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Rand Paul

U.S. Senator for KY

RepublicanSenate

Positions last updated Oct 12, 2026

In Congress since
2011
Years served
16
Age
63
Current term ends
Jan 3, 2029

Source: Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress (via the public congress-legislators dataset). Photo: official congressional portrait.

Compare with another member

Where their record lies

Between the typical Democratic and typical Republican record

PaulBetween the two parties. Rand Paul's record sits 57% of the way from the typical Democratic record to the typical Republican record. 258 Democratic and 269 Republican members are shown; 13 of 530 sit in the middle.
Democratic258 members
Middle13 members
Republican269 members

Between the two parties

Rand Paul's record sits 57% of the way from the typical Democratic record to the typical Republican record.

Built from 6 topics that divide the parties. It describes a record of votes and statements, not a person. How this is calculated.

Their record by topic

Further from the center means more agreement with the quiz statement

Web chart of Rand Paul’s positions on 8 topics; a larger shape means stronger agreement.Health careTaxes & spendingImmigrationClimate & energyGunsAbortionEducationForeign policy

Each point averages how Rand Paul votes and what they say on that topic. A topic with no data is left out, not drawn as neutral. The sources are in the sections below.

Where they stand

Each topic is a statement from the quiz. "Agree" means their votes or words line up with it.

  • Health care

    “The federal government should guarantee health coverage for every American.”

    Votes: Neutral or unsure|Says: No data

  • Taxes & spending

    “Lowering taxes matters more than expanding government services.”

    Votes: Neutral or unsure|Says: Agree

  • Immigration

    “Border security should be the top priority in immigration policy.”

    Votes: Neutral or unsure|Says: No data

  • Climate & energy

    “The federal government should require cuts to carbon emissions, even if energy costs rise.”

    Votes: Disagree|Says: Disagree

  • Guns

    “Federal law should require background checks on all gun sales, including private sales.”

    Votes: Neutral or unsure|Says: No data

  • Abortion

    “Abortion law should be decided by each state, not the federal government.”

    Votes: No data|Says: Neutral or unsure

  • Education

    “Public school funding should follow students to the school their family chooses, including private schools.”

    Votes: Neutral or unsure|Says: No data

  • Foreign policy

    “The U.S. should keep providing military aid to its allies abroad.”

    Votes: Disagree|Says: Neutral or unsure

Votes on key bills

The final vote on each bill Scope tracks (not every vote they have cast). Newest first.

Show 3 more votes

Source: House Clerk and Senate roll-call records via Congress.gov. For every vote they have cast, see GovTrack.

Words versus votes

Pro preview · free for now

No topic where votes and statements point in opposite directions (3 topics compared).

A difference is a prompt to look closer, not proof of anything. Votes come from a short list of tracked bills; statements come from speeches, press releases and bills they put their name on. See the evidence for each topic. On 2 more topics one side is neutral, so there is nothing to contrast.

Campaign money

$4.6 million raised in the 2025-2026 cycle

For the 2025-2026 election cycle, through Sep 30, 2026. Who funds a campaign can shape who a member listens to, though it does not decide how they vote.

Raised
$4.6 million
Spent
$4.5 million
Cash on hand
$0

Where the money came from

  • Small donors (under $200 each)26%
  • Larger individual donors59%
  • Political action committees (PACs)2%
  • Other13%

Source: Federal Election Commission filings · see top donors on OpenSecrets.

What they work on

34 bills written, 43 signed onto. Top topic: Health

In the current Congress they have written 34 bills and signed on to 43 more. A bill someone writes shows what they want to change.

Topics of the bills they wrote

  • Health10
  • International Affairs6
  • Economics and Public Finance4
  • Immigration4
  • Taxation4

Most recent bills they wrote

  • S.J.Res. 217: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Kingdom of Sa... (Sep 24, 2026)
  • S.Con.Res. 40: A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2027 ... (Sep 22, 2026)
  • S.Con.Res. 39: A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2027 ... (Aug 7, 2026)
  • S. 5262: Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2026 (Aug 5, 2026)
  • S. 4998: Fourth Amendment Restoration and Protection Act of 2026 (Jul 15, 2026)

Source: Sponsorship records from Congress.gov; each bill links to its page there.

Committees

4 committees: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions...

Committees study and rewrite bills before the full chamber votes.

Source: Committee rosters from the congress-legislators dataset (built from the House and Senate committee pages, as of 2026-10-12). Each committee name links to its official page.

Career in Congress

2011 to present
  • 2011 to presentU.S. Senate, KYRepublican

Source: Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

Contact and learn more

Office phone, website, message form and where to read more

Contact their office

Read more about them

Source: Contact details from the member's official pages, via the congress-legislators dataset. Outside sites are not run by Scope.

The evidence, topic by topic

Every position links to the votes, quotes and bills it was built from

Health care

How they vote

Neutral or unsure (0)

Calculated from 3 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on billRoll call on billRoll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14.

Votes behind Paul, Rand's position on Health care

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

No data

Taxes & spending

How they vote

Neutral or unsure (0)

Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on billRoll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.

Votes behind Paul, Rand's position on Taxes & spending

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Agree (+1)

Based on 1 sponsored bill related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

“Strip Half-Trillion-Dollar Tax Increase from Russia Sanctions Bill”

sponsored bill: S 1865: Tanning Tax Repeal Act of 2025

Statements behind Paul, Rand's position on Taxes & spending

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Immigration

How they vote

Neutral or unsure (0)

Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on billRoll call on bill

Votes behind Paul, Rand's position on Immigration

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

No data

Climate & energy

How they vote

Disagree (-1)

Calculated from 1 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14.

Votes behind Paul, Rand's position on Climate & energy

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Disagree (-1)

Based on 2 cosponsored bills related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: SJRES 12: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relacosponsored bill: S 3713: No Climate Treaties Act of 2026

Statements behind Paul, Rand's position on Climate & energy

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Guns

How they vote

Neutral or unsure (0)

Calculated from 1 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

Votes behind Paul, Rand's position on Guns

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

No data

Abortion

How they vote

No data

What they say

Neutral or unsure (0)

Based on 1 cosponsored bill related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: S 6: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

Statements behind Paul, Rand's position on Abortion

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Education

How they vote

Neutral or unsure (0)

Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.Roll call on bill

Votes behind Paul, Rand's position on Education

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

No data

Foreign policy

How they vote

Disagree (-1)

Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on billRoll call on Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.

Votes behind Paul, Rand's position on Foreign policy

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Neutral or unsure (0)

Based on 1 cosponsored bill related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: S 2152: Allied Burden Sharing Report Act

Statements behind Paul, Rand's position on Foreign policy

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Revision history

50 recorded changes
  • Foreign policy (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Education (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Health care (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Education (vote): -1 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Foreign policy (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Health care (vote): -1 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Foreign policy (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Education (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Health care (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Education (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Foreign policy (vote): created at -1Created · Oct 12, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Health care (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Climate & energy (statement): -1 to -1Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (statement): 1 to 1Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Abortion (statement): 0 to 0Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Foreign policy (statement): 0 to 0Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Foreign policy (statement): created at 0Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Abortion (statement): created at 0Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Climate & energy (statement): created at -1Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (statement): created at 1Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Education (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Health care (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Education (vote): -2 to -1Status changed: needs_review to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): -2 to -1Status changed: needs_review to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Health care (vote): -2 to -1Status changed: needs_review to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Guns (vote): -2 to 0Status changed: needs_review to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Education (vote): created at -2Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Health care (vote): -2 to -2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): created at 0Created · Oct 8, 2026