/http://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local/Rand-Paul-reacts-to-passage-of-debt-ceiling-bill-126594128.html |archive-date=October 4, 2011 }}

On September 7, Paul called for a vote of no confidence in United States Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner.{{cite news |last=Hughes |first=Siobhan |title=Rand Paul Calls for No Confidence on Geithner |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/09/07/rand-paul-calls-for-no-confidence-vote-on-geithner/ |access-date=September 8, 2011 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=September 8, 2011}} Later that month, Paul blocked legislation that would strengthen safety rules for oil and gas pipelines, because, he stated, the bill was not strong enough.{{cite news |last=Simon |first=Richard |title=Rand Paul blocks pipeline-safety bill, frustrating Californians |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/10/fight-erupts-in-congress-over-pipeline-safety-legislation-.html |access-date=October 28, 2011 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 5, 2011}} In October, Paul blocked a bill that would provide $36 million in benefits for elderly and disabled refugees, saying that he was concerned that it could be used to aid domestic terrorists. This was in response to two alleged terrorists who came to the United States through a refugee program and were receiving welfare benefits when they were arrested in 2011 in Paul's hometown of Bowling Green.{{cite web |last=Wong |first=Scott |title=Rand Paul blocking refugee funds |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/65142.html |access-date=October 4, 2011 |work=Politico|date=October 5, 2011}} Paul lifted his hold on the bill after Democratic leaders promised to hold a congressional hearing into how individuals are selected for refugee status and request an investigation on how the two suspects were admitted in the country through a refugee program.{{cite web |last=Wong |first=Scott |title=Rand Paul ends hold on SSI benefits |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/65142.html |access-date=October 28, 2011 |work=Politico|date=October 17, 2011}}

In June 2012, Paul endorsed Mitt Romney after it became apparent that he would be the Republican nominee for the 2012 presidential election.{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/06/rand-paul-endorses-romney-125624 |title=Rand Paul endorses Romney |first=Alexander |last=Burns |date=June 7, 2012 |website=Politico}} However, he was later vocal about his disagreements with Romney on a number of policies.{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/10/opinion/rand-paul-romney-foreign-policy/ |title=Rand Paul: Romney's wrong on Middle East, defense spending |author=Paul, Rand|date=October 10, 2012 |website=CNN|access-date=September 19, 2020}}

For the 113th Congress, Paul was added to the Foreign Relations committee and retained his spot on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and Small Business committees.{{cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Daniel |title=Rand Paul on the Foreign Relations Committee – and What It Means |url=http://www.theamericanconservative.com/rand-paul-on-foreign-relations-committee/ |work=The American Conservative |access-date=March 29, 2013 |date=January 3, 2013}}

On March 6–7, 2013, Paul engaged in a filibuster to delay voting on the nomination of John O. Brennan as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Paul questioned the Obama administration's use of drones and the stated legal justification for their potential use within the United States. Paul held the floor for 12 hours and 52 minutes.{{cite web |title=Rand Paul Ends Epic Mr. Smith-Style Filibuster After More Than 12 Hours |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/03/06/rand_paul_is_waging_an_epic_mr_smith_style_filibuster_right_now.html |first=Josh |last=Voorhees |work=Slate |access-date=March 7, 2013 |date=March 7, 2013}} He ceded to several Republican senators and Democratic senator, Ron Wyden, who generally also questioned drone usage.{{cite web |title=Sen. Paul holds floor for hours in filibuster of CIA nominee, over drone concerns |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/06/sen-paul-holds-floor-for-hours-in-filibuster-cia-nominee-over-drone-concerns/ |website=Fox News |date=March 6, 2013 |access-date=March 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307032926/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/06/sen-paul-holds-floor-for-hours-in-filibuster-cia-nominee-over-drone-concerns/ |archive-date=March 7, 2013 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last=Ewing |first=Philip |title=Rand Paul pulls plug on nearly 13-hour filibuster on drones |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/rand-paul-filibuster-john-brennan-cia-nominee-88507.html |work=Politico|access-date=March 6, 2013 |date=March 6, 2013}} Paul said his purpose was to challenge drone policy in general and specifically as it related to noncombatants on U.S. soil. He requested a pledge from the Administration that noncombatants would not be targeted on U.S. soil.{{cite news |last=Michaels |first=Jim |title=Rand Paul ends epic filibuster over Brennan |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/03/07/rand-paul-brennan-filibuster/1969869/ |work=USA Today|access-date=March 7, 2013 |date=March 7, 2013}} Attorney General Eric Holder responded that the President is not authorized to deploy extrajudicial punishment without due process, against non-combatant citizens. Press Secretary Jay Carney read Holder's letter, indicating president Obama's support, "The president has not and would not use drone strikes against American citizens on American soil"{{Cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/03/07/press-briefing-press-secretary-jay-carney-372013|title=Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 3/7/2013|date=March 7, 2013|website=whitehouse.gov}} Press Paul answered that he was "quite happy" with the response.{{cite news |title=Rand Paul 'happy' with drone response |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/07/obama-administration-responds-to-paul-on-drones/ |website=CNN |access-date=March 3, 2013 |date=March 3, 2013 |archive-date=July 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707051112/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/07/obama-administration-responds-to-paul-on-drones/ |url-status=dead }} The filibuster was ended with a cloture vote of 81 to 16, and Brennan was confirmed by the Senate with a vote of 63 to 34.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/us/politics/brennan-confirmed-to-lead-the-cia.html |title=Brennan Confirmed to Lead the C.I.A. |first=Sarah |last=Wheaton |date=March 7, 2013 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=November 1, 2013}}

File:Rand Paul Filibuster.png on the Senate floor on March 6, 2013]]

In March 2013, Paul, with Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee, threatened another filibuster, this one opposing any legislative proposals to expand federal gun control measures.{{cite web |last=Allen |first=Jonathan |title=Rand Paul and Ted Cruz threaten filibuster on guns |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/03/rand-paul-and-ted-cruz-threaten-filibuster-on-guns-89299.html |work=Politico|access-date=March 25, 2013 |date=March 25, 2013}} The filibuster was attempted on April 11, 2013, but was dismissed by cloture, in a 68–31 vote.{{cite web |title=Gun bill clears Senate hurdle as filibuster falls short |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gun-bill-clears-senate-hurdle-as-filibuster-falls-short |work=Fox News |date=April 11, 2013}} Also in March 2013, Paul endorsed fellow Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell's 2014 re-election campaign.{{cite news |first1=Nicole |last1=Vas |access-date=August 27, 2019 |title=McConnell eyes Trump, Paul and reelection when it comes to emergency fight |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/432568-mcconnell-eyes-trump-paul-and-reelection-when-it-comes-to-emergency-fight/ |date=March 5, 2019 |website=The Hill}} McConnell had previously hired Paul's 2010 campaign manager, Jesse Benton, as his own campaign manager.{{cite web |last=Trinko |first=Katrina |title=From Rand to Mitch |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/354807/rand-mitch-katrina-trinko |access-date=August 9, 2013 |newspaper=National Review |date=July 31, 2014}} Paul's endorsement was seen as a major win for McConnell in avoiding a challenge in the Republican primary.

In response to Detroit's declaration of bankruptcy, Paul stated he would not allow the government to attempt to bail out Detroit. In a phone interview with Breitbart News on July 19, 2013, Paul said, "I basically say he is bailing them out over my dead body because we don't have any money in Washington." Paul said he thought a federal bailout would send the wrong message to other cities with financial problems.{{cite web |last=Arkin |first=James |title=Rand Paul: No government bailout for Detroit |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/detroit-bankruptcy-bailout-rand-paul-94478.html |work=Politico|access-date=October 16, 2013 |date=July 19, 2013}}

In September, Paul stated that the United States should avoid military intervention in the ongoing Syrian Civil War.{{cite web |last=Clary |first=Greg |title=Rand Paul: U.S. involvement in Syria a 'mistake{{'-}} |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/01/rand-paul-u-s-involvement-in-syria-a-mistake/ |website=CNN |access-date=September 16, 2013 |date=September 1, 2013 |archive-date=January 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105064602/https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/01/rand-paul-u-s-involvement-in-syria-a-mistake/ |url-status=dead }} In an op-ed, Paul disputed the Obama administration's claims that the threat of military force caused Syria's government to consider turning over its chemical weapons, instead arguing that the opposition to military action in Syria, and the delay that it caused, led to diplomatic progress.{{cite news |last=Blake |first=Aaron |title=Rand Paul: Opposition to military action led to Syria diplomacy |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/09/13/rand-paul-opposition-to-military-action-led-to-syria-diplomacy/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=October 16, 2013 |date=September 13, 2013}}

In October 2013, Paul was the subject of some controversy when it was discovered that he had plagiarized from Wikipedia part of a speech in support of Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli. Referencing the movie Gattaca, Paul quoted almost verbatim from the Wikipedia article about the film without citing the source.{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=James R. |title=Sen. Rand Paul warns science could be used to alter gene pool |url=http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20131028/NEWS01/310280057/Sen-Rand-Paul-warns-science-abortion-could-used-eliminate-undesirables |newspaper=The Courier-Journal |location=Louisville, KY |access-date=October 28, 2013 |date=October 28, 2013}}{{cite web |last=Yarvitz |first=Michael |title=The Rand Paul plagiarism read-along! |url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/catching-rand-paul-plagiarizing-home-edition |work=The Rachel Maddow Show |publisher=MSNBC |date=October 29, 2013 |access-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-date=December 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204182958/http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/catching-rand-paul-plagiarizing-home-edition |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last1=Contorno |first1=Steve |last2=Kliegman |first2=Julie |title=Rachel Maddow says Rand Paul's 'Gattaca' speech 'was totally ripped off of Wikipedia{{'-}} |url=http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2013/nov/01/rachel-maddow/rachel-maddow-says-rand-pauls-gattaca-speech-was-t/ |website=PolitiFact |date=November 1, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815102232/https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2013/nov/01/rachel-maddow/rachel-maddow-says-rand-pauls-gattaca-speech-was-t/ |archive-date=August 15, 2020}} Evidence soon surfaced that Paul had copied sentences in a number of his other speeches nearly verbatim from other authors without giving credit to the original sources,{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Jake |title=Critics pounce on Rand Paul's borrowed language |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/critics-pounce-on-rand-pauls-borrowed-language/ |website=CBS News |date=November 1, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120111704/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/critics-pounce-on-rand-pauls-borrowed-language/ | archive-date=January 20, 2019}}{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |title=Senator Rand Paul faces new charges of plagiarism |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/05/us/politics/senator-rand-paul-faces-new-charges-of-plagiarism.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 4, 2013}} including in the speech he had given as the Tea Party rebuttal to the president's 2013 State of the Union Address. In addition, a three-page-long passage of Paul's book Government Bullies was taken directly from an article by the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation.{{cite web |last=Kaczynski |first=Andrew |title=Three pages of Rand Paul's book were plagiarized from think tanks |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/entire-section-of-rand-pauls-book-copied-verbatim-from-case |website=BuzzFeed |date=November 2, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828203732/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/andrewkaczynski/entire-section-of-rand-pauls-book-copied-verbatim-from-case |archive-date=August 28, 2020}}{{cite web |last=Kaczynski |first=Andrew |title=More instances of plagiarism in Rand Paul's book |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/more-instances-of-plagiarism-in-rand-pauls-book-lets-duel |website=BuzzFeed |date=November 7, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017223256/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/andrewkaczynski/more-instances-of-plagiarism-in-rand-pauls-book-lets-duel |archive-date=October 17, 2019}} When it became apparent that Paul's op-ed in The Washington Times on mandatory minimums and related testimony he had given before the Senate Judiciary Committee both contained material that was virtually identical to an article that had been published by another author in The Week a few days earlier,{{cite web |last=Kaczynski |first=Andrew |title=Sections of Rand Paul's op-ed on drug sentencing plagiarized from article week earlier |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/sections-of-rand-pauls-op-ed-on-drug-sentencing-plagiarized |website=BuzzFeed |date=November 4, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605094525/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/andrewkaczynski/sections-of-rand-pauls-op-ed-on-drug-sentencing-plagiarized |archive-date=June 5, 2020}} The Washington Times said that the newspaper would no longer publish the weekly column Paul had been contributing to the paper.{{cite news |last=Blake |first=Aaron |title=After plagiarism allegations, Rand Paul's Washington Times column nixed |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/11/06/after-plagiarism-allegations-rand-pauls-washington-times-column-nixed/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 6, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526145736/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2013/11/06/after-plagiarism-allegations-rand-pauls-washington-times-column-nixed/?arc404=true |archive-date=May 26, 2020}} After a week of almost daily news reports of new allegations of plagiarism, Paul said that he was being held to an "unfair standard", but would restructure his office in order to prevent mistakes in the future, if that would be what it would take "to make people leave me the hell alone."{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/us/politics/after-plagiarism-charges-paul-announces-office-restructuring.html |title=After Plagiarism Charges, Paul Announces Office Restructuring |last1=Rutenberg |first1=Jim |last2=Parker |first2=Ashley |date=November 5, 2013 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=November 5, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007233917/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/06/us/politics/after-plagiarism-charges-paul-announces-office-restructuring.html |archive-date=October 7, 2019}}

In response to political turmoil in Ukraine in early 2014, Paul initially said that the United States should remain mindful of the fact that although the Cold War is over, Russia remains a military power with long-range nuclear missiles. He said that the United States should try to maintain a "respectful relationship with Russia" and avoid taking actions that the Russians might view as a provocation, such as seeking to have Ukraine join NATO or otherwise interfering in Russia's relationship with Ukraine.{{cite news |last=Costa |first=Robert |title=Rand Paul: GOP shouldn't 'tweak' Russia over Ukraine |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/02/25/rand-paul-gop-shouldnt-tweak-russia-over-ukraine/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 25, 2014}}

Two weeks later, after the Russian parliament authorized the use of military force in Ukraine{{cite news |last1=Lally |first1=Kathy |last2=Englund |first2=Will |last3=Booth |first3=William |title=Russian parliament approves use of troops in Ukraine |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russian-parliament-approves-use-of-troops-in-crimea/2014/03/01/d1775f70-a151-11e3-a050-dc3322a94fa7_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 1, 2014}} and Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered military exercises along Russia's border with Ukraine,{{cite news |last1=Higgins |first1=Andrew |title=Putin orders drills in Crimea, clash shows region's divide |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/27/world/europe/russia.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 26, 2014 |last2=Myers |first2=Steven Lee}} Paul began taking a different tone.{{cite news |last1=Hook |first1=Janet |title=GOP hawks are on the rise |url=https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304732804579421650599529822 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=March 5, 2014 |last2=O'Connor |first2=Patrick}} He wrote: "Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine is a gross violation of that nation's sovereignty and an affront to the international community ... Putin must be punished for violating the Budapest Memorandum, and Russia must learn that the U.S. will isolate it if it insists on acting like a rogue nation."{{cite magazine |last=Paul |first=Rand |title=U.S. must take strong action against Putin's aggression |url=https://time.com/17648/sen-rand-paul-u-s-must-take-strong-action-against-putins-aggression/ |magazine=Time|date=March 9, 2014}} He said that the United States and European allies could retaliate against Russia's military aggression without any need for military action. He urged that the United States impose economic sanctions on Russia and resume an effort to build defensive anti-missile installations in Poland and the Czech Republic. He also called for the United States to take steps as a counterweight to Russia's strategic influence on Europe's oil and gas supply, such as lifting restrictions on new exploration and drilling for fossil fuels in the United States along with immediate approval of the controversial Keystone Pipeline, which he said would allow the United States to ship more oil and gas to Europe if Russia attempts to cut off its own supply to Europe.

