Randal Howard Paul born January 7, 1963 is an American politician who has served as Kentucky’s junior U.S. senator since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, he identifies as a constitutional conservative and is a supporter of the Tea Party movement. His libertarian views are often compared to those of his father, Ron Paul, a former U.S. representative and three-time presidential candidate from Texas.
Rand Paul Biography 2025
Paul attended Baylor University before earning his medical degree from the Duke University School of Medicine. He practiced as an ophthalmologist in Bowling Green, Kentucky, from 1993 until his election to the Senate in 2010. He was re-elected in 2016 and again in 2022. Paul ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Although he initially opposed Donald Trump during the Republican primaries, he later supported him and became one of his staunch defenders during the first impeachment trial. However, Paul voted with Trump less frequently than most Republican senators during his first term.
Rand Paul Biography Details
| Born |
Randal Howard Paul
January 7, 1963 (age 61)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party |
Republican |
| Spouse |
|
| Children |
3 |
| Relatives |
Ron Paul (father) |
| Education |
Baylor University
Duke University (MD) |
Rand Paul Early Life
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 7, 1963, to Carol (née Wells) and Ron Paul, Rand is the middle child in a family of five. His siblings are Ronald Jr., Lori Paul Pyeatt, Robert Paul, and Joy Paul LeBlanc. He was baptized in the Episcopal Church and identified as a Christian in his teenage years. Although Rand was influenced by his father’s libertarian views, his first name was not inspired by Ayn Rand. While he was known as “Randy” growing up, his wife later shortened it to “Rand.”
The Paul family moved to Lake Jackson, Texas, in 1968, where Rand was raised, and where his father worked as a physician, often the only obstetrician in Brazoria County. At age 13, Rand’s father was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. That same year, Rand attended the 1976 Republican National Convention, where his father led the Texas delegation supporting Ronald Reagan. Rand spent several summers interning in his father’s congressional office and, in his teenage years, studied Austrian economics and the works of Objectivist philosopher Ayn Rand, both of which influenced his political views.
Rand graduated from Brazoswood High School, where he participated in swimming and played defensive back on the football team. He attended Baylor University from 1981 to 1984, where he was in the honors program, swam on the team, and joined the Young Conservatives of Texas. He was also a member of the NoZe Brotherhood, a humor-driven secret society. He contributed regularly to the Baylor Lariat student newspaper. After three years, he left Baylor to attend the Duke University School of Medicine, where he earned his M.D. in 1988. He completed his residency in ophthalmology in 1993.
Rand Paul Bio
| Personal Information |
Details |
| Full Name |
Randal Howard Paul |
| Date of Birth |
January 7, 1963 |
| Place of Birth |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political Party |
Republican |
| Spouse |
Kelley Ashby (m. 1990) |
| Children |
3 sons (William, Duncan, Robert) |
| Education |
Baylor University, Duke University (MD) |
Rand Paul Educational Background
| Education |
Information |
| Undergraduate |
Baylor University |
| Medical School |
Duke University (MD) |
| Medical Specialty |
Ophthalmology |
| Certifications |
American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) |
Rand Paul Medical Career
| Medical Career |
Explanation |
| Start of Practice |
1993 in Bowling Green, Kentucky |
| Specialties |
Cataract surgery, Glaucoma treatments, LASIK, Corneal transplants |
| Private Practice |
Founded own practice in 2008 |
| Medical Contributions |
Founded Southern Kentucky Lions Eye Clinic (2009) |
Rand Paul Political Beginnings
| Political Activism |
Points |
| First Campaign Activity |
Worked for father’s 1984 Senate campaign |
| Founded Kentucky Taxpayers United |
1994 |
| Involvement in Tea Party |
Key figure in the 2009–2010 Tea Party movement |
Rand Paul U.S. Senate Career
| Senate Career |
Years |
| Elected |
2010 |
| Re-elected |
2016, 2022 |
| Committees |
Homeland Security, Small Business |
Rand Paul Senate Campaign
| Campaign Aspect |
Facts |
| Primary Victory |
Defeated Trey Grayson |
| Campaign Fundraising |
Raised $3 million during primary |
| General Election Opponent |
Jack Conway |
Rand Paul Position on Civil Liberties
| Civil Liberties |
Details |
| Opposition to Surveillance |
Filed lawsuit against NSA phone metadata collection |
| Fourth Amendment Advocacy |
Advocates for search warrants before surveillance |
Rand Paul Stance on Health Care
| Health Care Policy |
Information |
| Affordable Care Act |
Supports repeal |
| Universal Health Care |
Opposes, prefers Health Savings Accounts |
| Tax Credit for Insurance |
$5000 tax credit for individuals |
Economic Policies of Rand Paul
| Economic Policy |
Details |
| Balanced Budget Amendment |
Supports a constitutional amendment for a balanced budget |
| Spending Cuts |
Proposed the Penny Plan for 1% annual cuts |
Rand Paul Foreign Policy Views
| Foreign Policy Stance |
Describe |
| Military Intervention |
Advocates for restrained foreign intervention |
| Opposition to Foreign Aid |
Against military aid to Ukraine and other foreign entanglements |
Rand Paul Position on Term Limits
| Term Limits Stance |
Details |
| Support for Amendment |
Signed pledge for a two-term limit for Senators |
| Running for Third Term |
Elected to third term in 2022 |
Rand Paul Contributions to Legislative Transparency
| Legislative Transparency |
Point |
| Audit the Federal Reserve |
Introduced legislation for Federal Reserve transparency |
| Government Accountability |
Advocates for transparency in government operations |
Rand Paul Stance on Debt Ceiling
| Debt Ceiling Policy |
Facts |
| Opposition to Raising |
Opposes debt ceiling increases without spending cuts |
| Balanced Budget Focus |
Advocates for fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget |
Rand Paul Personal Life
| Personal Life |
Years |
| Spouse |
Kelley Ashby (married in 1990) |
| Children |
3 sons (William, Duncan, Robert) |
| Religious Affiliation |
Former Presbyterian, now attends Methodist church |
Rand Paul Publications and Influence
| Publications and Influence |
Details |
| Books Written |
“The Tea Party Goes to Washington,” “Government Bullies” |
| Time Magazine Recognition |
Included in Time’s 100 most influential people (2013, 2014) |
Rand Paul Net Worth
Rand Paul’s estimated net worth for 2018 is $773520.
Rand Paul Summary
Rand Paul has carved out a distinct political identity, characterized by his commitment to limited government, fiscal conservatism, and strong advocacy for individual liberties. His journey from a medical career to a prominent figure in American politics reflects his deep commitment to the principles he learned from his father, Ron Paul, and his own unique perspectives on governance. With ongoing debates about his policies and views, Rand Paul remains a significant voice in both Kentucky and national politics.
