Rand Paul

Rand Paul (born Randal Howard Paul on January 7, 1963) is an American politician and physician serving as the junior United States Senator from Kentucky since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he is often described as libertarian-leaning and has been associated with both the Tea Party movement and the Senate Liberty Caucus.

Paul is the son of former U.S. Representative Ron Paul of Texas, who ran for president as the Libertarian Party candidate in 1988 and as a Republican candidate in 2008 and 2012.

Before entering politics, Paul practiced ophthalmology. He graduated from Baylor University and Duke University School of Medicine.

In the Senate, Paul has focused on issues such as government spending, national security, civil liberties, and foreign policy. He has been a vocal advocate for a more non-interventionist foreign policy, advocating for reduced military spending and a more restrained role for the U.S. in international affairs. He has also been a strong critic of government surveillance programs and has championed efforts to protect individual privacy rights.

Paul has been involved in several notable legislative efforts, including attempts to balance the federal budget and reform the criminal justice system. He has also been known for his use of the filibuster in the Senate to raise awareness of issues and obstruct legislation. He briefly sought the Republican nomination for President of the United States in 2016.