Paul played a leading role in blocking a treaty with Switzerland that would enable the IRS to conduct tax evasion probes, arguing that the treaty would infringe upon Americans' privacy.{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/rand-paul-tax-swiss-banks-104148.html |title=Rand Paul in cross hairs of tax evasion war |last1=Bade |first1=Rachael |date=March 2, 2014 |work=Politico|access-date=March 5, 2014}} Paul received the 2014 Distinguished Service Award from the Center for the National Interest (formally called the Nixon Center) for his public policy work.{{Cite web |url=https://cftni.org/recent-events/2014-distinguished-service-award-dinner-honoring-senator-rand-paul/ |title=2014 Distinguished Service Award Dinner Honoring Senator Rand Paul |website=Center for the National Interest |access-date=January 15, 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://nationalinterest.org/feature/rand-paul-the-case-conservative-realism-11544 |title=Rand Paul: The Case for Conservative Realism |last=Paul |first=Rand |date=October 23, 2014 |website=The National Interest |language=en |access-date=January 15, 2020}}

In response to reports that the CIA infiltrated the computers of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Paul called for the firing of CIA Director John O. Brennan.{{cite web |last1=Everett |first1=Burgess |title=Rand Paul: Fire Brennan |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/rand-paul-fire-john-brennan-cia-109661.html?hp=r4 |website=Politico|date=August 2014 |access-date=August 3, 2014}} In December 2014, Paul supported the actions taken by the Obama administration to change United States policy towards Cuba and to ease trade restrictions with that country.{{cite web |last1=Weigel |first1=Dave |title=Rand Paul Battles Marco Rubio Over Cuba Policy |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2014-12-19/rand-paul-battles-marco-rubio-over-cuba-policy |website=Bloomberg |access-date=December 19, 2014 |date=December 19, 2014}}

In the beginning of 2015, Paul re-introduced the Federal Reserve Transparency Act.{{cite web |url=http://www.randpac.com/2015/01/28/sen-paul-proposes-audit-federal-reserve/ |title=Sen. Paul Proposes an Audit of the Federal Reserve |website=Rand PAC |access-date=February 4, 2015 |date=January 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204101808/http://www.randpac.com/2015/01/28/sen-paul-proposes-audit-federal-reserve/ |archive-date=February 4, 2015 |url-status=dead }} Paul also introduced the FAIR Act, or Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act, which would restrict civil forfeiture proceedings.{{cite web |url=http://www.randpac.com/2015/01/27/sen-rand-paul-introduces-fair-act/ |title=Sen. Rand Paul Introduces the FAIR Act |date=January 27, 2015 |access-date=February 4, 2015 |website=Rand PAC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204123258/http://www.randpac.com/2015/01/27/sen-rand-paul-introduces-fair-act/ |archive-date=February 4, 2015 |url-status=dead }} Paul spoke for ten and a half hours on May 20, 2015, in opposition to the reauthorization of Section 215 of the Patriot Act.{{cite web |last1=Kim |first1=Seung Min |last2=Byers |first2=Alex |title=Rand Paul calls it a night after 10 1/2 hours |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/rand-paul-filibuster-patriot-act-118141.html |website=Politico|date=May 20, 2015 |access-date=May 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522200936/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/rand-paul-filibuster-patriot-act-118141.html |archive-date=May 22, 2015 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/21/politics/rand-paul-nsa-patriot-act-fillibuster/index.html |title=Rand Paul seizes political moment with NSA protest |first1=Stephen|last1=Collinson|first2=Jeremy|last2=Diamond|work=CNN|date=May 22, 2015|access-date=September 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523071122/http://edition.cnn.com/2015/05/21/politics/rand-paul-nsa-patriot-act-fillibuster/index.html|archive-date=May 23, 2015|url-status=live}} Sections of the Patriot Act were prevented from being reauthorized on June 1.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2015/may/31/nsa-patriot-act-surveillance-reform-usa-freedom-live |title=NSA reform advances as Senate moves to vote on USA Freedom Act – as it happened |first1=Ben|last1=Jacobs|first2=Dan|last2=Roberts|first3=Spencer|last3=Ackerman|first4=Trevor|last4=Timm|date=June 1, 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=September 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601005955/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2015/may/31/nsa-patriot-act-surveillance-reform-usa-freedom-live |archive-date=June 1, 2015 |url-status=live}}

After the death of Antonin Scalia in February 2016, on February 15, Paul indicated that he would oppose any nomination by President Obama to replace the late Supreme Court Justice.{{cite web |url=http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/02/15/3749689/rand-paul-scalia-supreme-court-obama-nominee/ |first=Emily |last=Atkin |title=Rand Paul: It's A 'Conflict Of Interest' For Obama To Nominate A Supreme Court Justice |date=February 15, 2016 |website=ThinkProgress.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215193319/http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/02/15/3749689/rand-paul-scalia-supreme-court-obama-nominee/ |archive-date=Feb 15, 2016 |url-status=dead}}

During a press briefing on May 6, 2016, President Obama called on Paul to stop "blocking the implementation of tax treaties that have been pending for years", arguing that they assisted law enforcement in off shore investigations into tax evasion.{{cite web |url=http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2016/05/06/obama-calls-on-congress-to-reform-u-s-tax-code.html |title=Obama Calls on Congress to Reform U.S. Tax Code |first=Matthew |last=Kazin |date=May 6, 2016 |website=Fox Business |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507124049/http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2016/05/06/obama-calls-on-congress-to-reform-u-s-tax-code.html |archive-date=May 7, 2016 |url-status=live}} Paul advocated for the abolition of gun-free zones during a speech to the National Rifle Association of America on May 20, citing repeated tragedies occurring in these locations.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/280737-paul-calls-for-the-end-of-gun-free-zones/ |title=Paul calls for end of gun-free zones |first=Tim |last=Devaney |date=May 20, 2016 |newspaper=The Hill |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523121234/http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/280737-paul-calls-for-the-end-of-gun-free-zones |archive-date=May 23, 2016 |url-status=live}} On June 6, Paul spoke of introducing legislation to cease Selective Service, three days after the death of Muhammad Ali, after whom he intended to name the legislation in tribute.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/06/06/rand-pauls-tribute-to-muhammad-ali-trying-to-end-selective-service/ |title=Rand Paul's tribute to Muhammad Ali: Trying to end Selective Service |date=June 6, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=David |last=Weigel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608131548/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/06/06/rand-pauls-tribute-to-muhammad-ali-trying-to-end-selective-service/ |archive-date=June 8, 2016 |url-status=live}}

In March 2017, Paul introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act that would prohibit the use of United States government funds to provide assistance to Al Qaeda, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and to countries supporting those organizations.{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/608/all-info |title=All Information (Except Text) for H.R.608 – Stop Arming Terrorists Act |website=U.S. Congress |date=January 23, 2017 |access-date=February 2, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-two-non-interventionists_us_594f1cdde4b0326c0a8d0918 |title=The Two Non-Interventionists |first=Nathan |last=Thomas |date=July 3, 2017 |website=HuffPost|access-date=February 2, 2020}} On March 16, Senator John McCain (Rep) accused Paul of being an agent of Vladimir Putin after Paul objected to adding Montenegro to NATO.{{cite web |url=http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/03/15/john-mccain-accuses-rand-paul-working-vladimir-putin-and-russia-over-montenegro |title=John McCain: Rand Paul 'Now Working for Vladimir Putin' |website=Fox News |date=March 15, 2017 |access-date=March 20, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/john-mccain-accuses-rand-paul-170938509.html |title=John McCain accuses Rand Paul of working for Vladimir Putin |website=Yahoo! News |date=March 16, 2017 |access-date=March 20, 2017}} Paul responded the following day by saying McCain "makes a really, really strong case for term limits", suggesting McCain had become "a little unhinged" as a result of his seniority.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/03/16/rand-paul-and-john-mccain-trade-jabs-paul-calls-mccain-past-his-prime-unhinged/99271966/ |title=Rand Paul and John McCain trade jabs, as Paul calls McCain 'past his prime,' 'unhinged' |date=March 16, 2017 |newspaper=USA Today |first=Eliza |last=Collins}} On April 7, McCain said he did not pay attention to any of Paul's rhetoric and that the latter did not have "any real influence" in the United States Senate.{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/4731909/john-mccain-syria-rand-paul-donald-trump/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408171148/http://time.com/4731909/donald-trump-jose-andres/ |url-status=live |archive-date=April 8, 2017 |title=John McCain Slams Rand Paul Over Syria: 'He Doesn't Have Any Real Influence' |date=April 7, 2017 |magazine=Time}}

Paul questioned President Trump's April 2017 missile strike to Syria by saying, "While we all condemn the atrocities in Syria, the United States was not attacked." He said that further action should not be taken without congressional authorization.{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Alexandra |title=Rand Paul: Syria strikes 'not in the national interest' |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/08/politics/rand-paul-smercinish-cnntv |access-date=April 12, 2017 |work=CNN |date=April 8, 2017}}{{cite web |last1=Lardner |first1=Richard |title=Lawmakers slam Trump for bypassing Congress on Syria strike |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2017/04/07/lawmakers-slam-trump-for-bypassing-congress-on-syria-strike |access-date=April 12, 2017 |work=Boston.com |agency=Associated Press |date=April 7, 2017}}

Paul was one of 22 senators to sign a letter{{cite web |last1=Inhofe |first1=James |last2=Paul |first2=Rand |display-authors=etal |title=Letter to the Honorable Donald J. Trump |date=May 27, 2017 |url=https://www.inhofe.senate.gov/download/?id=E1E34574-5655-42AA-92E8-0D23DC8C33BA&download=1 |website=James M. Inhofe, U.S. Senator for Oklahoma |access-date=June 7, 2017 |archive-date=June 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606005302/https://www.inhofe.senate.gov/download/?id=E1E34574-5655-42AA-92E8-0D23DC8C33BA&download=1 |url-status=dead }} to President Donald Trump urging him to have the United States withdraw from the Paris Agreement in May 2017. According to The Guardian, Paul has received over $250,000 from oil, gas and coal interests since 2012.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jun/01/republican-senators-paris-climate-deal-energy-donations |access-date=June 1, 2017 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=June 1, 2017 |title=The Republicans who urged Trump to pull out of Paris deal are big oil darlings|first1=Tom|last1=McCarthy|first2=Lauren|last2=Gambino}} In July, Rand Paul joined Reps. Justin Amash (R-MI), Thomas Massie (R-KY), John Duncan Jr. (R-TN) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in opposing a bill that would impose new economic sanctions against Russia, Iran, and North Korea. President Trump opposed the bill, pointing out that relations with Russia were already "at an all-time and dangerous low". He did, however, sign the bill though likely out of political pressure.{{cite web |url=https://ivn.us/2017/08/03/meet-5-lawmakers-voted-against-russia-sanctions-bill/ |title=Meet the 5 Lawmakers Who Voted Against the Russia Sanctions Bill |first=Thomas A. |last=Hawk |date=August 3, 2017 |website=Independent Voter News}}

Paul confirmed in an October 2017 interview he would not vote for the Republican budget in the Senate unless billions in spending were removed from the plan: "If leadership is unwilling to compromise with somebody who is concerned about the debt, then they deserve to lose."{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/17/rand-paul-oppose-senate-gop-budget-243864 |first1=Burgess |last1=Everett |first2=Seung Min |last2=Kim |title=Rand Paul opposes Senate GOP budget |date=October 17, 2017 |website=Politico}}

In February 2018, Republican senators introduced an immigration framework akin to that proposed by President Trump and with his support that called for $25 billion being provided for border security in exchange for a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million immigrants brought into the US illegally.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/373514-gop-senators-introduce-trump-immigration-framework/ |title=GOP senators introduce Trump immigration framework |date=February 12, 2018 |newspaper=The Hill |first=Jordain |last=Carney}} Paul was one of fourteen Republican senators to vote against the proposal.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/374321-the-14-gop-senators-who-voted-against-trumps-immigration-framework/ |title=The 14 GOP senators who voted against Trump's immigration framework |first=Jordain |last=Carney |newspaper=The Hill |date=February 17, 2018}}

FiveThirtyEight, which tracks congressional votes, found that Paul had voted with Donald Trump's positions the least out of all Republicans, only voting with him 74% of the time by August 2018.{{Cite news |url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/rand-paul/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006021948/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/rand-paul/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 6, 2017 |title=Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump |last=Bycoffe |first=Aaron |date=January 30, 2017 |work=FiveThirtyEight|access-date=August 24, 2018}} In December 2018, in the wake of court filings implicating President Trump's involvement in campaign finance violations, including an attempt to buy a woman's silence, Paul played down the alleged violations and said that they should not be "over-criminalized."{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republicans-defend-trump-amid-brewing-legal-storm/2018/12/09/a3e7a496-fbc6-11e8-ad40-cdfd0e0dd65a_story.html |title=Republicans defend Trump amid brewing legal storm |last1=Sonmez |first1=Felicia |last2=Cha |first2=Ariana Eunjung |date=December 9, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 2, 2020}} Paul said that the campaign finance violations were "an error in filing paperwork or not categorizing" and that going after such violations would turn the U.S. into a "banana republic, where every president gets prosecuted and every president gets thrown in jail when they're done with office."

Paul introduced a bill on January 25, 2017, that sought to replace the Affordable Care Act which included each person's having a tax credit of $5,000 and not requiring everyone to have coverage, unlike Obamacare.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/316084-rand-paul-unveils-obamacare-replacement/ |title=Rand Paul unveils ObamaCare replacement |author=Sullivan, Peter|date=January 25, 2017 |newspaper=The Hill|access-date=September 19, 2020}}

On March 2, after marching to the House of Representatives side of Capitol Hill, Paul was filmed knocking on a door while demanding to see their copy of the replacing and repealing the Affordable Care Act bill.{{cite web |url=http://us.cnn.com/2017/03/02/politics/rand-paul-obamacare-repeal-bill/index.html |title=In chaotic scene, Rand Paul demands to see the House GOP's Obamacare repeal bill |first1=Lauren|last1=Fox|first2=Phil|last2=Mattingly|date=March 3, 2017 |website=CNN|access-date=September 19, 2020}} Paul spoke with President Trump over the phone on March 6, Paul telling him that the repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act should be two separate bills. Two days later, Paul said Republicans were united in repealing the Affordable Care Act but divided in their stances on its replacement.{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/rand-paul-trump-obamacare-235826 |title=Rand stands up to Trump on Obamacare |date=March 8, 2017 |first=Burgess |last=Everett |website=Politico}} On March 12, Paul accused House Speaker Paul Ryan of being misleading in portraying supporters of the American Health Care Act of 2017 as not being negotiable,{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/12/politics/paul-ryan-rand-paul-health-care/index.html |title=Sen. Paul slams Rep. Ryan on health care |date=March 12, 2017 |website=CNN|author=Watkins, Eli|access-date=September 19, 2020}} and three days later, March 15, furthered that Ryan was "selling" President Trump "a bill of goods" that he had not explained fully to the president.{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/15/politics/rand-paul-paul-ryan-healthcare-feud/ |title=Rand Paul says Paul Ryan selling 'bill of goods' to Trump |date=March 15, 2017 |website=CNN|author=Killough, Ashley|access-date=September 19, 2020}}

After the bill was pulled by Republican leaders from a vote, Paul released a statement on March 24 thanking House conservatives for rebelling "against ObamaCare Lite."{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/325702-rand-paul-takes-victory-lap-on-gop-health-bill/ |title=Rand Paul takes victory lap on GOP health bill |date=March 24, 2017 |newspaper=The Hill |first=Jordain |last=Carney}} Later, on April 2, Paul golfed with Trump and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney at the Trump National Golf Club in Virginia, where they discussed a variety of topics, including healthcare.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/326913-trump-plays-golf-with-rand-paul-mulvaney-at-trump-golf-club-in/ |newspaper=The Hill |title=Trump plays golf with Rand Paul, budget chief at Trump Golf Club in Virginia |first=Paulina |last=Firozi |date=April 2, 2017 |quote=President Trump hit the links at one of his golf courses on Sunday with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney. Trump will reportedly discuss a "variety of topics" with Paul and Mulvaney, including healthcare, at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va.}}{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-health-idUSKBN1740QX |work=Reuters |first=Jan |last=Pytalki |title=Trump talks healthcare with Republican critic on golf course |date=April 2, 2017 |quote=Senator Rand Paul and Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney joined the president at Trump National Golf Club outside of Washington. The trio was "discussing a variety of topics, including healthcare", said White House Deputy Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham.}}

Paul told reporters on June 15 that he was willing to vote for a partial repeal, but not the implementation of new Republican entitlement programs, which he identified as present in both House and Senate versions of the bill.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/337970-rand-paul-denounces-new-entitlements-in-emerging-health-bill/ |date=June 15, 2017 |title=Rand Paul denounces 'new entitlements' in emerging health bill |first=Peter |last=Sullivan |newspaper=The Hill}} Paul also told reporters on September 11 that he did not believe the Graham-Cassidy bill would pass.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/350161-paul-new-obamacare-repeal-bill-probably-worse-than-nothing/ |title=Paul: Cassidy-Graham health care bill not 'going anywhere' |date=September 11, 2017 |newspaper=The Hill |first=Peter |last=Sullivan}} Paul tweeted on September 15 that Graham-Cassidy retained "90% of Obamacare" and dubbed it "more Obamacare Lite".{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/350828-rand-paul-says-cant-support-last-ditch-gop-obamacare-repeal/ |title=Rand Paul says can't support last-ditch GOP ObamaCare repeal |date=September 15, 2017 |first=Rachel |last=Roubein |newspaper=The Hill}}

