Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Rand Paul
Discover the career path of Rand Paul, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Rand Paul is an American politician and the junior United States Senator from Kentucky, serving since 2011. As a Republican, he is known for his libertarian-leaning views and advocacy for limited government, individual liberty, and a non-interventionist foreign policy. Paul has been a vocal voice on issues ranging from government surveillance and privacy rights to fiscal conservatism and criminal justice reform. He currently chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, giving him influence over national security and governmental affairs.
1984: Aided father's senate campaign
In 1984, Rand Paul took a semester off to aid his father's campaign in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate election in Texas.
1988: Earned Doctor of Medicine degree
In 1988, Rand Paul earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from Duke University School of Medicine.
1991: Founded North Carolina Taxpayers Union
In 1991, Rand Paul founded the North Carolina Taxpayers Union.
June 1993: Valid medical license
Since June 1993, Rand Paul's medical license has been valid continuously.
1993: Practicing in Bowling Green
In 1993, Rand Paul began practicing ophthalmology in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
1993: Practicing ophthalmologist
In 1993, Rand Paul started his career as a practicing ophthalmologist in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
1994: Founded Kentucky Taxpayers United
In 1994, Rand Paul founded Kentucky Taxpayers United (KTU) and served as its chair.
1995: Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology
In 1995, Rand Paul was certified to practice by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO).
1995: Maintained ABO certification
Rand Paul maintained his own ABO certification from 1995 to 2005.
1996: Managed father's congressional campaign
In 1996, Rand Paul managed his father's successful congressional campaign.
1998: Joined Graves Gilbert Clinic
In 1998, Rand Paul joined a private medical group practice, the Graves Gilbert Clinic, in Bowling Green.
1999: Incorporated the National Board of Ophthalmology
In 1999, Rand Paul incorporated the National Board of Ophthalmology (NBO) to offer an alternative certification system.
2000: KTU Dissolved
In 2000, Kentucky Taxpayers United (KTU) was legally dissolved by the state after failing to file registration documents.
2002: KTU Stopped Issuing Ratings
After 2002, Kentucky Taxpayers United stopped issuing ratings and report cards.
2005: Certification Ended
In 2005, Rand Paul ended his own ABO certification.
2005: Recreated the National Board of Ophthalmology
In 2005, Rand Paul recreated the National Board of Ophthalmology.
2008: Grayson admission
In 2008, Alan Grayson admitted he voted for Bill Clinton when he was 20 years old.
2008: Formed private medical practice
In 2008, Rand Paul formed his own private practice in Bowling Green.
2008: Campaigning for his father
In 2008, Rand Paul spoke on his father's behalf during his presidential election run, including campaigning door-to-door and speaking at a fundraising rally.
September 2009: Comments on KTU
In September 2009, Rand Paul told a Kentucky television audience that KTU published ratings each year on state legislators' tax positions for about 15 years.
2009: Founded Southern Kentucky Lions Eye Clinic
In 2009, Rand Paul founded the Southern Kentucky Lions Eye Clinic to provide eye surgery and exams for those who cannot afford to pay.
2009: Alex Jones Interview
In 2009, Rand Paul was interviewed by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and suggested that mandatory vaccination would be akin to martial law.
2009: Drafted for Senate bid
In early 2009, supporters sought to draft Rand Paul for a potential Senate bid to replace Jim Bunning. He gave his first political speech on April 15, 2009 at a Tea Party rally.
April 26, 2010: James Dobson Endorsement of Grayson
On April 26, 2010, James Dobson endorsed Alan Grayson based on advice from "senior members of the GOP".
2010: Elected to the U.S. Senate
In 2010, Rand Paul was elected to the U.S. Senate.
2010: General Election Contributions
In 2010, the general election campaign between Rand Paul and Jack Conway attracted $8.5 million in contributions from outside groups, with $6 million spent to help Paul and $2.5 million to help Conway.
2010: Hiring of Jesse Benton by Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell hired Jesse Benton, Rand Paul's 2010 campaign manager as his own campaign manager.
