Ky. bill would let Rand Paul run for 2 offices at same time

Posted: 6:18 AM Updated: 6:20 AM The Republican senator and tea party favorite is seriously considering a run for the White House in 2016.

The Associated Press

By BRUCE SCHREINER

FRANKFORT, Ky. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul faces a potential quandary as he weighs whether to run for president in 2016 or focus solely on re-election to his Senate seat. Legislation introduced Thursday in his home state would allow him to run for both.

The measure would clarify that current Kentucky law, which prevents someone from running for multiple offices, does not apply to federal elections, said state Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer.

His bill would allow Kentucky candidates names to appear twice on the same ballot if one or both offices sought are federal offices.

He (Paul) is the impetus for it, but it could affect anyone in the federal delegation, said Thayer, R-Georgetown, who introduced the bill in the GOP-led Kentucky Senate.

Thayer said he was approached by Pauls staff about the legislation and later spoke several times with Kentuckys freshman senator about it. He waited until the last day bills could be introduced in the Senate in the current session to bring it forward. The 60-day session is two-thirds complete.

Paul, a Republican who rose to national prominence as a tea party favorite, is seriously considering a run for the White House in 2016. The son of ex-U.S. Rep. and former presidential candidate Ron Paul has visited early primary and caucus states to gauge support for his own possible presidential run.

He also will be up for re-election to the Senate in 2016. Paul has said he has not made any decision about running for president.

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Ky. bill would let Rand Paul run for 2 offices at same time