On September 19, Paul asserted the Graham-Cassidy bill as immortalizing the Affordable Care Act and "a big government boondoggle of a trillion dollars of spending" that Republicans should abandon in favor of pursuing measures that would allow for health insurance to be purchased across state lines.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/351325-paul-trump-may-issue-interpretation-to-law-allowing-people-to-buy-insurance/ |title=Paul calls new ObamaCare repeal bill a trillion-dollar boondoggle |first=Olivia |last=Beavers |date=September 19, 2017 |newspaper=The Hill}} On September 22, after President Trump tweeted that "Rand Paul, or whoever votes against Hcare Bill, will forever (future political campaigns) be known as 'the Republican who saved Obamacare'", Paul responded that he would not be coerced into supporting Graham-Cassidy with bribes or bullying.{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/22/trump-obamacare-tweet-rand-paul-response-243015 |title=Rand Paul to Trump: 'I won't be bribed or bullied' into supporting Graham-Cassidy bill |first=Nolan D. |last=McCaskill |website=Politico|date=September 22, 2017}}

File:Rand Paul (49271089361).jpg Winter Gala at Mar-a-Lago]]

In January 2019, Paul condemned Senator Mitt Romney for writing an editorial criticizing President Trump. Paul said that Romney's criticism of Trump's character was bad for the country and for the Republican Party.{{Cite web |url=https://politi.co/2BW7gWx |title=Rand Paul rips Romney for criticizing Trump |last=Everett |first=Burgess |website=Politico|date=January 2, 2019 |language=en |access-date=January 3, 2019}}

On July 17, 2019, Paul blocked Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's motion for unanimous consent on a bill renewing the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund along with Utah Senator Mike Lee. The fund was estimated to run out by the end of the year; the bill would renew it until the year 2090. Paul argued that he was not blocking the bill, but rather seeking a vote on an amendment that would offset the new spending by other spending cuts due to the deficit. In a segment on Fox News, which went viral, comedian Jon Stewart and 9/11 first responder John Feal rebuked Paul, accusing him of hypocritical "fiscal responsibility virtue signalling", for delaying passage of the bill, while at the same time he voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which increased the deficit.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/07/18/jon-stewart-rand-paul-mike-lee-victims-fund-delay/ |title=Jon Stewart accuses Rand Paul of 'fiscal responsibility virtue signaling' in stalling 9/11 victims funding |first=Allyson |last=Chiu |date=July 18, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=July 18, 2019}} In response, Paul said he has always insisted on "pay-go provisions" for any increase in spending, including for disaster relief funding, and called Stewart uninformed and a part of a "left-wing mob".{{cite web |last1=Wise |first1=Justin |title=Rand Paul accuses Jon Stewart of being 'part of left-wing mob' after criticism over 9/11 victim fund |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/453823-rand-paul-accuses-jon-stewart-of-being-part-of-left-wing-mob-after-criticism/ |website=The Hill |access-date=July 21, 2019 |date=July 18, 2019}}

File:Rand Paul (50752056377).jpg

On November 4, 2019, Paul called on the media to reveal the secret identity of Trump's Ukraine quid pro quo whistleblower after threatening to reveal the name himself.{{Cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/05/rand-paul-trump-whistleblower-065917 |title=Republicans break with Trump and Rand Paul on whistleblower unmasking |first1=Burgess |last1=Everett |first2=Marianne |last2=Levine |date=November 5, 2019 |website=Politico |language=en |access-date=November 8, 2019}}

In February 2020, Paul criticized YouTube for removing a video of his floor speech about the impeachment trial of Donald Trump. His speech contained a controversial question for impeachment manager Adam Schiff and counsel for the president: "Are you aware that House Intelligence Committee staffer Shawn Misko had a close relationship with [...] when at the National Security Council together?"{{cite web| url = https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/sen-rand-paul-blasts-youtube-censorship-after-floor-speech-removed| title = Sen. Rand Paul Blasts YouTube for Censorship After Floor Speech Is Removed| author = | date = February 13, 2020| website = Rand Paul| publisher = United States Senate| access-date = May 6, 2020| archive-date = January 18, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210118235526/https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/sen-rand-paul-blasts-youtube-censorship-after-floor-speech-removed| url-status = dead}}{{USCongRec|2020|S824}}https://www.congress.gov/116/crec/2020/02/04/CREC-2020-02-04-senate.pdf{{cite news| last = Tobin| first = Ben| date = February 13, 2020| title = YouTube censors Rand Paul by removing Trump impeachment question, and he's not happy| url = https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/rand-paul/2020/02/13/youtube-removes-video-rand-paul-naming-whistleblower-trump-impeachment/4747330002/| work = The Courier-Journal| location = Louisville KY| access-date = May 6, 2020}}

On February 26, 2020, Paul's wife purchased between $1,000 and $15,000 worth of stock in Gilead Sciences, a pharmaceutical company that produces an antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19, before the threat from the coronavirus was fully understood by the public; his disclosure of this transaction came 16 months after the legal deadline set forth in the Stock Act, a law that combats insider trading.{{Cite news|title=Rand Paul discloses 16 months late that his wife bought stock in company behind covid treatment|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/11/rand-paul-gilead-stock/|access-date=August 12, 2021|issn=0190-8286}} Paul's office stated that the disclosure form was filled up on time, but by mistake was not submitted. This purchase was the only stock in an individual company that Paul or his wife bought in the previous 10 years.{{cite news |last1=Wilkie |first1=Christina |last2=Mangan |first2=Dan |title=Rand Paul's wife bought shares in Covid treatment maker Gilead in early days of virus, the couple's only individual stock purchase in years |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/12/rand-pauls-wife-bought-shares-in-covid-treatment-maker-gilead-as-virus-spread.html |access-date=August 13, 2021 |work=CNBC |date=August 12, 2021}}

In September 2020, Paul was the lone Republican to vote against the COVID-19 aid package introduced by Senator Mitch McConnell, joining the Democrats who unanimously voted against it. Paul's grievance with the bill was the accumulation to the debt it would have triggered.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/09/10/911414284/senate-gop-covid-relief-bill-fails-prospects-of-bipartisan-deal-before-election-|title=Senate GOP COVID-19 Relief Bill Fails; Chances Of Bipartisan Deal Before Election Dim|first=Susan|last=Davis|work=NPR|date=September 10, 2020|access-date=September 13, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2020/09/10/covid-relief-package-rand-paul-votes-against-mitch-mcconnells-bill/3459451001/|title=The one Republican who voted against Mitch McConnell's COVID-19 relief bill? Rand Paul|first=Morgan|last=Watkins|work=Louisville Courier Journal|publisher=Gannett|date=September 10, 2020|access-date=September 13, 2020}}

After the 2020 presidential election, Paul refused to accept Democratic candidate Joe Biden's victory against Trump and falsely claimed that the election was "stolen".{{Cite web|last=Watkins|first=Morgan|title=Sen. Rand Paul falsely claims presidential election was 'stolen,' siding with Donald Trump|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/16/sen-rand-paul-falsely-claims-presidential-election-stolen/3923681001/|access-date=December 20, 2020|website=The Courier-Journal|language=en-US}}

File:Rand Paul speech during 2020 United States presidential election Electoral College count.ogg.]]

Initially, Paul insisted that the 2020 elections were fraudulent,{{Cite web|title=PolitiFact – Fact-checking Rand Paul's unsupported claim about fraud in the presidential election|url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/dec/02/rand-paul/fact-checking-rand-pauls-unsupported-claim-about-f/|access-date=February 13, 2021|website=PolitiFact|language=en-US}} and in December 2020, claimed that the election "in many ways was stolen."[https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2020/12/16/sen-rand-paul-falsely-claims-presidential-election-stolen/3923681001/ Sen. Rand Paul falsely claims presidential election was 'stolen,' siding with Donald Trump], Louisville Courier Journal, December 16, 2020 Later, he accepted the state-certified electors that named Biden.

In a press release and during the Electoral College session to count the vote, which followed the January 6 United States Capitol attack, Paul argued that the electoral college is an indispensable friend of democracy in checking the danger of centralized power in deciding elections.{{cite press release|url=https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/dr-rand-paul-%E2%80%98we-simply-cannot-destroy-constitution-our-laws-and-electoral-college-process%E2%80%99|title=We simply cannot destroy the constitution, our laws, and the electoral college process|date=January 6, 2021|access-date=February 2, 2021|archive-date=February 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204163059/https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/dr-rand-paul-%E2%80%98we-simply-cannot-destroy-constitution-our-laws-and-electoral-college-process%E2%80%99|url-status=dead}} He additionally condemned the attack while it occurred, calling it "violence and mob rule" and "un-American". He blamed the rioters as setting back election reform discussions and asked them to "just stop it."{{cite news |last1=Whitaker |first1=Jordan |title=Kentucky lawmakers condemn violent protests on Capitol Hill |url=https://www.wymt.com/2021/01/06/kentucky-gop-condemns-violence-unfolding-on-capitol-hill/ |access-date=January 10, 2021 |work=WYMT |date=January 6, 2021 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Tobin |first1=Ben |title='We will not bow to lawlessness': McConnell slams storming of US Capitol by pro-Trump mob |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/06/mitch-mcconnell-slams-storming-us-capitol-pro-trump-mob/6574445002/ |access-date=January 10, 2021 |work=The Courier-Journal |date=January 6, 2021}} Later that month, Paul continued to make false claims of fraud in the 2020 election and refused to say that the election was not stolen.{{Cite web|last=Arnholz|first=Jack|date=January 24, 2021|title=Sen. Rand Paul continues making false claims of 2020 election fraud|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/sen-rand-paul-continues-making-false-claims-2020/story?id=75446712|access-date=January 30, 2021|website=ABC News|language=en}} In the subsequent second impeachment trial of Trump, which sought to convict him on charges of incitement of insurrection, Paul questioned the constitutionality of it due to Trump having left office by the time it reached the Senate, as well as defending him against the charges, "I want Democrats to raise their hands if they have ever given a speech that says 'take back,' 'fight for your country,' who hasn't used the words fight figuratively?"{{Cite news|last=Morgan|first=David|date=January 27, 2021|title=Senate Republicans unite behind failed effort to challenge Trump impeachment trial|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-impeachment-idUSKBN29V1UK|access-date=February 13, 2021}} Once Trump was impeached in January 2021, Paul introduced a motion to the Senate declaring the impeachment to be unconstitutional. Five Republicans joined all 50 Democrats to defeat the motion 55 to 45. With 45 Republican senators supporting him, Paul stated the impeachment was 'dead on arrival'.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/26/politics/rand-paul-test-vote-impeachment-trial-constitutionality/index.html|title=Rand Paul calls impeachment 'dead on arrival' after most Republicans signal that trial is unconstitutional|first1=Clare|last1=Foran|first2=Manu|last2=Raju|first3=Ted|last3=Barrett|work=CNN|date=January 27, 2021|access-date=February 13, 2021}} Paul formally voted against the charges on February 13, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-acquitted-impeachment-trial-7-gop-senators-vote-democrats-convict-n1257876|title=Trump acquitted in impeachment trial; 7 GOP Senators vote with Democrats to convict|first=Dareh|last=Gregorian|work=NBC News|date=February 13, 2021|access-date=February 13, 2021}}

In January 2022, a video resurfaced of Paul advising medical students at the University of Louisville in 2013, during which he said "misinformation works, so try to trick your opponents".{{Cite web|last=Spocchia|first=Gino|date=January 13, 2022|title=Video resurfaces of Rand Paul admitting 'misinformation works'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/rand-paul-dr-fauci-misinformation-b1991603.html|access-date=January 21, 2022|website=The Independent|language=en}}

In May 2022, Paul blocked a bipartisan bill that would provide $40 billion in aid for Ukraine during the Russian invasion, citing the need to create a special inspector general to oversee how the aid is spent.{{Cite web |last1=Zaslav |first1=Ali |last2=Barrett |first2=Ted |date=2022-05-12 |title=Rand Paul blocks bipartisan effort to swiftly pass Ukraine aid |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/12/politics/rand-paul-blocks-ukraine-aid/index.html |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=CNN}}

In March 2023, Paul gained particular media attention after he crossed party lines and blocked fellow Republican Senator Josh Hawley's "No TikTok on United States Devices Act", which would ban the app TikTok in the United States.{{Cite web |last=Yilek |first=Caitlin |date=2023-03-29 |title=Rand Paul blocks Josh Hawley's attempt to fast-track TikTok ban, exposing GOP split |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tiktok-ban-josh-hawley-bill-rand-paul-senate/ |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=CBS}}{{Cite web |last=Bolton |first=Alexander |date=2023-03-29 |title=Hawley, Paul clash on floor over TikTok ban |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3924969-hawley-paul-clash-on-floor-over-tiktok-ban/ |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=The Hill}} In a statement afterwards, Paul said he believes a ban would be a violation of First Amendment rights, adding that it would not necessarily protect the users' information because U.S.-based tech companies have failed to secure data before.{{Cite web |last=Álvarez Bríñez |first=Ana Rocío |date=2023-03-31 |title=Some TikTok users 'can't believe' they're praising Rand Paul after he blocked ban of app |url=https://news.yahoo.com/tiktok-users-cant-believe-theyre-164633578.html |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=Yahoo! News}}

On January 11, 2024, Paul announced that he had a major announcement about the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries planned for the following morning.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-12 |title=Rand Paul Endorsing Trump, Running For VP? Big Announcement Coming |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/world/rand-paul-endorsing-donald-trump-running-for-vp-or-president-kentucky-senators-big-announcement-sparks-speculation-article-106740708 |access-date=2024-01-12 |website=TimesNow |language=en}} The next day, Paul delivered an anti-endorsement against Nikki Haley, launching a website called "Never Nikki". In particular, Paul noted his opposition toward Haley's interventionist foreign policy, especially increasing taxpayer funding for Ukraine and aligning with Republicans that might want to "bomb Tehran tomorrow."{{Cite web |date=2024-01-12 |title=Rand Paul goes all-out against Nikki Haley |url=https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/01/12/congress/paul-goes-all-out-against-haley-00135291 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=POLITICO |language=en}} He added that he liked Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but he declined to officially endorse any of them.{{Cite news |last=Mueller |first=Julia |date=2024-01-12 |title=Rand Paul launches 'Never Nikki' website ahead of Iowa caucuses |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4405229-rand-paul-launches-never-nikki-website/ |access-date=2024-01-12 |work=The Hill |language=en-US}}

• Committee on Foreign Relations
• Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism
• Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation
• Subcommittee on Multilateral International Development, Multilateral Institutions, and International Economic, Energy and Environmental Policy
• Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations and Bilateral International Development
• Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
• Subcommittee on Children and Families (chairman)
• Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
• Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
• Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
• Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia (chairman)
• Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship (Ranking Member)

On February 3, 2021, Paul was named a ranking member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.{{cite web|url=https://www.acainternational.org/news/senate-announces-committee-leadership-and-power-sharing-agreement|title=Senate Announces Committee Leadership and Power Sharing Agreement|work=ACA International|date=February 4, 2021|access-date=February 7, 2021 |author1=Stacye }}

{{Main|Rand Paul 2016 presidential campaign}}

{{Further|2016 Republican Party presidential primaries}}

File:Rand Paul by Gage Skidmore 7.jpg (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, on March 14, 2013]]

File:Rand Paul (22525600570).jpg, October 2015]]