January 5, 2011: Sworn into Senate
On January 5, 2011, Rand Paul was sworn in as a U.S. Senator, along with his father who was simultaneously in the House of Representatives.
April 2011: Paul files for re-election to Senate seat
In April 2011, Rand Paul filed to run for re-election to his Senate seat in 2016. State law would have prohibited him from simultaneously running for re-election had he become the Republican presidential nominee.
2011: Became US Senator
In 2011, Rand Paul began serving as the junior United States senator from Kentucky. He is a member of the Republican Party and is the chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.
2011: Blocking refugee benefits bill
In 2011, Rand Paul blocked a bill that would provide $36 million in benefits for elderly and disabled refugees, citing concerns it could aid domestic terrorists. This was in response to alleged terrorists who entered the US through a refugee program and received welfare in Bowling Green, Paul's hometown. He later lifted the hold after a promise of a congressional hearing and investigation into the refugee selection process and how the suspects were admitted.
2011: Co-authored "The Tea Party Goes to Washington"
In 2011, Rand Paul co-authored the book "The Tea Party Goes to Washington".
2011: Dissolved the National Board of Ophthalmology
In 2011, Rand Paul dissolved the National Board of Ophthalmology (NBO).
2011: Proposed Defense Spending Budget
In 2011, shortly after being elected, Rand Paul proposed a budget which specified $542 billion in defense spending.
June 2012: Endorsing Mitt Romney
In June 2012, Rand Paul endorsed Mitt Romney for the 2012 presidential election after it became apparent that he would be the Republican nominee. However, he later voiced disagreements with Romney on various policies.
2012: Authored "Government Bullies"
In 2012, Rand Paul authored the book "Government Bullies".
January 2013: Paul considered potential presidential candidate
Since at least January 2013, Rand Paul was considered a potential candidate for the Republican nomination for the presidency of the United States.
February 13, 2013: Paul delivers Tea Party response to State of the Union address
On February 13, 2013, Rand Paul delivered the Tea Party response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. This prompted some pundits to call that date the start of the 2016 Republican primaries.
March 2013: Threatened filibuster and McConnell endorsement
In March 2013, Rand Paul, along with Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee, threatened a filibuster opposing any legislative proposals to expand federal gun control measures. Also in March 2013, Paul endorsed fellow Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell's 2014 re-election campaign.
April 11, 2013: Attempted filibuster on gun control
On April 11, 2013, Rand Paul, along with Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee, attempted a filibuster opposing legislative proposals to expand federal gun control measures, but the filibuster was dismissed by cloture.
2013: Filibuster on John O. Brennan Nomination
In 2013, Rand Paul engaged in a filibuster lasting 12 hours and 52 minutes to delay the vote on John O. Brennan as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, questioning the Obama administration's drone use and legal justifications within the U.S. After receiving assurances regarding the targeting of non-combatants, the filibuster ended with a cloture vote, and Brennan was confirmed.
2013: Introduced the Industrial Hemp Farming Act
In 2013, Rand Paul introduced the Industrial Hemp Farming Act to legalize industrial hemp cultivation at the federal level.
2013: Introduced the Justice Safety Valve Act
In 2013, Rand Paul introduced the Justice Safety Valve Act to provide judges with greater sentencing flexibility.
February 2014: Filed lawsuit against federal government
In February 2014, Rand Paul joined FreedomWorks in filing a class action lawsuit against the federal government's bulk collection of Americans' phone records metadata, alleging a violation of the Fourth Amendment.
March 2014: Kentucky Senate passes bill allowing Paul to run for both offices
In March 2014, the Republican-controlled Kentucky Senate passed a bill that would allow Rand Paul to run for both his Senate seat and president, but the Democratic-controlled Kentucky House of Representatives declined to take it up.
April 2014: Paul insists the GOP has to broaden its appeal
In a speech at the GOP Freedom Summit in April 2014, Rand Paul insisted that the GOP has to broaden its appeal in order to grow as a party.
