Rand Paul

Randal Howard "Rand" Paul was born on January 7, 1963 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Carol (née Wells) and Ron Paul, former Congressman and Presidential candidate from Texas. The Paul family moved to Lake Jackson, Texas, in 1968. Paul went to Brazoswood High School, was on the swimming team and played defensive back on the football team. Later, Paul attended Baylor University from fall 1981 to summer 1984. He was enrolled in the honors program at Baylor, and had scored approximately in the 90th percentile on the Medical College Admission Test. Paul left Baylor early when he was accepted into the Duke University School of Medicine, where he earned an M.D. in 1988, and completed his residency in 1993.

While attending Duke Medical School, Paul volunteered for his father's 1988 Libertarian presidential campaign. Paul spoke on his father's behalf when his father was campaigning for office, including throughout the elder Paul's run in the 2008 presidential election. At that time, Rand campaigned door-to-door in New Hampshire and spoke in Boston at a fundraising rally for his father on the 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party.

In 2011, Paul was sworn into office as US Senator from Kentucky. He was sworn in along with his father, marking the first time in congressional history that someone served in the Senate while their parent simultaneously served in the House of Representatives. On March 6–7, 2013, Paul engaged in a talking filibuster to delay voting on the nomination of John O. Brennan as the Director of the CIA. 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.

Paul, a member of the Tea Party movement, supports a widespread reduction in federal spending and taxation, and is often described as a libertarian, although he disagrees with this title. Unlike his more stridently non-interventionist father, Paul concedes a role for American armed forces abroad, including permanent foreign military bases. He has garnered attention for his positions, often clashing with both Republicans and Democrats. With increasing visibility and straw poll support, Paul is seen as a likely Republican frontrunner in the 2016 presidential election. He has expressed interest in the race, but has not formally announced a run.