Paul was considered a potential candidate for the Republican nomination for the presidency of the United States since at least January 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/rand-paul-gop-must-evolve-and-adapt-86473.html |title=Rand Paul: GOP must 'evolve and adapt{{'-}} |first=Mackenzie |last=Weinger |work=Politico |date=January 28, 2013 |access-date=August 20, 2013}} He delivered the Tea Party response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on February 13, 2013,{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/tea-party-rebuttal-text-of-rand-paul-response-87557.html |title=Tea party State of the Union 2013 rebuttal: Rand Paul response (full text) |work=Politico|date=February 13, 2013 |access-date=August 20, 2013}} while Marco Rubio gave the official Republican response. This prompted some pundits to call that date the start of the 2016 Republican primaries.{{Cite episode |title=Rand Paul: 'Big Government's Not A Friend To Those Who Are Trying To Get Ahead' |url=https://www.npr.org/2013/02/14/172034468/rand-paul-big-governments-not-a-friend-to-those-who-are-trying-to-get-ahead |access-date=August 20, 2013 |series=All Things Considered |series-link=All Things Considered |network=NPR|date=February 14, 2013}} That year, he spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington D.C., where he won the 2016 presidential straw poll. Paul went on to win the straw poll for the next two years as well, leading to some considering Paul to be a front runner for the nomination, although CPAC attendees are typically considered younger and more libertarian-minded than average Republican voters.{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rand-paul-wins-2015-cpac-straw-poll/ |title=Rand Paul wins 2015 CPAC straw poll |website=Fox News |access-date=March 1, 2015 |date=February 28, 2015}}{{cite news |title=Rand Paul wins CPAC straw poll, with Scott Walker a close second |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 28, 2015 |last=Cha |first=Ariana |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/02/28/rand-paul-wins-cpac-straw-poll-narrowly-topping-walker |access-date=March 2, 2015 |quote=A candidate's popularity with the Conservative Political Action Conference hasn't necessarily been a great predictor of his or her success with the larger GOP electorate, as attendees tend to have a stronger libertarian bent than the Republican majority.}}{{cite web |title=Senator Rand Paul wins straw poll in boost to 2016 presidential prospects |website=Reuters |date=February 28, 2015 |last=Holland |first=Steve |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-randpaul-idUSKBN0LW0YY20150301 |access-date=March 2, 2015 |quote=Whether the victory for Paul will have long-lasting benefit is unclear since his libertarian views may not have broad appeal in the Republican Party.}}

In a speech at the GOP Freedom Summit in April 2014, Paul insisted that the GOP has to broaden its appeal in order to grow as a party. To do so, he said it cannot be the party of "fat cats, rich people and Wall Street" and that the conservative movement has never been about rich people or privilege, "we are the middle class", he said. Paul also said that conservatives must present a message of justice and concern for the unemployed and be against government surveillance to attract new people to the movement, including the young, Hispanics, and black voters.{{cite web |title=Obamacare' under attack as conservatives eye 2016 |url=https://news.yahoo.com/obamacare-under-attack-conservatives-eye-2016-200658669--election.html |agency=Associated Press |website=Yahoo! News |author=Peoples, Steve|date=April 12, 2014 |access-date=April 14, 2014}}

During the 2014 election, Paul launched a social media campaign titled "Hillary's Losers" which was meant to highlight many of the Democratic candidates that lost their bids for the U.S. Senate despite endorsements from Hillary Clinton. Clinton was also a candidate for President and eventually won the Democratic Party's nomination, going on to lose to Donald Trump in the general election.{{cite news |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/7/rand-paul-clinton-democrats-became-hillarys-losers |title=Rand Paul: 'Clinton Democrats' became 'Hillary's losers' during election landslide |newspaper=The Washington Times |access-date=February 4, 2015 |date=November 7, 2014 |last=Sherfinski |first=David}}

Paul began to assemble his campaign team, setting up campaign offices and hiring his campaign manager in the beginning of 2015, fueling speculation that he was preparing to enter the presidential race.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/01/13/rand-paul-announces-campaign-manager-as-he-ramps-up-2016-campaign |title=Rand Paul announces campaign manager for likely 2016 campaign |access-date=February 4, 2015 |date=January 13, 2015 |newspaper=The Washington Post |last=Costa |first=Robert}} Paul officially announced his presidential candidacy on April 7, 2015. Within a day of his announcement, Paul raised $1 million.{{cite news |last1=Ballhaus |first1=Rebecca |title=Rand Paul Sprints to $1 Million Fundraising Mark |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/04/08/rand-paul-sprints-to-1-million-fundraising-mark/ |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=April 8, 2015}}

{{See also|2016 United States Senate election in Kentucky}}

In April 2011, Paul filed to run for re-election to his Senate seat in 2016.{{cite web |title=Rand Paul files for reelection race five years away |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53404.html |website=Politico|date=April 19, 2011 |first=Jennifer |last=Epstein}} Had he become the Republican presidential (or vice-presidential) nominee, state law would prohibit him from simultaneously running for re-election.{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/rand-paul-marco-rubio-2016-bind-90987.html |title=Rand Paul, Marco Rubio face 2016 bind |date=May 7, 2013 |first=Manu |last=Raju |website=Politico}} In March 2014, the Republican-controlled Kentucky Senate passed a bill that would allow Paul to run for both offices, but the Democratic-controlled Kentucky House of Representatives declined to take it up.{{cite magazine |last=Berman |first=Matt |title=Marco Rubio Won't Run for Senate in 2016 if He Runs for President |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/marco-rubio-won-t-run-for-senate-in-2016-if-he-runs-for-president-20140402 |access-date=April 2, 2014 |magazine=National Journal |date=April 2, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.kentucky.com/2014/03/18/3147299/kentucky-senate-passes-bill-to.html |title=Kentucky Senate passes bill to let Rand Paul run for re-election and president in 2016 |last1=Youngman |first1=Sam |date=March 18, 2014 |website=Kentucky.com |access-date=April 18, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/17/dead-for-now-kentucky-bill-allowing-twin-paul-2016-runs |title=Dead for now: Kentucky bill allowing twin Paul 2016 runs |last1=Silverleib |first1=Alan |date=April 17, 2014 |website=CNN |access-date=July 30, 2018 |archive-date=April 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418233718/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/17/dead-for-now-kentucky-bill-allowing-twin-paul-2016-runs/ |url-status=dead }}

Paul spent his own campaign money in the 2014 legislative elections, helping Republican candidates for the State House in the hopes of flipping the chamber, thus allowing the legislature to pass the bill (Democratic Governor Steve Beshear's veto can be overridden with a simple majority).{{cite magazine |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/the-obscure-kentucky-contests-that-could-alter-rand-paul-s-2016-plans-20140814 |title=The Obscure Kentucky Contests That Could Alter Rand Paul's 2016 Plans |magazine=National Journal |date=August 14, 2014 |access-date=October 27, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://reason.com/blog/2014/09/02/will-rand-paul-have-to-risk-his-senate-s |title=Will Rand Paul Have to Risk His Senate Seat for the Presidency? |author=Doherty, Brian|website=Reason.com |date=September 2, 2014 |access-date=October 27, 2014}} However, the Democrats retained their 54–46 majority in the State House.{{cite news |url=http://www.kentucky.com/2014/11/04/3520134_palumbo-westrom-and-benvenuti.html |title=Democrats maintain control of Kentucky House of Representatives |newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader |date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=November 6, 2014}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/11/04/democrats-hold-kentucky-house-a-minor-blow-to-rand-pauls-presidential-hopes/ |title=Democrats hold Kentucky House, a minor blow to Rand Paul's presidential hopes |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=November 6, 2014 |date=November 4, 2014 |first=Reid |last=Wilson}}{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/2016-elections-rand-paul-112629.html |title=Adjusting the rules for Rand? |website=Politico|date=November 5, 2014 |access-date=November 6, 2014|author=Raju, Manu}} Paul has since given his support to the idea that the Kentucky Republican Party could decide to hold a caucus rather than a primary, potentially giving Paul more time to decide whether he should run for U.S. Senator or continue a potential bid for president.{{cite news |date=February 24, 2015 |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/02/24/mitch-mcconnell-backs-rand-pauls-bid-to-run-for-both-senate-white-house/ |title=Mitch McConnell Backs Rand Paul's Bid to Run for Both Senate, White House |first=Janet |last=Hook |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=February 26, 2015 |quote=In a shift first reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader, a McConnell aide said the senator had decided to support Mr. Paul's proposal that the Kentucky GOP establish a presidential selection caucus in March separate from the state's May primary for other offices.}}

Paul announced the suspension of his presidential campaign on February 3, 2016, shortly after the Iowa caucus, where he finished in fifth place.{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/kentucky-sen-rand-paul-drop-republican-presidential-bid-n510336 |title=Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul Suspends Republican Presidential Campaign |website=NBC News |date=February 3, 2016 |access-date=July 30, 2018 |last=Caldwell |first=Leigh Ann}}

{{Main|Political positions of Rand Paul}}

{{conservatism US|politicians}}

A supporter of the Tea Party movement,{{cite web |last=Fineman |first=Howard |title=Rand Paul Torn Between Tea Party Fire, White House Dreams |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/12/rand-paul-president_n_3582315.html |newspaper=HuffPost |date=July 12, 2013}} Paul has described himself as a "constitutional conservative".{{cite news |last=Solomon |first=Deborah |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/magazine/04fob-q4-t.html |title=Questions for Rand Paul – Tea Time Interview |work=The New York Times |access-date=October 23, 2010 |date=March 29, 2010}} He is generally described as a libertarian, a term he both embraced{{cite web |last=Stewart |first=Martina |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/04/im-very-serious-about-running-ron-pauls-son-says |title='I'm very serious about running', Ron Paul's son says |website=CNN |access-date=November 15, 2010 |date=May 4, 2010 |quote=Like his father, the son also favors notions of limited government. "Libertarian would be a good description," Rand Paul told CNN, "because libertarians believe in freedom in all aspects of your life – your economic life as well as your social life as well as your personal life." |archive-date=November 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128103034/https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/04/im-very-serious-about-running-ron-pauls-son-says/ |url-status=dead }} and rejected{{cite magazine |last=Newton-Small |first=Jay |date=March 17, 2010 |url=https://content.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1972721,00.html |title=Is Rand Paul Good or Bad for Republicans? |magazine=Time|access-date=March 30, 2014 |quote=They thought all along that they could call me a libertarian and hang that label around my neck like an albatross, but I'm not a libertarian.}} during his first Senate campaign. He supports term limits, a balanced budget amendment, and the Read the Bills Act, in addition to the widespread reduction of federal spending and taxation. He favors a flat tax rate of 14.5% for individuals and business, while eliminating the FICA payroll taxes, as well as taxes on inheritance, gifts, capital gains, dividends, and interest.{{cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/2015/04/07/pf/taxes/rand-paul-flat-tax |title=Rand Paul's flat tax plan |last1=Sahadi |first1=Jeanne |date=April 7, 2015 |website=CNN|access-date=April 22, 2015}} Paul has frequently appeared on Infowars with radio show host and right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.{{Cite news |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/andrewkaczynski/that-time-rand-paul-told-alex-jones-he-wouldnt-join-the-bild |title=That Time Rand Paul Told Alex Jones He Wouldn't Join The Bilderberg Group Out Of Fear Of Being Shamed By Him |work=BuzzFeed News |author=Kaczynski, Andrew|date=June 22, 2015|access-date=July 21, 2018 |language=en}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/senator-rand-pauls-amazingly-frank-interview-with-alex-jones-2012-4?IR=T |title=Senator Rand Paul's Amazingly Frank Interview With Alex Jones |work=Business Insider |author=Seaman, David|date=April 19, 2012|access-date=July 21, 2018}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/07/28/rand-paul-s-daddy-issues |title=Rand Paul's Daddy Issues |last=Nuzzi |first=Olivia |date=July 28, 2014 |work=The Daily Beast |access-date=July 21, 2018 |language=en}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-10/how-would-president-rand-paul-handle-the-media-anyway- |title=How Would President Rand Paul Handle the Media, Anyway? |first=David |last=Weigel |date=April 10, 2015 |work=Bloomberg|access-date=July 21, 2018}} Ideologically, the American Conservative Union has given Paul a lifetime conservative rating of 96% and the Conservative Review gave him a 92% score.{{Cite web |url=http://votesmart.org/ |title=The Voter's Self Defense System |website=Vote Smart |language=en |access-date=December 5, 2018}} Since the 2016 Republican primary, when Paul was highly critical of Trump, he has "become one of the president's closest allies despite occasionally voting against Trump's nominees and legislative proposals". As of June 2020, according to FiveThirtyEight, Paul had voted with President Trump's position on congressional issues 70% of the time, the second lowest among all Republican senators.{{Cite web |url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130161612/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 30, 2017 |title=Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump |last=Bycoffe |first=Aaron |date=July 3, 2020 |website=FiveThirtyEight|language=en |access-date=July 3, 2020 }} Paul is a supporter of free trade, and has frequently rebuke President Trump for his tariffs. He was also one of the four Republicans who break party line to vote for a resolution opposing tariffs on Canada.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-02 |title=Rand Paul: ‘Fallacy’ to think tariffs will help country |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5228471-rand-paul-trump-tariffs-tax/amp/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Boehm |first=Eric |date=2025-04-03 |title=The Senate just passed Rand Paul's bill to block Trump's tariffs on Canada |url=https://reason.com/2025/04/02/the-senate-just-passed-rand-pauls-bill-to-block-trumps-tariffs-on-canada/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Reason.com |language=en-US}}

Paul describes himself as "100% pro life", believing that legal personhood begins at fertilization.{{cite news |last=Viebeck |first=Elise |title=Rand Paul floats fetal rights bill |url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/144940-rand-paul-floats-fetal-rights-bill/ |newspaper=The Hill |date=March 15, 2013}}{{cite news |last=Kasperowicz |first=Pete |title=Reid vows to block vote on Paul's 'life at conception' amendment to flood bill |url=http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/234747-reid-rejects-pauls-life-at-conception-amendment-to-flood-bill |newspaper=The Hill |date=June 26, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030062333/http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/234747-reid-rejects-pauls-life-at-conception-amendment-to-flood-bill |archive-date=October 30, 2013 }}{{cite news |last=Lynch |first=Rene |title=Sen. Rand Paul: Didn't think Obama's view 'could get any gayer{{'-}} |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2012/may/12/nation/la-na-nn-rand-paul-obama-gayer-20120512 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=May 12, 2012}} In 2009, his position was to ban abortion under all circumstances.{{cite news |last=Urbina |first=Ian |title=In Kentucky, a Senate candidate with a pedigree for agitation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/us/politics/26kentucky.html?_r=2& |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 25, 2009}}{{cite news |title=Ron Paul's son borrows tactics for Senate bid in Kentucky |url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/nov/11/ron-pauls-son-borrows-tactics-senate-bid-kentucky/ |newspaper=Evansville Courier & Press |location=Evansville, IN |date=November 11, 2009 |agency=Associated Press}} Since 2010, he has said he would allow for a doctor's discretion in life-threatening cases such as ectopic pregnancies.{{cite web |last=Abad-Santos |first=Alexander |title=Rand Paul isn't 100% pro life anymore |url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/03/rand-paul-isnt-100-pro-life-any-more/63324/ |newspaper=The Atlantic Wire |date=March 20, 2013 |access-date=July 10, 2013 |archive-date=October 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030201053/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/03/rand-paul-isnt-100-pro-life-any-more/63324/ |url-status=dead }} In 2011, Paul signed onto the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act which was intended to prohibit federal funding for abortion, with the exception of abortions in the case of rape, incest, and to save the life of the mother.{{cite web|date=January 20, 2011|title=H.R.3 – No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-bill/3|website=Congress.gov|access-date=October 4, 2020}}

On September 5, 2017, the Trump administration announced the intended rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. In tweets responding to the act, Paul stated the executive order that created DACA was illegal and congressional bipartisanship was needed to solve or fix the program.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/349219-rand-paul-calls-for-bipartisan-daca-solution/ |title=Paul calls for bipartisan DACA solution |first=Olivia |last=Beavers |date=September 5, 2017 |newspaper=The Hill}}

Paul was one of 11 Republicans in 2019 to vote against Trump's demand for "emergency border funding".{{cite news|title=11 Senate Republicans voted to block Trump's border wall emergency declaration|url=https://www.vox.com/2019/9/25/20880248/senate-republicans-trump-border-wall|website=Vox|date=September 25, 2019|access-date=October 4, 2020}}