December 2014: CIA infiltration and Policy Towards Cuba
In December 2014, Rand Paul called for the firing of CIA Director John O. Brennan in response to reports that the CIA infiltrated the computers of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Also 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.
2014: Paul launches 'Hillary's Losers' social media campaign
During the 2014 election, Rand 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.
2014: Ebola Threat Argument
In 2014, Rand Paul argued that the Obama administration and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) were downplaying the threat posed by the Ebola virus in the United States.
2014: Blocking treaty with Switzerland and receiving award
In 2014, Rand Paul blocked a treaty with Switzerland that would enable the IRS to conduct tax evasion probes, arguing it would infringe on Americans' privacy. Also in 2014, Paul received the Distinguished Service Award from the Center for the National Interest.
2014: Co-sponsored Rohrabacher–Farr amendment
In 2014, Rand Paul co-sponsored the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment supporting states' rights-focused cannabis legislation.
2014: Gave Speech on Privacy at UC Berkeley
In 2014, Rand Paul gave a speech at the University of California, Berkeley, titled "The N.S.A. vs. Your Privacy".
2014: Introduced Legislation on Voting Rights and Criminal Justice Reform
In 2014, Rand Paul introduced the Civil Rights Voting Restoration Act, the REDEEM Act, the FAIR Act, and the RESET Act, focusing on criminal justice reform and voting rights.
2014: Paul helps Republican candidates for the State House
In 2014, Rand Paul spent his own campaign money in the legislative elections, helping Republican candidates for the State House in the hopes of flipping the chamber. However, the Democrats retained their majority.
2014: Endorsement of Mitch McConnell
In March 2013, Rand Paul endorsed Mitch McConnell's 2014 re-election campaign for senator. This was seen as a major win for McConnell.
February 2, 2015: Vaccination Remarks
On February 2, 2015, Rand Paul told conservative radio host Laura Ingraham that "most" vaccinations should be voluntary, generating controversy around state requirements for vaccinating children.
February 3, 2015: Vaccination Photo on Twitter
On February 3, 2015, Rand Paul posted a photograph of himself being vaccinated on Twitter.
April 7, 2015: Paul announces presidential candidacy
On April 7, 2015, Rand Paul officially announced his presidential candidacy and raised $1 million within a day.
May 20, 2015: Opposition to Patriot Act Reauthorization
On May 20, 2015, Rand Paul spoke for ten and a half hours in opposition to the reauthorization of Section 215 of the Patriot Act, leading to sections of the Patriot Act being prevented from being reauthorized on June 1.
2015: Called for a Defense Budget
In 2015, Rand Paul called for a defense budget of $697 billion.
2015: Introduced the CARERS Act
In 2015, Rand Paul introduced the CARERS Act to legalize medical cannabis at the federal level and the Marijuana Businesses Access to Banking Act to allow cannabis businesses increased access to banks.
2015: Introduced Legislation on Police Practices and Juvenile Justice
In 2015, Rand Paul introduced the Police CAMERA Act, the Stop Militarizing Our Law Enforcement Act, and the MERCY Act, focusing on police practices and juvenile justice.
2015: Spoke Against Renewing PATRIOT Act Provisions
In 2015, Rand Paul spoke for ten and a half hours on the Senate floor against renewing provisions of the PATRIOT Act, which he deemed unconstitutional.
February 3, 2016: Paul suspends presidential campaign
On February 3, 2016, Rand Paul announced the suspension of his presidential campaign shortly after the Iowa caucus, where he finished in fifth place.
February 2016: Opposing Obama's Supreme Court Nominee
In February 2016, after the death of Antonin Scalia, Rand Paul indicated on February 15 that he would oppose any nomination by President Obama to replace the late Supreme Court Justice.
May 6, 2016: Obama criticizes Paul for blocking tax treaties
On May 6, 2016, President Obama called on Rand 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.
2016: Paul wins CPAC presidential straw poll
In 2016, Rand Paul spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington D.C., where he won the 2016 presidential straw poll.
2016: Re-elected as Senator
In 2016, Rand Paul was re-elected as a U.S. Senator.
2016: Paul's potential conflict with running for Senate and President
In April 2011, Rand Paul filed to run for re-election to his Senate seat in 2016. Had he become the Republican presidential nominee, state law would prohibit him from simultaneously running for re-election.
2016: "Fair and Flat Tax" Plan Proposal
While running for president in 2016, Rand Paul proposed the "Fair and Flat Tax" plan, which aimed to replace the IRS tax code with a low, broad-based tax of 14.5% on individuals and businesses.
January 25, 2017: Introducing a bill to replace the Affordable Care Act
On January 25, 2017, Rand Paul introduced a bill 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.
March 2017: Introducing Stop Arming Terrorists Act and feud with John McCain
In March 2017, Rand Paul introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act and 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. On March 16, Senator John McCain (Rep) accused Paul of being an agent of Vladimir Putin after Paul objected to adding Montenegro to NATO, leading to a public feud.
April 2017: Questioning Trump's Syria Missile Strike
In April 2017, Rand Paul questioned President Trump's missile strike to Syria, stating that the United States was not attacked and that further action should require congressional authorization.
May 2017: Signing letter to withdraw from Paris Agreement
In May 2017, Rand Paul was one of 22 senators to sign a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to have the United States withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
October 2017: Threatening to Vote Against Republican Budget
In October 2017, Rand Paul confirmed he would not vote for the Republican budget in the Senate unless billions in spending were removed from the plan.
2017: Introduced the Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act
In 2017, Rand Paul introduced the Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act to encourage states to reform bail policies.
2017: Demanding to see the House's version of the Affordable Care Act replacement bill
In March 2017, Rand Paul demanded to see the House of Representatives' copy of the bill replacing and repealing the Affordable Care Act, and stated that the repeal and replacement should be two seperate bills. He later accused House Speaker Paul Ryan of being misleading in portraying supporters of the American Health Care Act of 2017 as not being negotiable.
February 2018: Voting against immigration framework
In February 2018, Rand Paul was one of fourteen Republican senators to vote against the immigration framework proposed by President Trump that called for $25 billion for border security in exchange for a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million immigrants brought into the US illegally.
April 2018: Voted for Mike Pompeo's Confirmation as Secretary of State
In April 2018, Rand Paul voted for the confirmation of Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, despite previously expressing his intention not to confirm Pompeo due to his hawkish foreign policy beliefs.
August 2018: Voting record with Donald Trump
By August 2018, FiveThirtyEight found that Rand Paul had voted with Donald Trump's positions the least out of all Republicans, only voting with him 74% of the time.
December 2018: Downplaying Trump campaign finance violations
In December 2018, Rand Paul downplayed President Trump's alleged involvement in campaign finance violations, saying they should not be "over-criminalized" and were simply "an error in filing paperwork."
December 2018: Supported Trump's Decision to Pull US Army from Syrian Civil War
In December 2018, Rand Paul supported President Trump's decision to withdraw the US army from the Syrian Civil War.
2018: Co-sponsored the STATES Act
In 2018, Rand Paul co-sponsored the STATES Act supporting states' rights-focused cannabis legislation.
2018: Introduced the Pregnant Women in Custody Act
In 2018, Rand Paul introduced the Pregnant Women in Custody Act to protect the health and safety of pregnant women in prison.
January 2019: Condemning Mitt Romney's Criticism of Trump
In January 2019, Rand Paul condemned Senator Mitt Romney for writing an editorial criticizing President Trump, stating that Romney's criticism was bad for the country and the Republican Party.
November 2019: Pledge for Term Limits
In November 2019, Rand Paul signed a pledge to support a constitutional amendment to limit senators to two terms.
April 2020: Volunteering at Hospital
In April 2020, after recovering from COVID-19, Rand Paul began volunteering at a hospital in Bowling Green to assist in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Kentucky.
May 2020: COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Orders
In May 2020, Rand Paul characterized Kentucky's Democratic governor Andy Beshear's stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic as a form of "dictatorship".