Paul has said that same-sex marriage "offends [himself] and a lot of people" on a personal level, and said there is a "crisis that allows people to think there would be some other sorts of marriage."{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/08/us/politics/rand-paul-on-the-issues.html |title=Rand Paul on the Issues |work=The New York Times |date=April 7, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/rand-paul-real-libertarian-319959 |title=Is Rand Paul a Real Libertarian? |work=Newsweek |date=April 6, 2015 |last=Boaz |first=David |access-date=April 10, 2015 |quote=His recent comments on gay marriage—"personally offended" and "moral crisis"—created a libertarian backlash.}} In 2010, he supported a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage nationwide.{{Cite web |title=Public Notes on 10-CC-q3 |url=https://www.ontheissues.org/Notebook/Note_10-CC-q3.htm |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=www.ontheissues.org}} Prior to the Supreme Court's 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges legalizing same-sex marriage across the United States, Paul held the view that the decision to ban same-sex marriage should be in the hands of states.{{cite news |last=Urbina |first=Ian |date=November 25, 2009 |title=In Kentucky, a Senate Candidate With a Pedigree for Agitation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/us/politics/26kentucky.html |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York |access-date=March 2, 2015}} Following the Court's decision, Paul said in 2015, "While I disagree with Supreme Court's redefinition of marriage, I believe that all Americans have the right to contract. The Constitution is silent on the question of marriage because marriage has always been a local issue. Our founding fathers went to the local courthouse to be married, not to Washington, D.C. I've often said I don't want my guns or my marriage registered in Washington."{{cite news |last=Paul|first=Rand|date=June 28, 2015|title=Rand Paul: Government Should Get Out of the Marriage Business Altogether|url=https://time.com/3939374/rand-paul-gay-marriage-supreme-court/|newspaper=Time|access-date=October 4, 2020}}

During Rachel Levine's confirmation hearing with the Senate HELP Committee to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Biden, Paul compared transgender medicine to "genital mutilation" and accused her of supporting "surgical destruction of a minor's genitalia." Paul was rebuked by committee chairman Patty Murray, as well as multiple House and Senate Democrats, who were to vote on the Equality Act that same day.{{cite news |last1=Stolberg |first1=Sheryl Gay |title=At a Senate hearing and on the House floor, emotional debates erupt over transgender rights. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/25/us/rachel-levine.html |access-date=March 3, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=February 25, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Foran |first1=Clare |title=Patty Murray rebukes Rand Paul for 'harmful misrepresentations' at historic confirmation hearing for Rachel Levine |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/25/politics/rachel-levine-vivek-murthy-senate-hearing/index.html |access-date=March 3, 2021 |work=CNN |date=February 25, 2021}}

File:Rand Paul (6158000602).jpg at Liberty Political Action Conference (LPAC) 2011 in Reno, Nevada, September 16, 2011]]

Unlike his more stridently "non-interventionist" father, Paul concedes a role for American armed forces abroad, including permanent foreign military bases.{{cite web |last=Ward |first=Jon |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/01/rand-paul-military-bases_n_2981368.html |title=Rand Paul Supports Some Military Bases On Foreign Soil, A Big Difference From His Dad |work=HuffPost |date=April 1, 2013 |access-date=August 20, 2013}} He has said that he blames supporters of the Iraq War and not President Obama for the growth in violence that occurred in 2014, and that the Iraq War "emboldened" Iran.{{cite web |title=Rand Paul: Blame Bush, Not Obama |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/380933/rand-paul-blame-bush-not-obama-eliana-johnson |work=National Review |access-date=April 8, 2015 |last=Johnson |first=Eliana |date=June 22, 2014}} Dick Cheney, John McCain and Rick Perry responded by calling Paul an isolationist,{{cite web |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rand-paul-blame-dick-cheney-for-iraq-violence-not-president-obama |title=Rand Paul: Blame Dick Cheney for Iraq violence, not Obama |last1=Miller |first1=Jake |date=June 22, 2014 |website=CBS News |access-date=July 6, 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://m.washingtonpost.com/opinions/rick-perry-isolationist-policies-make-the-threat-of-terrorism-even-greater/2014/07/11/6dbfba4a-06f0-11e4-bbf1-cc51275e7f8f_story.html |title=Isolationist policies make the threat of terrorism even greater |last1=Perry |first1=Rick |date=July 11, 2014 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=July 12, 2014}} but Paul has pointed to opinion polls of likely GOP primary voters as support for his position.{{cite web |url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140711/CONGRESSWATCH/307140012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715140104/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140711/CONGRESSWATCH/307140012 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 15, 2014 |title=GOP's Paul Doubles Down on Isolationism |last1=Bennett |first1=John T. |date=July 11, 2014 |website=DefenseNews.com |access-date=July 14, 2014}} In 2011, shortly after being elected, Paul proposed a budget which specified $542 billion in defense spending. In 2015, he called for a defense budget of $697 billion.{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/3759378/rand-paul-defense-spending/ |title=Rand Paul Proposes Boosting Defense Spending |last1=Rogers |first1=Alex |date=March 26, 2015 |magazine=Time|access-date=March 26, 2015}}

Referring to ISIS, Paul stated: "I personally believe that this group would not be in Iraq and would not be as powerful had we not been supplying their allies in the war [against Syrian Bashar al-Assad's government]."{{cite web |last=Akinyemi |first=Aaron |date=June 22, 2014 |title=Republican Senator Rand Paul Accuses US of Arming Isis Terrorists |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/republic-senator-rand-paul-accuses-us-arming-isis-terrorists-1453714 |work=International Business Times |access-date=July 27, 2014}} Paul then supported airstrikes against ISIS, but questioned the constitutionality of Obama's unilateral actions without a clear congressional mandate.{{cite web |url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/rand-pauls-hawk-turn-breeds-unease-lpac |title=Rand Paul's hawkish turn breeds unease at libertarian conference |last1=Sarlin |first1=Benjy |date=September 19, 2014 |website=MSNBC |access-date=September 19, 2014}}{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/3320671/rand-paul-obama-isis/ |title=Rand Paul Calls Obama's ISIS Plan 'Unconstitutional', but he does support the intervention |last1=Rogers |first1=Alex |date=September 10, 2014 |magazine=Time|access-date=September 21, 2014}} Paul has stated concerns about arms sent to Syrian rebels that wind up in unfriendly hands.{{cite web |url=http://nationalinterest.org/feature/rand-paul-the-case-conservative-realism-11544?page=2 |title=Rand Paul: The Case for Conservative Realism|last1=Paul |first1=Rand |date=October 23, 2014 |website=The National Interest |access-date=October 23, 2014}} In December 2018 he supported President Trump's decision to pull the US army out from the Syrian Civil war.{{Cite tweet |number=1075413915180384256 |url=https://twitter.com/RandPaul |first=Rand |last=Paul |title=I am happy to see a President who can declare victory and bring our troops out of a war. It's been a long time since that has happened. |user=RandPaul |date=December 19, 2018 |access-date=June 25, 2019}}

In 2016, Paul was one of the first members of Congress to come out in opposition to United States support for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.{{cite web |title=Senators consider vote to block United States arms deal to Saudi Arabia – report |first=Tom |last=Kutsch |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/14/saudi-arabia-us-arms-deal-senators-rand-paul-chris-murphy |work=The Guardian |date=August 14, 2016}} In June 2017, Paul tried to block Trump administration's plan to sell more weapons to Saudi Arabia.{{cite web |title=Rand Paul and Most Senate Democrats Almost Blocked Trump's Saudi Arms Deal |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/rand-paul-and-most-senate-democrats-almost-blocked-trumps-saudi-arms-deal/ |author=Nichols, John |work=The Nation |date=June 14, 2017 |access-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720140921/https://www.thenation.com/article/rand-paul-and-most-senate-democrats-almost-blocked-trumps-saudi-arms-deal/ |url-status=dead }} In April 2018, he again criticized the U.S.-Saudi Arabia alliance, highlighting that "Saudi Arabia has funded radical madrassas, teaching hatred of America throughout the world, and that Saudi Arabia also supplied arms to ISIS in the Syrian civil war."{{cite web |title=Sen. Rand Paul On Yemen And U.S. Foreign Interventions |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/04/27/606292740/sen-rand-paul-on-yemen-and-u-s-foreign-interventions?t=1532085794992 |work=National Public Radio |date=April 27, 2018}} Paul said that U.S.-backed Saudi blockade of Yemen has further aggravated the humanitarian crisis in the country.

Paul, like his father, has also been a critic of neoconservatism,{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-rand-paul-kass-0209-20170208-column.html |title=Sen. Rand Paul's war with the neocons |first=John |last=Kass |date=February 8, 2017 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune}} and urged Trump not to choose prominent neoconservative Elliott Abrams to serve as Deputy Secretary of State.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/318211-rand-paul-urges-trump-not-to-open-state-department-to-the-neocons/ |title=Rand Paul urges Trump not to open State Department to neocons |first=Mallory |last=Shelbourne |date=February 7, 2017 |newspaper=The Hill}} In April 2018, Paul voted for the confirmation of Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State.{{Cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/23/politics/pompeo-committee-vote-separate/index.html |title=Mike Pompeo approved out of committee following Rand Paul flipping his vote |first1=Phil |last1=Mattingly |first2=Lauren |last2=Fox |work=CNN|date=April 23, 2018 |access-date=April 23, 2018}} Paul had previously insisted that he would not confirm Pompeo, citing Pompeo's hawkish foreign policy beliefs.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/sen-rand-paul-opposes-confirming-trumps-secretary-of-state-and-cia-nominees/2018/03/14/dc941f9e-27b0-11e8-874b-d517e912f125_story.html |title=Sen. Rand Paul opposes confirming Trump's secretary of state and CIA nominees |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=March 2, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 23, 2018 |issn=0190-8286}}

In June 2019, Paul criticized the Trump administration for escalating tensions with Iran. Said Paul: "One of the things I like about President Trump is that he said the Iraq War was a mistake. I think an Iran war would be even a bigger mistake than the Iraq War."{{cite web |title=Mike Pompeo Said Congress Doesn't Need to Approve War With Iran. 2020 Democrats Aren't Having It. |url=https://theintercept.com/2019/06/14/mike-pompeo-iran-war-authorization/ |first1=Akela |last1=Lacy |first2=Jon |last2=Schwarz |work=The Intercept |date=June 14, 2019}}{{cite web |title=Rand Paul wants Congress involved in Iran decision, says war would be 'a bigger mistake' than Iraq |author=Givas, Nick|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rand-paul-iran-iraq-saudi-arabia |work=Fox News |date=June 20, 2019|access-date=September 19, 2020}} In January 2020 he criticized the U.S. airstrike on Baghdad International Airport which killed high-level Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Paul stated that the attack will increase tensions between the two countries.{{cite web |url=https://www.newsweek.com/rand-paul-slams-trump-over-airstrike-fox-news-if-you-dont-want-perpetual-war-you-dont-keep-1480379 |title=Rand Paul Slams Trump Over Airstrike: 'If You Don't Want Perpetual War, You Don't Keep Sending More Targets' |author=Lemieux, Melissa|work=Newsweek|date=January 4, 2020|access-date=September 19, 2020}}

On June 12, 2017, U.S. senators reached an agreement on legislation imposing new sanctions on Russia and Iran. The bill was opposed only by Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders.{{cite web |url=http://www.dw.com/en/us-bill-on-russia-sanctions-prompts-german-austrian-outcry/a-39270624 |title=US bill on Russia sanctions prompts German, Austrian outcry |date=June 15, 2017 |website=Deutsche Welle |access-date=February 2, 2020}} In July 2018, shortly after 12 Russian intelligence officers have been charged with hacking and leaking emails of senior Democrats, he described the Special Counsel investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election as a "witch hunt on the president".{{Cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/397074-rand-paul-on-russia-indictments-we-should-focus-on-protecting/ |title=Rand Paul on Russia indictments: We should focus on protecting elections instead of 'witch hunt on the president' |last=Samuels |first=Brett |date=July 15, 2018 |work=The Hill|access-date=July 15, 2018}} That same month, Paul blocked a Senate resolution that backed the intelligence community's assessment of Russian election interference and that called on President Trump to speak with special counsel Robert Mueller.{{Cite news |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/397879-rand-paul-blocks-sanders-russia-resolution-calls-it-crazy-hatred/ |title=Rand Paul blocks Sanders's Russia resolution, calls it 'crazy hatred' against Trump |last=Balluck |first=Kyle |date=July 19, 2018 |work=The Hill|access-date=July 22, 2018}} In August 2018 Paul traveled to Moscow and met with several Russian senators, including Sergey Kislyak. In May 2019, Paul opposed the decision of the Senate Intelligence committee, chaired by Republican Senator Richard Burr, to subpoena Donald Trump Jr., a close friend of Paul's, to testify in front of Congress about his involvement with Russians during the 2016 presidential campaign.{{Cite web |url=https://politi.co/2PUYvTq |title=Burr holds firm despite GOP anger over Don Jr. subpoena |last1=Everett |first1=Burgess |last2=Levine |first2=Marianne |date=May 9, 2019 |website=Politico|language=en |access-date=May 11, 2019}} In July 2018, Paul was among only two senators to vote against a Senate motion supporting NATO.{{Cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/396399-senate-overwhelmingly-passes-resolution-supporting-nato-as-trump/ |title=Senate votes to support NATO ahead of Trump summit |last=Anapol |first=Avery |date=July 10, 2018 |work=The Hill|access-date=July 24, 2018 |language=en}}

On July 1, 2020, the Senate rejected Paul's amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act which would have required the withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Afghanistan within a year and brought an end to the 19-year war.{{cite news |title=Senate rejects Paul proposal on withdrawing troops from Afghanistan |author=Carney, Jordain|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/505555-senate-rejects-paul-proposal-on-withdrawing-troops-from-afghanistan/ |work=The Hill|date=June 1, 2020|access-date=September 19, 2020}}

On May 12, 2022, Paul stopped a vote on a $40 billion spending bill for aid to Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion, objecting that it would be the second spending bill for this purpose, and that it was 3 times larger than the first.{{cite news |author1=Guardian staff and agencies |title=Senator Rand Paul single-handedly holds up $40bn US aid for Ukraine |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/12/us-ukraine-aid-rand-paul-senate |work=The Guardian|date=12 May 2022 |language=en}} Paul has also stated that President Biden provoked Russia by advocating for Ukraine's entrance into NATO.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-26 |title=Tulsi Gabbard, Rand Paul Placed on List of Russian Propagandists by Ukraine |website=Newsweek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/tulsi-gabbard-rand-paul-placed-list-russian-propagandists-ukraine-1727831 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726145137/https://www.newsweek.com/tulsi-gabbard-rand-paul-placed-list-russian-propagandists-ukraine-1727831 |archive-date=2022-07-26 |access-date=2022-07-26 }} In July, Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation placed Paul on a list of public figures whom it alleges promote Russian propaganda.{{Cite web |url=https://theweek.com/ukraine/1015428/ukraine-accuses-tulsi-gabbard-and-rand-paul-of-promoting-russian-propaganda |title=Ukraine accuses Tulsi Gabbard and Rand Paul of promoting 'Russian propaganda' |date=2022-07-26 |website=The Week |last=Quay |first=Grayson}}

In January 2024, Paul voted for a resolution, proposed by Bernie Sanders, to apply the human rights provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act to the Israel military assistance. The proposal was defeated 72 to 11.{{cite news|first1=Alexander|last1=Bolton|access-date=2024-01-17|title=Democratic rebels send Biden stern message on Gaza|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4412586-democratic-rebels-send-biden-stern-message-on-gaza/|newspaper=The Hill|date=2024-01-16}} In November 2024, Sen. Paul would reverse himself and vote against Sen Sanders' joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Israel of certain defense articles and services.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 118th Congress - 2nd Session |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00292.htm |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=www.senate.gov}}

After Donald Trump announced that America "will take over the Gaza strip," in February, 2025, Paul took to Twitter (now X) to criticize the statement, saying "The pursuit for peace should be that of the Israelis and the Palestinians. I thought we voted for America First. We have no business contemplating yet another occupation to doom our treasure and spill our soldiers blood."{{Cite web |date=2025-02-06 |title=Trump says Israel will hand over Gaza to US after fighting ends |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g9xgj2429o |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2025-02-05 |title=Rand Paul recoils at Trump's Gaza takeover plans: 'I thought we voted for America First' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/rand-paul-recoils-trumps-gaza-153017640.html |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}

File:Rand Paul & Allen West (15805495253).jpg]]

Paul has focused on criminal justice reform as a legislative priority.{{cite news |last1=Paul |first1=Rand |title=Paul: Keep pushing criminal justice reform in Ky. |url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/2016/03/28/paul-keep-pushing-criminal-justice-reform-kyl/82352596/ |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=The Courier-Journal |date=March 28, 2016}}{{cite web |last1=Clark |first1=Dartunorro |last2=Shabad |first2=Rebecca |title=GOP Sen. Rand Paul singles out McConnell on criminal justice bill, calls for public pressure on majority leader |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/gop-sen-rand-paul-singles-out-mcconnell-criminal-justice-bill-n946136 |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=NBC News |date=December 10, 2018}} He introduced the Justice Safety Valve Act in 2013 to provide judges with greater sentencing flexibility,{{cite press release |date=March 20, 2013 |title=Bipartisan Legislation To Give Judges More Flexibility For Federal Sentences Introduced |url=https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/bipartisan-legislation-to-give-judges-more-flexibility-for-federal-sentences-introduced |location=Washington, D.C. |website=Patrick Leahy, U.S. Senator for Vermont |access-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-date=January 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111195605/https://www.leahy.senate.gov/press/bipartisan-legislation-to-give-judges-more-flexibility-for-federal-sentences-introduced |url-status=dead }} the Civil Rights Voting Restoration Act in 2014 to restore voting rights for non-violent felons,{{cite news |last1=Everett |first1=Burgess |title=Paul aims for minority voters |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/rand-paul-voting-rights-ex-felons-108156 |access-date=April 9, 2021 |work=Politico |date=June 22, 2014}} the REDEEM Act in 2014 to allow sealing and expungement for non-violent crimes,{{cite press release |date=July 8, 2014 |title=U.S. Senators Booker and Paul Introduce Legislation Calling for Criminal Justice Reform |url=https://www.booker.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=100 |location=Washington, D.C. |website=Cory Booker, U.S. Senator for New Jersey}} the FAIR Act in 2014 to rein in police use of civil asset forfeiture,{{cite web |last1=Shackford |first1=Scott |title=Sen. Rand Paul Wants to Make it Harder for the Feds to Take Your Stuff |url=https://reason.com/2014/07/24/rand-paul-wants-to-make-it-harder-for-th/ |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=Reason |date=July 24, 2014}} the RESET Act in 2014 to address the crack sentencing disparity and how drugs are weighed,{{cite web |last1=Campbell |first1=Colin |title=Here's Rand Paul's Plan To Reform Drug Laws |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-rand-pauls-plan-to-reform-drug-laws-2014-7 |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=Business Insider |date=July 25, 2014}} the Police CAMERA Act in 2015 to increase the use of body cameras by police,{{cite press release |date=March 26, 2015 |title=Sens. Paul, Schatz & Reps. Brown, Ellison Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Help Expand Use of Police Body Cameras |url=https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/sens-paul-schatz-reps-brown-ellison-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-help-expand-use-police |location=Washington, D.C. |website=Rand Paul, U.S. Senator for Kentucky |access-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102023141/https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/sens-paul-schatz-reps-brown-ellison-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-help-expand-use-police |url-status=dead }} the Stop Militarizing Our Law Enforcement Act in 2015 to reduce the use of military equipment by police,{{cite press release |date=May 21, 2015 |title=Sens. Rand Paul and Brian Schatz Introduce the Stop Militarizing Our Law Enforcement Act |url=https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/sens-rand-paul-and-brian-schatz-introduce-stop-militarizing-our-law-enforcement-act |location=Washington, D.C. |website=Rand Paul, U.S. Senator for Kentucky |access-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102024654/https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/sens-rand-paul-and-brian-schatz-introduce-stop-militarizing-our-law-enforcement-act |url-status=dead }} the MERCY Act in 2015 to restrict the use of solitary confinement on juveniles,{{cite news |last1=Wheeler |first1=Lydia |title=Bill would ban solitary confinement in juvy |url=https://thehill.com/regulation/250359-bill-would-ban-solitary-confinement-in-juvy/ |access-date=June 9, 2020 |work=The Hill |date=August 5, 2015}} the Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act in 2017 to encourage states to reform bail policies,{{cite press release |date=July 20, 2017 |title=Harris, Paul Introduce Bill to Encourage States to Reform or Replace Unjust, Costly Money Bail System |url=https://www.harris.senate.gov/news/press-releases/harris-paul-introduce-bill-to-encourage-states-to-reform-or-replace-unjust-costly-money-bail-system |location=Washington, D.C. |website=Kamala D. Harris, U.S. Senator for California |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205023118/https://www.harris.senate.gov/news/press-releases/harris-paul-introduce-bill-to-encourage-states-to-reform-or-replace-unjust-costly-money-bail-system |archive-date=February 5, 2019 |url-status=dead}} the Pregnant Women in Custody Act in 2018 to protect the health and safety of pregnant women in prison,{{cite press release |date=November 14, 2018 |title=Sens. Paul, Gillibrand Introduce Bill Protecting Pregnant Women in Federal Custody |url=https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/sens-paul-gillibrand-introduce-bill-protecting-pregnant-women-federal-custody |location=Washington, D.C. |website=Rand Paul, U.S. Senator for Kentucky |access-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102023141/https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/sens-paul-gillibrand-introduce-bill-protecting-pregnant-women-federal-custody |url-status=dead }} and the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act in 2020 to end the use of no-knock warrants.{{cite news |last1=Carney |first1=Jordain |title=Rand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/502392-rand-paul-introduces-bill-to-end-no-knock-warrants/ |access-date=June 17, 2020 |work=The Hill |date=June 11, 2020}} Paul says policies such as the war on drugs and mandatory minimum sentencing have particularly harmed minorities.{{cite web |last1=Paul |first1=Rand |title=Rand Paul: Drug war targets minorities |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/06/24/rand-paul-marijuana-arrests-column/2452259/ |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=USA Today |date=June 24, 2013}}{{cite news |last1=Paul |first1=Rand |title=Paul: The madness of mandatory minimums |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/aug/16/paul-the-madness-of-mandatory-minimums/?page=all |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=The Washington Times |date=August 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831210916/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/aug/16/paul-the-madness-of-mandatory-minimums/?page=all |archive-date=August 31, 2013}}

In 2020, Paul held up bipartisan legislation that would make lynching a federal crime.{{cite news |last1=Foran |first1=Clare |last2=Fox |first2=Lauren |title=Emotional debate erupts over anti-lynching legislation as Cory Booker and Kamala Harris speak out against Rand Paul amendment |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/04/politics/anti-lynching-bill-fight-senate-floor-cory-booker-rand-paul/index.html |access-date=June 5, 2020 |work=CNN|date=June 4, 2020}} Paul said that he thought lynching should be "universally condemned", but wanted an amendment to clarify that the causation of non-fatal injuries would not be considered lynching.{{cite news |last1=Barrett |first1=Ted |last2=Foran |first2=Clare |title=Rand Paul holds up anti-lynching legislation as he seeks changes to bill |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/03/politics/rand-paul-lynching-legislation/index.html |access-date=June 6, 2020 |work=CNN|date=June 3, 2020}}

Paul was one of six Republican senators to vote no on expanding the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which would allow the U.S. Justice Department to review hate crimes related to COVID-19 and establish an online database.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/14/politics/anti-asian-hate-crimes-senate-vote/index.html|title=Senate advances bill to combat surge of anti-Asian hate crimes|publisher=CNN|last=Rogers|first=Alex|date=April 14, 2021|access-date=April 14, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00151|title=On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed (Motion to Invoke Cloture Re: Motion to Proceed to S. 937)|publisher=United States Senate|date=April 14, 2021|access-date=April 14, 2021}}

On May 28, 2021, Paul voted against creating an independent commission to investigate the 2021 United States Capitol attack.{{cite news |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 28, 2021 |title=Which senators supported a Jan. 6 Capitol riot commission |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/january6-commission-senators-vote/}}

Paul supported the First Step Act.{{cite press release |date=December 18, 2018 |title=Sen. Rand Paul Applauds Historic Senate Passage of First Step Act |url=https://www.paul.senate.gov/news-sen-rand-paul-applauds-historic-senate-passage-first-step-act/ |location=Washington, D.C. |website=Rand Paul, U.S. Senator for Kentucky}}

On cannabis legalization, Paul says the issue should be left up to the states and that "you ought to be able to pretty much do what you want to do as long as you don't hurt somebody else".{{cite web |last1=Skye |first1=Dan |title=The High Times Interview: Rand Paul |url=https://hightimes.com/news/legalization/the-high-times-interview-rand-paul/ |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=High Times |date=October 14, 2015 |archive-date=September 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927173122/https://hightimes.com/news/legalization/the-high-times-interview-rand-paul/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |last1=Price |first1=Autumn |title=Rand Paul goes into detail with Stephen Colbert on how the drug war unfairly targets "black and brown" people |url=https://rare.us/rare-politics/rare-liberty/war-on-drugs-rare-liberty/rand-paul-goes-into-detail-with-stephen-colbert-on-how-the-drug-war-unfairly-targets-black-and-brown-people/ |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=Rare |date=February 1, 2018 |archive-date=November 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114120946/https://rare.us/rare-politics/rare-liberty/war-on-drugs-rare-liberty/rand-paul-goes-into-detail-with-stephen-colbert-on-how-the-drug-war-unfairly-targets-black-and-brown-people/ |url-status=dead }} Regarding medical use, Paul has endorsed efforts to legalize in Kentucky{{cite web |title=Senator Rand Paul shows support for medical marijuana bill |url=https://www.wkyt.com/content/news/Senator-Rand-Paul-shows-support-for-medical-marijuana-bill--476398413.html |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=WKYT |date=March 9, 2018}} and introduced the CARERS Act in 2015 to legalize medical cannabis at the federal level.{{cite press release |date=March 10, 2015 |title=Sens. Paul, Booker, & Gillibrand Announce CARERS Act |url=https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/sens-paul-booker-gillibrand-announce-carers-act |location=Washington, D.C. |website=Rand Paul, U.S. Senator for Kentucky |access-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124024518/https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/sens-paul-booker-gillibrand-announce-carers-act |url-status=dead }} Paul has also supported states' rights-focused cannabis legislation, introducing the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment in 2014,{{cite web |last1=Ferner |first1=Matt |last2=Reilly |first2=Ryan J. |title=Senate Could Follow House In Blocking DEA From Targeting Medical Marijuana |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rand-paul-medical-marijuana_n_5511734 |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=HuffPost |date=June 19, 2014}} cosponsoring the STATES Act in 2018,{{cite web |title=FAQ: What the STATES Act Would Do, and Why It's a Game-Changer |url=https://www.leafly.com/news/politics/faq-what-the-states-act-would-do-and-why-its-a-game-changer |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=Leafly |date=June 7, 2018}} and introducing other amendments.{{cite news |last1=Nelson |first1=Steven |title=Rand Paul, Senate Torch-Bearer on Pot Reform, Wants Colleagues on Record |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/07/25/rand-paul-senate-torch-bearer-on-pot-reform-wants-colleagues-on-record |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=U.S. News & World Report |date=July 25, 2014}}{{cite web |last1=Angell |first1=Tom |title=Rand Paul Pushes Marijuana Amendments On Funding Bill |url=https://www.marijuanamoment.net/rand-paul-pushes-marijuana-amendments-funding-bill/ |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=Marijuana Moment |date=January 20, 2018}} Paul introduced the Marijuana Businesses Access to Banking Act in 2015 to allow cannabis businesses increased access to banks.{{cite web |last1=Thiruvengadam |first1=Meena |title=Rand Paul backs effort to bring banking to legal marijuana businesses |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rand-paul-joins-effort-to-bring-banking-to-legal-marijuana-businesses-034132886.html |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=Yahoo! Finance |date=July 10, 2015}}

Regarding industrial hemp cultivation, Paul has supported efforts to legalize in Kentucky{{cite news |last1=Paul |first1=Rand |title=Ky voices: Rand Paul: Legalize hemp to aid Ky. economy |url=https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-ed/article44393310.html |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=Lexington Herald-Leader |date=December 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103013825/https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-ed/article44393310.html |archive-date=January 3, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Gabriel |first1=Trip |title=Hemp Growing Finds Allies of a New Stripe in Kentucky |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/13/us/13hemp.html |access-date=January 1, 2020 |work=The New York Times|date=February 12, 2013}} and at the federal level as well, introducing the Industrial Hemp Farming Act in 2013.{{cite press release |date=February 14, 2013 |title=Sens. McConnell and Paul Co-sponsor Industrial Hemp Legislation |url=https://www.paul.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=707 |location=Washington, D.C. |website=Rand Paul, U.S. Senator for Kentucky |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222204726/https://www.paul.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=707 |archive-date=February 22, 2013 |url-status=dead}} In 2020 he introduced the Hemp Economic Mobilization Plan (HEMP) Act to increase the THC limit of hemp from 0.3% to 1%.{{cite news |last1=Jaeger |first1=Kyle |title=Rand Paul Files Bill To Increase Hemp THC Limit And Address Other Industry Concerns |url=https://www.marijuanamoment.net/rand-paul-files-bill-to-increase-hemp-thc-limit-and-address-other-industry-concerns/ |access-date=December 25, 2020 |work=Marijuana Moment |date=December 16, 2020}}{{cite press release |date=December 15, 2020 |title=Dr. Rand Paul Introduces HEMP Act to Relieve Unnecessary Constraints on Hemp Industry, Provide Transparency and Certainty |url=https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/dr-rand-paul-introduces-hemp-act-relieve-unnecessary-constraints-hemp-industry-provide |location=Washington, D.C. |publisher=senate.gov |access-date=December 25, 2020 |archive-date=December 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216211121/https://www.paul.senate.gov/news/dr-rand-paul-introduces-hemp-act-relieve-unnecessary-constraints-hemp-industry-provide |url-status=dead }}

In 2022, Paul introduced the Right to Try Clarification Act to clarify that the Right to Try Act allows terminally ill patients to use Schedule I drugs for which a Phase I clinical trial has been completed.{{cite news |last1=Jaeger |first1=Kyle |title=Cory Booker And Rand Paul Bill Would Force DEA To Let Patients Use Psychedelics And Marijuana |url=https://www.marijuanamoment.net/cory-booker-and-rand-paul-bill-would-force-dea-to-let-patients-use-psychedelics-and-marijuana/ |access-date=January 23, 2023 |work=Marijuana Moment |date=July 20, 2022}} Also in 2022, he introduced the Breakthrough Therapies Act to allow Schedule I drugs such as psilocybin and MDMA to be rescheduled when they are designated as breakthrough therapies by the Food and Drug Administration.{{cite news |last1=Jaeger |first1=Kyle |title=Cory Booker And Rand Paul File Bill To Reschedule Psychedelic Breakthrough Therapies And Remove Research Barriers |url=https://www.marijuanamoment.net/cory-booker-and-rand-paul-file-bill-to-reschedule-psychedelic-breakthrough-therapies-and-remove-research-barriers/ |access-date=January 23, 2023 |work=Marijuana Moment |date=November 17, 2022}}

File:Senator Rand Paul in New Hampshire on August 29th by Michael Vadon.jpg, August 13, 2015]]

As a critic of warrantless surveillance of Americans, Paul says "the Fourth Amendment is equally as important as the Second Amendment" and has called for conservatives to more strongly defend Fourth Amendment rights.{{cite news |last1=Condon |first1=Stephanie |title=Rand Paul: Electing "lesser of two evils" isn't good enough |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rand-paul-electing-lesser-of-two-evils-isnt-good-enough/ |access-date=May 18, 2020 |work=CBS News |date=March 7, 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Condon |first1=Stephanie |title=Rand Paul: GOP needs to care about more than gun rights |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rand-paul-gop-needs-to-care-about-more-than-gun-rights/ |access-date=May 18, 2020 |work=CBS News |date=February 27, 2015}} In 2015 Paul spoke for ten and a half hours on the Senate floor against renewing provisions of the PATRIOT Act that he said were unconstitutional.{{cite news |last1=Siddiqui |first1=Sabrina |title=Rand Paul ends marathon filibuster but fails to block Patriot Act |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/may/21/us-senator-rand-paul-ends-marathon-speech-but-fails-to-block-patriot-act |access-date=May 18, 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=May 21, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Raju |first1=Manu |title=Rand Paul: 'I will force the expiration' of the PATRIOT Act |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/05/exclusive-rand-paul-i-will-force-the-expiration-of-the-patriot-act-118443 |access-date=May 18, 2020 |work=Politico |date=May 30, 2015}} Paul has called Edward Snowden a "whistleblower" and called for Director of National Intelligence James Clapper to resign for "lying" about the phone metadata program that Snowden exposed.{{cite news |last1=Geller |first1=Eric |title=Rand Paul praises Edward Snowden for doing 'a service' to the U.S. |url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/rand-paul-edward-snowden-nsa-surveillance-digital-democracy/ |access-date=May 18, 2020 |work=The Daily Dot |date=November 12, 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Trujillo |first1=Mario |title=Paul: Clapper should resign for 'lying to Congress' |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/193597-paul-calls-on-clapper-to-resign/ |access-date=May 18, 2020 |work=The Hill |date=December 19, 2013}} He also filed a class action lawsuit against the Obama administration seeking to end the program.{{cite news |last1=Bolton |first1=Alexander |title=Paul sues Obama over NSA spying |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/198206-paul-sues-obama-to-halt-nsa-surveillance-of-phone-data/ |access-date=May 18, 2020 |work=The Hill |date=February 12, 2014}} Paul gave a speech at the University of California, Berkeley in 2014 titled "The N.S.A. vs. Your Privacy".{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Jeremy W. |title=Rand Paul, Warning About Spying, Faults Obama |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/20/us/politics/rand-paul-speaks-at-berkeley.html |access-date=May 18, 2020 |work=The New York Times|date=March 19, 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Richman |first1=Josh |title=Rand Paul finds support in Berkeley, of all places |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/03/19/rand-paul-finds-support-in-berkeley-of-all-places/ |access-date=May 18, 2020 |work=The Mercury News |date=March 19, 2014}}