September 23, 2020: Clash with Anthony Fauci
On September 23, 2020, at a Senate committee hearing, Rand Paul clashed with Anthony Fauci, questioning the CDC's mitigation recommendations regarding mask-wearing and social distancing. Fauci accused Paul of misconstruing information.
2020: Introduced the Hemp Economic Mobilization Plan (HEMP) Act
In 2020, Rand Paul introduced the Hemp Economic Mobilization Plan (HEMP) Act to increase the THC limit of hemp from 0.3% to 1%.
2020: Introduced the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act
In 2020, Rand Paul introduced the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act to end the use of no-knock warrants.
February 3, 2021: Paul named ranking member of committee
On February 3, 2021, Rand Paul was named a ranking member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.
May 2021: Decision Not to Get COVID Vaccine
In May 2021, during President Biden's push for vaccinations, Rand Paul stated he was choosing not to get the COVID vaccine, citing his prior infection and natural immunity, and emphasizing individual medical decision rights.
July 2021: Debate with Anthony Fauci on COVID-19 Origin
In July 2021, Anthony Fauci called Rand Paul a liar during Senate hearings, amidst Paul's allegations and concerns about the risks of lab work and the origin of COVID-19.
August 11, 2021: Disclosure of Wife's Investment
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.
August 2021: Suspension from YouTube
In August 2021, Rand 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. He also released a video calling on people to "resist" public health measures to halt the spread of COVID-19.
2021: Co-sponsored FDA Modernization Act 2.0
In 2021, Rand Paul and Senator Cory Booker co-sponsored the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, which eliminated the requirement that pharmaceuticals in development use animal testing before commencing human trials.
December 2022: FDA Modernization Act 2.0 Signed into Law
In December 2022, legislation co-sponsored by Rand Paul, the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, which eliminates the requirement that pharmaceuticals in development use animal testing before commencing human trials, was signed into law by President Joe Biden.
2022: Introduced Legislation on Right to Try and Breakthrough Therapies
In 2022, Rand Paul introduced the Right to Try Clarification Act to clarify the use of Schedule I drugs for terminally ill patients and the Breakthrough Therapies Act to allow the rescheduling of Schedule I drugs like psilocybin and MDMA when designated as breakthrough therapies by the FDA.
2022: Elected for Third Term
In 2022, Rand Paul was elected for his third term in the U.S. Senate.
2022: Vote Against Honoring our PACT Act of 2022
In 2022, Rand Paul was one of the 11 Senators who voted against the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, a bill that provided funding for research and benefits for up to 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service.
October 10, 2023: Publication of 'Deception: The Great Covid Cover-Up'
On October 10, 2023, Rand Paul published "Deception: The Great Covid Cover-Up" with Regnery Publishing.
November 2023: Led Letter to FDA Commissioner Regarding Animal Testing Regulations
In November 2023, Rand Paul led a bipartisan letter to FDA commissioner Robert Califf pressing the agency to update its regulations to align with the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 regarding animal testing.
2023: Festivus Report 2023
In 2023, Rand Paul's Festivus report alleged $900 billion in wasteful federal spending, including $8,395 for a lobster tank for the Pentagon.
January 11, 2024: Paul announces major announcement for Republican Primaries
On January 11, 2024, Rand Paul announced he had a major announcement about the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries planned for the following morning.
January 2024: Voted for Resolution on Human Rights Provisions for Israel Military Assistance
In January 2024, Rand 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.
November 2024: Voted Against Resolution Disapproving Foreign Military Sale to Israel
In November 2024, Rand Paul voted 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.
January 2025: Introduced FDA Modernization Act 3.0
In January 2025, Rand Paul and Booker introduced a new version of the law, the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, to force the FDA to revise its regulations.
2025: Festivus Report 2025
In 2025, Rand Paul's Festivus report alleged $1.6 trillion of wasteful spending, highlighting a Department of Veterans Affairs-funded effort "teaching teenage ferrets how to binge drink."
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