Paul has not definitively accepted the scientific consensus on climate change, which has found that global warming is real, progressing, and primarily caused by humans. Paul has said pollution emissions are subject to "onerous regulation".{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/05/12/where-the-2016-gop-contenders-stand-on-climate-change/ |title=Where the 2016 GOP contenders stand on climate change |last=Waldman |first=Paul |date=May 12, 2014 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 7, 2017 |author-link=Paul Waldman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820082811/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/05/12/where-the-2016-gop-contenders-stand-on-climate-change/ |archive-date=August 20, 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/204235-paul-science-behind-climate-change-not-conclusive/ |title=Rand Paul: Science behind climate change 'not conclusive' |last=Barron-Lopez |first=Laura |date=April 23, 2014 |newspaper=The Hill |access-date=February 7, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821101302/http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/204235-paul-science-behind-climate-change-not-conclusive |archive-date=August 21, 2020}} In 2018, Paul called for an investigation of a National Science Foundation grant that went towards educating meteorologists about the science of climate change. Paul said the grant was "not science" but "propagandizing".{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/gop-senators-challenge-funding-global-warming-education-program-n885221 |title=GOP senators challenge funding for global warming education program |last=Rainey |first=James |work=NBC News |date=June 21, 2018 |access-date=June 23, 2018 |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314004451/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/gop-senators-challenge-funding-global-warming-education-program-n885221 |archive-date=March 14, 2020}} In a January 2020 tweet, Paul wrote, "Despite climate alarmist predictions, humans will likely survive for hundreds of millions of years into the future. In the meantime, we should begin creating atmospheres on suitable moons or planets."{{cite news |last1=Lakhani |first1=Nina |last2=Milman |first2=Oliver |title=Republican candidates on climate: 'fake science' to 'carbon is healthy' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/nov/04/republican-democrat-candidates-climate-crisis |newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104115008/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/nov/04/republican-democrat-candidates-climate-crisis |archive-date=4 November 2022 |url-status=live }}

In 2021, Paul and Senator Cory Booker co-sponsored the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 which eliminated the requirement that drugs in development must use animal testing before commencing human trials.{{Cite web |last=Berry |first=Rachel |title=Sen. Rand Paul visits Kenton County, hangs out with Thanos |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2021/11/19/sen-rand-paul-visits-nky-talk-animal-testing-bill/8680091002/ |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=The Enquirer |language=en-US}} In support of this bill, Paul stated this change would "help end the needless suffering and death of animal test subjects" and will "get safer, more effective drugs to market more quickly by cutting red tape that is not supported by current science."{{Cite web |date=2024-02-03 |title=FDA no longer requires all drugs to be tested on animals before human trials : NPR |website=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148529799/fda-animal-testing-pharmaceuticals-drug-development |access-date=2024-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203225723/https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148529799/fda-animal-testing-pharmaceuticals-drug-development |archive-date=February 3, 2024 }} It was signed into law in December 2022.

In 2009, Paul was interviewed by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and suggested mandatory vaccination would be akin to martial law.[https://grist.org/politics/its-not-just-climate-change-some-gop-leaders-are-disregarding-the-science-on-vaccines-too/ It's not just climate change: Some GOP leaders disregard science on vaccines too], Grist, February 5, 2015 On February 2, 2015, he told conservative radio host Laura Ingraham regarding vaccinations, that "most of them ought be voluntary".{{cite news |last1=Schwab |first1=Nikki |title=Rand Paul Takes a Shot at 'Liberal Media' While Literally Getting a Shot |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/02/03/rand-paul-takes-a-shot-at-liberal-media-while-literally-getting-a-shot |access-date=February 2, 2022 |work=U.S. News & World Report |date=February 3, 2015}} His remarks generated controversy by suggesting that states should not require parents to vaccinate their children, because parents should have the freedom to make that decision for their children. Later that day, in an interview with CNBC, Paul clarified this statement, saying, "I'm not arguing vaccines are a bad idea. I think they are a good thing, but I think the parent should have some input. The state doesn't own your children. Parents own the children, and it is an issue of freedom."{{cite web |last1=Fox |first1=Michelle |title=Vaccines should be voluntary: Rand Paul |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2015/02/02/vaccines-should-be-voluntary-rand-paul.html |access-date=July 22, 2015 |website=CNBC |date=February 2, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808224432/https://www.cnbc.com/2015/02/02/vaccines-should-be-voluntary-rand-paul.html |archive-date=August 8, 2020}} In May 2020, Paul said that stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic amounted to "dictatorship" by Kentucky's Democratic governor Andy Beshear.{{cite news |author=Desrochers, Daniel |date=May 7, 2020 |title=Rand Paul says Kentucky living under 'dictatorship of Beshear.' He urges reopening. |url=https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article242572296.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903100716/https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article242572296.html |archive-date=September 3, 2020 |access-date=September 19, 2020 |work=Lexington Herald-Leader}}

Paul has spread false claims about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines,{{Cite web |last=Levitan |first=Dave |date=February 3, 2015 |title=Paul Repeats Baseless Vaccine Claims |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2015/02/paul-repeats-baseless-vaccine-claims/ |access-date=August 11, 2021 |website=FactCheck.org |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Jessica |date=November 19, 2020 |title=Paul Misleads on Natural Infection and COVID-19 Vaccines |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2020/11/paul-misleads-on-natural-infection-and-covid-19-vaccines/ |access-date=August 11, 2021 |website=FactCheck.org |language=en-US}} once saying, "I've heard of many tragic cases of walking, talking, normal children who wound up with profound mental disorders after vaccines."[https://grist.org/politics/its-not-just-climate-change-some-gop-leaders-are-disregarding-the-science-on-vaccines-too/ It's not just climate change: Some GOP leaders disregard science on vaccines too], Grist, Ben Adler, February 5, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2020. On February 3, he posted a photograph to Twitter of himself being vaccinated.{{cite web |title=Rand Paul No-Show at Senate Vaccine Hearing In The Wake Of Controversial Comments |author=Weinberg, Ali |website=ABC News |date=February 10, 2015 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rand-paul-show-senate-vaccine-hearing-controversial-comments/story?id=28868892 |access-date=February 12, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806165050/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rand-paul-show-senate-vaccine-hearing-controversial-comments/story?id=28868892 |archive-date=August 6, 2020}}

In 2014, Paul argued that the Obama administration and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) were downplaying the threat posed by Ebola virus in the United States. Ultimately, nine people infected with Ebola returned to the United States, two nurses contracted the disease within the US, and two of the returning travelers died.{{cite web |title=Rand Paul stokes Ebola fears |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/10/rand-paul-ebola-111547.html |last=Topaz |first=Jonathan |website=Politico |date=October 2, 2014 |language=en |access-date=May 12, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527115633/https://www.politico.com/story/2014/10/rand-paul-ebola-111547 |archive-date=May 27, 2020}}

At a Senate committee hearing on September 23, 2020, Paul clashed with Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/20/how-anthony-fauci-became-americas-doctor |title=How Anthony Fauci Became America's Doctor |last=Specter |first=Michael |magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=October 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413235133/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/04/20/how-anthony-fauci-became-americas-doctor|archive-date=April 13, 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Alba |first1=Davey |author-link1=Davey Alba|last2=Frenkel |first2=Sheera |title=Medical Expert Who Corrects Trump Is Now a Target of the Far Right |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/28/technology/coronavirus-fauci-trump-conspiracy-target.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=October 5, 2020 |date=March 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402135959/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/28/technology/coronavirus-fauci-trump-conspiracy-target.html |archive-date=April 2, 2020 |url-status=live}} Paul asked Fauci if he had "second thoughts" about the CDC's mitigation recommendations, including mask-wearing and maintaining a six-foot space of social distancing.{{cite news |last=Edwards |first=Erika |date=September 23, 2020 |title=Fauci, Paul clash over Covid-19 herd immunity at Senate hearing |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fauci-paul-clash-over-covid-19-herd-immunity-senate-hearing-n1240858 |url-status=live |work=NBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924063117/https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/fauci-paul-clash-over-covid-19-herd-immunity-senate-hearing-n1240858 |archive-date=September 24, 2020 |access-date=September 24, 2020}} Paul said New York's high fatality rate showed that mitigation efforts were insufficient.{{cite news |date=September 23, 2020 |title=Dr. Fauci to Sen. Paul: 'You are not listening...' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/dr-fauci-sen-paul-not-173645628.html |agency=Reuters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924151738/https://www.yahoo.com/news/dr-fauci-sen-paul-not-173645628.html |archive-date=September 24, 2020 |access-date=September 24, 2020}} Fauci replied, "You've misconstrued that Senator, and you've done that repetitively in the past", saying that New York had succeeded in getting the virus under control by adhering to the CDC's clinical guidelines.{{cite news |last=Wu |first=Nicholas |date=September 23, 2020 |title='You misconstrue that, Senator': Fauci tells Sen. Rand Paul he has the facts wrong on COVID-19 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/09/23/coronavirus-fauci-pushes-back-against-rand-paul-covid-19-hearing/3506493001/ |work=USA Today |access-date=September 24, 2020}}

In May 2021, during President Biden's push to convince more Americans to be vaccinated, Paul said he personally was choosing not to get the COVID vaccine, justifying his decision by saying that "I've already had the disease and I have natural immunity" and that "in a free country{{nbsp}}... each individual would get to make the medical decision."{{Cite web|last=Miller|first=Hayley|date=May 23, 2021|title=GOP Sen. Rand Paul Says He Won't Get COVID-19 Vaccine|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rand-paul-says-he-wont-get-covid-19-vaccine_n_60aa3e93e4b0a2568313f308|access-date=May 23, 2021|website=HuffPost|language=en}} Paul later challenged Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on the Biden administration's vaccine mandates by arguing that they are not needed for people who have been previously infected.{{cite news |title=Senator Paul Asserts Natural Immunity Is As Good As COVID-19 Vaccine {{!}} C-SPAN.org |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4979775/senator-paul-asserts-natural-immunity-good-covid-19-vaccine |work=www.c-span.org |publisher=C-SPAN|language=en-us}}

At Senate hearings in May and July 2021, Paul debated Anthony Fauci on the origin of COVID-19, gaining media attention for his concerns about the risks of lab work.{{cite news |last1=Zimmer |first1=Carl |last2=Gorman |first2=James |title=Fight Over Covid's Origins Renews Debate on Risks of Lab Work |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/20/science/covid-lab-leak-wuhan.html |work=The New York Times|date=June 20, 2021}} In July 2021, Fauci responded to Paul's allegations and called him a liar.Thebault, Ries. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/07/20/fauci-paul-wuhan-lab/ In latest clash over Wuhan lab, Fauci tells Sen. Rand Paul: 'You do not know what you're talking about'] Washington Post July 20, 2021. In August 2021, Paul was suspended from YouTube for a week under the company's misinformation policy after he published a video with false claims that masks are not effective.{{Cite news|last=Victor|first=Daniel|date=August 11, 2021|title=YouTube suspends Rand Paul for a week over a video disputing the effectiveness of masks.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/11/business/youtube-rand-paul-covid-masks.html|access-date=August 11, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{cite web|accessdate=January 8, 2022|title=YouTube suspends Sen. Rand Paul over a video falsely claiming masks are ineffective|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/youtube-suspends-sen-rand-paul-over-video-falsely-claiming-masks-n1276534|website=NBC News|date=August 11, 2021 }}{{cite web|first1=District of Columbia 1100 Connecticut Ave NW Suite 1300B|last1=Washington|last2=Dc 20036|accessdate=January 8, 2022|title=PolitiFact – Examining the false claims that got Rand Paul, Marjorie Taylor Greene suspended on YouTube, Twitter|url=https://www.politifact.com/article/2021/aug/11/examining-false-claims-got-rand-paul-marjorie-tayl/|website=PolitiFact}} Paul also released a video of himself calling on people to "resist" public health measures to halt the spread of COVID-19.{{Cite news|title=Ted Cruz calls for 'zero' coronavirus mandates, while Rand Paul urges defiance amid delta variant surge|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/10/cruz-paul-mandates-mask-vaccine/|access-date=August 11, 2021|issn=0190-8286}}

On August 11, 2021, Rand Paul disclosed that his wife Kelley Paul had purchased a stake in Gilead Sciences, which manufactures an antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19, on February 26, 2020.{{Cite news|last=Stanley-Becker|first=Isaac|date=August 12, 2021|title=Rand Paul discloses 16 months late that his wife bought stock in company behind covid treatment|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/11/rand-paul-gilead-stock/|access-date=August 30, 2021|issn=0190-8286}}

On October 10, 2023, Paul published Deception: The Great Covid Cover-Up with publisher Regnery Publishing.{{cite web | title=Deception: The Great Covid Cover-Up | website=Regnery Publishing | date=2019-11-18 | url=https://www.regnery.com/9781684515134/deception/ | access-date=2023-10-12}}

Paul supports repealing the Affordable Care Act[https://www.randpaul.com/issues/health-care Rand Paul Supports Free-Market Principles in Health Care and the Repeal of Obamacare.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820125551/https://www.randpaul.com/issues/health-care |date=August 20, 2021 }} Rand Paul for US Senate. Retrieved: August 20, 2021. and opposes universal health care, having once equated it to slavery.Hutzler, Alexandria (January 14, 2019). [https://www.newsweek.com/rand-paul-universal-healthcare-critic-gets-surgery-canada-private-hospital-1290811 Rand Paul, Who Calls Universal Health Care 'Slavery,' Will Have Surgery in Canada but Insists Hospital Is Private.] Newsweek. Retrieved: August 20, 2021. Paul says he instead favors expanding health savings accounts and providing a $5000 tax credit, allowing health insurance to be sold across state lines, and allowing individuals and small businesses to pool together to purchase insurance. His plan would provide a two-year window during which people with pre-existing conditions could not be denied coverage.{{cite news |last1=McLeod |first1=Paul |title=Here's Rand Paul's Plan To Replace Obamacare |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/paulmcleod/heres-rand-pauls-plan-to-replace-obamacare |access-date=July 18, 2023 |work=BuzzFeed News |date=January 25, 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Bryan |first1=Bob |title=Rand Paul just introduced his Obamacare Replacement Act |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/rand-paul-introduced-obamacare-replacement-act-2017-1 |access-date=July 18, 2023 |work=Business Insider |date=January 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704221244/https://www.businessinsider.com/rand-paul-introduced-obamacare-replacement-act-2017-1 |archive-date=July 4, 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Joszt |first1=Laura |title=Rand Paul's ACA Replacement Relies on HSAs and Selling Across State Lines |url=https://www.ajmc.com/view/rand-pauls-aca-replacement-relies-on-hsas-and-selling-across-state-lines |access-date=July 18, 2023 |work=The American Journal of Managed Care |date=January 26, 2017}}

In November 2019, Paul signed a pledge to support a constitutional amendment to limit senators to two terms.{{cite news |title=U.S. Term Limits Praises Senator Rand Paul (KY) for Signing Pledge |url=https://www.termlimits.com/sen-rand-paul-signs-u-s-term-limits-pledge/ |publisher=US Term Limits |date=November 6, 2019}} In 2022, he was elected for his third term in the U.S. Senate;{{Cite web |date=2022-11-08 |title=Republican Sen. Rand Paul wins 3rd term in Kentucky |url=https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-senate-race-2022-midterm-elections-3348bf153fc9f45aeaf9d91e46fc9850 |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=AP News|language=en}} in announcing his run for reelection he said: "I am a fan of term limits. It would take a constitutional amendment, and the term limits would then be for everyone. But I'm not in favor of term limits for some and not others, so I'm not in favor of people self-imposing term limits. I'm a co-sponsor of the constitutional amendment, but I will run again in 2022."{{Cite web |last=Dean |first=Kelly |date=2021-02-25 |title=Sen. Rand Paul discusses upcoming plans for re-election 2022 |url=https://www.wbko.com/2021/02/25/sen-rand-paul-discusses-upcoming-plans-for-re-election-2022/ |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=WBKO |language=en}}

Paul supports a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. constitution which would require Congress to balance the budget annually.{{cite news |last1=Ehrenfreund |first1=Max |title=Why Rand Paul wants Congress to balance the budget every year |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/04/10/rand-paul-wants-congress-to-balance-the-budget-every-year/ |access-date=July 18, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822114512/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/04/10/rand-paul-wants-congress-to-balance-the-budget-every-year/ |archive-date=August 22, 2016}} He has introduced legislation called the Penny Plan which would reduce federal spending by 1% each year, seeking to balance the budget in 5 years.{{cite news |last1=Werner |first1=Erica |title=Senate defeats Rand Paul's balanced-budget plan as he accuses GOP of 'unholy alliance' with Democrats on spending |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/05/17/senate-defeats-rand-pauls-balanced-budget-plan-as-he-accuses-gop-of-unholy-alliance-with-democrats-on-spending/ |access-date=July 18, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519085650/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/05/17/senate-defeats-rand-pauls-balanced-budget-plan-as-he-accuses-gop-of-unholy-alliance-with-democrats-on-spending/ |archive-date=May 19, 2018}} Paul has opposed efforts to raise the debt ceiling without significant spending cuts.{{cite news |last1=Weigel |first1=David |title=Rand Paul will filibuster debt ceiling bill |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/10/27/rand-paul-will-filibuster-debt-ceiling-bill/ |access-date=July 18, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031043759/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/10/27/rand-paul-will-filibuster-debt-ceiling-bill/ |archive-date=October 31, 2015}}

While running for president in 2016, Paul proposed the "Fair and Flat Tax" plan which he said would "repeal the entire IRS tax code ... and replace it with a low, broad-based tax of 14.5 [percent] on individuals and businesses".{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Jake |title=Rand Paul: "Blow up the tax code and start over" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rand-paul-blow-up-the-tax-code-and-start-over/ |access-date=July 18, 2023 |work=CBS News |date=June 18, 2015}}

Paul has introduced legislation to audit the Federal Reserve, saying that "We must take a critical look at the Fed's monetary policy decisions, discount window operations, and a host of other things, with a real audit—and not just pay lip-service to the idea of an audit."{{cite news |last1=Trindle |first1=Jamila |title=Rand and Ron Paul Introduce Twin Fed-Audit Bills |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-REB-13176 |access-date=July 18, 2023 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=January 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20230718030750/https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-REB-13176 |archive-date=July 18, 2023 |url-status=live }}

File:Rand Paul family photo.jpg

File:Ron & Rand Paul (5447032874).jpg

Paul is married to Kelley Paul (née Ashby), a freelance writer. They were married on October 20, 1990, and have three sons, William (born 1992), Duncan, and Robert. William and Duncan attended the University of Kentucky, while Robert attended a private school in the Washington, D.C. area.{{cite web |url=http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/what-you-see-of-kelley-now-is-what-she-was/article_97b37e45-0acd-5501-8ae7-7fd37087522c.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420144627/http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/what-you-see-of-kelley-now-is-what-she-was/article_97b37e45-0acd-5501-8ae7-7fd37087522c.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 20, 2016 |title=What you see of Kelley now is what she was then |publisher=Bowling Green Daily News |access-date=March 2, 2020 |date=April 7, 2015 |author=Harvey, Alyssa }} They reside in Bowling Green, Kentucky.{{cite news |last=Cassady |first=Pam |title=Local tie to Paul – RHS grad a daughter-in-law to Republican president hopeful |newspaper=News-Democrat & Leader |date=October 30, 2007 |page=A-1}} They were previously active members of the Presbyterian church,{{cite news |last=Pulliam |first=Sarah |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/04/07/heres-what-we-know-about-sen-rand-pauls-faith-never-been-easy |title=Here's what we know about Sen. Rand Paul's faith: 'Never been easy' |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 7, 2015 |access-date=March 20, 2017}} although more recently have attended a United Methodist church.{{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Kelley |date=2022-07-25 |title=Our liberal media love rage politics and endanger my husband and others who won't back their woke agenda |url=https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/liberal-media-love-rage-politics-endanger-husband-others-wont-back-woke-agenda |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=Fox News|language=en-US}}

On November 3, 2017, Paul was assaulted by a neighbor, Rene Boucher (then aged 59), a retired anesthesiologist. Paul, who is deaf in one ear,{{cite magazine |title=Radical Liberalism or Gardening Dispute? Digging into the Mystery of Rand Paul's Assault |url=https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2017/11/rand-paul-assault-theories.html |magazine=New York |date=November 6, 2017 |first=Olivia |last=Nuzzi}} was wearing noise-canceling headphones while mowing his lawn, reportedly enabling Boucher to tackle Paul without his own approach being noticed.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/06/us/politics/behind-rand-pauls-broken-ribs-a-trivial-dispute-lawyer-says.html |date=November 6, 2017 |title=Is Landscaping Drama at the Root of Rand Paul's Assault? |newspaper=The New York Times |first1=Nicholas |last1=Fandos |first2=Noah |last2=Weiland |first3=Jonathan |last3=Martin |quote=Because Mr. Paul was wearing sound-muting earmuffs, he did not realize Mr. Boucher was coming, according to one of the Kentucky Republicans and a friend familiar with the altercation.}}

Boucher was arrested and charged with one count of fourth-degree assault and released on a $7,500 bond. Paul sustained five broken ribs, of which three were displaced fractures.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/11/06/the-attack-on-sen-rand-paul-just-keeps-getting-stranger-and-stranger |title=Analysis – 'A disturbed person': The mystery behind the attack on Rand Paul grows, as Paul's side weighs in |first=Aaron |last=Blake |date=November 9, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=November 9, 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Gee |first1=Brandon |last2=O'Keefe |first2=Ed |title=Sen. Rand Paul's injuries far more severe than initially thought |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/sen-rand-paul-recovering-from-injuries-suffered-in-alleged-assault/2017/11/05/6380c78a-c250-11e7-84bc-5e285c7f4512_story.html |access-date=November 5, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 5, 2017}} In August 2019, part of Paul's lung required removal as a result of the injuries he suffered during the attack.{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/66f0dc432b844c1abc597818f7c02d8e |last=Schreiner |first=Bruce |website=Associated Press |title=Rand Paul undergoes lung surgery stemming from assault |date=August 5, 2019 |access-date=August 5, 2019}}

Boucher's attorney, Matthew Baker, described it as "a very regrettable dispute between two neighbors over a matter that most people would regard as trivial."{{cite news |title=Suspect in attack on Sen. Rand Paul might face more serious charges, police say |date=November 6, 2017 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/rand-pauls-alleged-attacker-may-face-upgraded-charges-police-say/2017/11/06/504b24f8-c313-11e7-afe9-4f60b5a6c4a0_story.html |first1=Wesley |last1=Lowery |first2=Ed |last2=O'Keefe |newspaper=The Washington Post}} According to a memorandum filed by Baker the dispute was over Paul repeatedly leaving tree yard debris near his property line with his neighbor.{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/58aab5139925442aa40317fb1f589d10 |title=Court records: Neighbor upset over Rand Paul's yard debris |website=AP News|date=June 11, 2018 |language=en |access-date=June 11, 2018}} Rand Paul and his wife deny this; they claim that the "media" have "misrepresented" this "from the beginning" and that the attack was "politically motivated." They claim that Boucher had threatened Donald Trump earlier and that he was "a vocal hater" of Trump and the GOP.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FCMeLoiBr4 Sen. Rand Paul, wife Kelley on death threat package sent to their home], Fox Business, 05:17 onwards, May 27, 2021

Boucher was originally charged in Kentucky state court,{{cite news |title=Suspect in attack on Sen. Rand Paul pleads not guilty |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/suspect-in-attack-on-sen-rand-paul-pleads-not-guilty/2017/11/09/206fedc2-c561-11e7-aae0-cb18a8c29c65_story.html |last1=Gee |first1=Brandon |last2=O'Keefe |first2=Ed |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 9, 2017 |access-date=July 21, 2018}} but was later charged in federal court, where he ultimately pleaded guilty to assaulting a member of Congress.{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Julia |title=Rand Paul's Neighbor Is Sentenced to 30 Days in Prison After Attack |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/15/us/politics/rand-paul-attack.html |newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=October 23, 2018 |date=June 15, 2018}} The state-court charge was dismissed after Boucher pleaded guilty to the federal charge. Boucher was initially sentenced to 30 days in prison, one year of probation, 100 hours of community service, and a $10,000 fine. The federal prosecutors had sought a 21-month term and appealed the lenient sentence.

In September 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit vacated Boucher's sentence of 30 days, ruling it was unreasonably short, indicating "closer review" was in order, and the case was sent back to the lower court for resentencing.{{cite web |url=https://www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/opinions.pdf/19a0232p-06.pdf |title=United States of America v. Rene A. Boucher |date=September 9, 2019 |website=United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit |access-date=February 2, 2020}} An appeal to the Supreme Court was denied.{{Cite web|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/19-611.html|title=Docket for 19–611|website=www.supremecourt.gov|access-date=April 20, 2020}} At his resentencing, Boucher received a prison term of eight months, plus another six months of home confinement, and was given credit for the 30 days he had previously served. Prosecutors felt the downward departure from their request for a 21-month sentence was too great, but the judge said Boucher's eight years in the military, being forced to sell his home to pay a $580,000 judgment assessed by the state court against him in the civil case brought by Paul, and his completed community service mitigated against any additional prison time. Boucher expressed his regrets and contrition for his attack.{{cite news |url=https://www.bgdailynews.com/news/new-sentence-for-boucher-8-months-behind-bars-6-months-home-confinement/article_b0995ed9-84f4-5830-b79f-6f4644ca5fd9.html |title=New sentence for Boucher: 8 months behind bars, 6 months home confinement |work=Bowling Green Daily News |first=Justin |last=Story |date=July 27, 2020 |access-date=September 26, 2020 |archive-date=July 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729111226/https://www.bgdailynews.com/news/new-sentence-for-boucher-8-months-behind-bars-6-months-home-confinement/article_b0995ed9-84f4-5830-b79f-6f4644ca5fd9.html |url-status=dead }}

Paul announced on March 22, 2020, that he had tested positive for COVID-19 amid the ongoing pandemic of the disease. He was the first member of the United States Senate to test positive.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/rand-paul-becomes-first-known-senator-test-positive-coronavirus-n1166111 |title=Rand Paul becomes first known senator to test positive for coronavirus |last=Smith |first=Allan |work=NBC News |date=March 22, 2020 |access-date=March 22, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604185348/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/rand-paul-becomes-first-known-senator-test-positive-coronavirus-n1166111 |archive-date=June 4, 2020}}{{cite news |last=Zhao |first=Christina |date=March 22, 2020 |title=Rand Paul Tests Positive for Coronavirus Days After His Father Dismissed Panic Over the Disease as a Hoax |url=https://www.newsweek.com/rand-pauls-father-wrote-coronavirus-hoax-article-days-before-son-tested-positive-covid-19-1493662 |url-status=live |work=Newsweek |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806201614/https://www.newsweek.com/rand-pauls-father-wrote-coronavirus-hoax-article-days-before-son-tested-positive-covid-19-1493662 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |access-date=September 24, 2020}} Paul received bipartisan criticism from his Senate colleagues after it was discovered that he attended Senate lunches and used the Senate gym while awaiting his test results; he defended his actions because he had no symptoms of the illness and believed it was "highly unlikely" he was sick.{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/sen-rand-paul-working-days-virus-test-69753667 |title=Sen. Rand Paul kept working for six days after virus test |last=Daly |first=Matthew |website=ABC News |language=en |date=March 23, 2020 |access-date=April 16, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330013728/https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/sen-rand-paul-working-days-virus-test-69753667 |archive-date=March 30, 2020}} On April 7, 2020, Paul announced his recovery.{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexandrasternlicht/2020/04/07/senator-rand-paul-announces-recovery-from-coronavirus-now-volunteering-at-hospital/ |title=Senator Rand Paul Announces Recovery From Coronavirus, Now Volunteering At Hospital |last=Sternlicht |first=Alexandra |website=Forbes |language=en|access-date=April 8, 2020}}

In August 2020, immediately following his attendance at the keynote speech delivered by President Donald Trump for the 2020 Republican National Convention held at the White House, Paul was confronted by protestors on his way to a hotel with his wife. A police perimeter was formed that escorted the Pauls away from the crowd, with one of the escorting officers being pushed in the process. The protestors' main contention point with Paul was the shooting of Breonna Taylor and their demands for Paul to "say her name." However, as was pointed out by several media organizations in the aftermath of the incident, Paul had previously authored a bill named after Taylor aiming to make no-knock warrants illegal.{{cite news|url=https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/08/28/rnc-2020-rand-paul-says-angry-mob-protesters-attacked-him/5653957002/|title=Sen. Rand Paul: I was 'attacked by an angry mob' following Republican National Convention|first=Ben|last=Tobin|work=The Courier-Journal|date=August 28, 2020|access-date=November 15, 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/28/protesters-confront-rand-paul-rnc-404223|title=Protesters confront Rand Paul outside White House after RNC|first=Matthew|last=Choi|work=Politico|date=August 28, 2020|access-date=November 15, 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/08/28/rnc-2020-rand-paul-says-angry-mob-attacked-him-after-trump-speech/5654078002/|title=Sen. Rand Paul: I was 'attacked by an angry mob' following Trump's RNC speech|first1=Ben|last1=Tobin|first2=Jason|last2=Lalljee|work=USA Today|date=August 28, 2020|access-date=November 15, 2020}}

• {{cite book | last=Paul | first=Rand | title=The Tea Party Goes to Washington | publisher=Center Street | date=2011 | isbn=978-1-4555-0286-8}}
• {{cite book | last=Paul | first=Rand | title=Government Bullies: How Everyday Americans Are Being Harassed, Abused, and Imprisoned by the Feds | publisher=Center Street | date=2012 | isbn=978-1-4555-2276-7}}
• {{cite book | last1=Paul | first1=Rand | last2=Robison | first2=James Randall |title=Our Presidents & Their Prayers: Proclamations of Faith by America's Leaders | publisher=Center Street | date=2015 | isbn=978-1-4555-3575-0}}
• {{cite book | last=Paul | first=Rand | title=Taking a Stand: Moving Beyond Partisan Politics to Unite America | publisher=Center Street | date=2015 | isbn=978-1-4555-4955-9}}
• {{cite book | last=Paul | first=Rand | title=The Case Against Socialism | publisher=Broadside Books | date=2019 | isbn=978-0-06-295486-2}}
• {{cite book | last=Paul | first=Rand | title=Deception: The Great Covid Cover-Up | publisher=Regnery | year=2023 | isbn=978-1-68451-514-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=86q7EAAAQBAJ }}

• Electoral history of Rand Paul
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• {{Cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/10/06/revenge-rand-paul |title=The Revenge of Rand Paul |first=Ryan |last=Lizza |magazine=The New Yorker |date=October 2014}}
• {{Cite news |date=April 11, 2015 |title=Rand's stand |newspaper=The Economist |volume=415 |issue=8933 |page=32 |url=https://www.economist.com/united-states/2015/04/11/rands-stand}}

{{Sister project links|d=Q463557|c=category:Rand Paul|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|wikt=no|s=Author:Randal Howard Paul}}

• [https://paul.senate.gov/ Senator Rand Paul] official U.S. Senate website
• [https://www.randpaul.com/ Rand Paul for U.S. Senate] campaign website
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