KY Sen. Maj. Leader wants law to allow Paul to run for prez & senate @ same time

[Mr. Morden]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/03/04/kentucky-gop-leader-pushes-for-twin-paul-2016-presidential-senate-bids/

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If the Democratic-controlled House won't pass it (and it sounds like they probably won't, as the Speaker voiced opposition), then obviously it won't become law….which presents a serious conundrum for Paul.

In this recent story, we have this:

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=164982.1075

Dan Bayens, Paul’s statewide communications director, confirmed Paul discussed the problem with the senators, but he said Paul made it clear his first priority is to seek re-election as Kentucky’s senator.

“Rand committed to run for the Senate in 2016,” Bayens said. “Whatever else happens, he intends to be on the ballot for the Senate in Kentucky.”

[Vega]

Is this an endorsement for Paul, I wonder?

[RogueBeaver]

Can only happen if the KY House flips, since a simple majority can override Beshear's veto IIRC. Unless some anti-Paul Pubs ratfyck. Personally I support LBJ laws regardless of who they're for.

[Mordecai]

Democrats should allow it in case Alison Lundergan Grimes wins in November.

[whanztastic]

Democrats should allow it in case Alison Lundergan Grimes wins in November.

So she can run in 2020...?

[Mordecai]

Democrats should allow it in case Alison Lundergan Grimes wins in November.

So she can run in 2020...?

I was thinking more like 2032, but you never know.

[Mr. Morden]

*bump*

It's passed the Senate, but is not moving anywhere in the House, which is controlled by the Dems:

http://www.kentucky.com/2014/03/18/3147299/kentucky-senate-passes-bill-to.html

A recent wrinkle to the story is that Paul and his allies dispute the interpretation of the existing law.  They say that the purpose of this new bill is simply to "clarify" existing law, and that Paul already has the legal ability to run for both offices at once.  Why?  They cite a Supreme Court ruling on term limits in Arkansas to mean that states can't impose their own requirements on who can be on the ballot for federal offices.  So they're suggesting that the current Kentucky law doesn't apply to federal offices.

But that'll have to be sorted out in court, assuming that they're not able to get this new bill passed.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

It's really no skin off my nose if it passes, but I think it's a shame they're bending over backwards just for their precious little Rand Paul. Aw, let's change the law just for little Randy-poo.

[Potatoe]

Well Boo Hoo, I feel so sorry for Rand Paul.

[Randy Bobandy]

If there is a god, please let Rand not be able to run.

[Chunk Yogurt for President!]

Rand could take his name off the ballot and another Republican, say, Thomas Massie?  Could be on the ballot for the Republicans and the electors would go to Paul.

[Mr. Morden]

*bump*

The Kentucky legislature has adjourned for the year, so this bill is dead until at least 2015:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/17/dead-for-now-kentucky-bill-allowing-twin-paul-2016-runs/

[Nichlemn]

What do people think of the general principle of allowing politicians to run for multiple offices, irrespective of your views of Paul?

Personally, I think there should no limitations whatsoever to simultaneous runs. If you run to run for House, Senate, Governor and President all in the same year, well, good luck if you can juggle all those balls at once. If some people feel like you're not "focusing", then they can campaign against you for that.

[ElectionsGuy]

Unfortunately for Paul, Kentucky's tradition of electing democrats has put a block on him. If he was right across the border in Tennessee (assuming a same situation in Tennessee), he could get a bill passed and signed no problem with Tennessee's super majority of republicans in the legislature. Republicans will have to win back the state house in 2014, and governor (open seat) in 2015, and then pass the bill in time for him to file for both. Can that happen? This year's deadline for Kentucky was late January, so if its the same for 2016, they would literally have to do it right away, assuming gov. Bashear will veto it if it comes up again in the meantime.

[Flake]

*bump*

The Kentucky legislature has adjourned for the year, so this bill is dead until at least 2015:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/17/dead-for-now-kentucky-bill-allowing-twin-paul-2016-runs/

Their legislative schedule is only until April?

[Mr. Morden]

*bump*

The Kentucky legislature has adjourned for the year, so this bill is dead until at least 2015:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/17/dead-for-now-kentucky-bill-allowing-twin-paul-2016-runs/

Their legislative schedule is only until April?

Believe it or not, there are some state legislatures that only meet from January to March.

[Goldwater]

I find it funny to see supporters of a libertarian also supporting LBJ laws.

[Mr. Morden]

*bump*

Well, the Kentucky Dems held onto the state House, so this isn't going anywhere in the next session.  Paul will have to jump ship on his Senate seat if he wants to run for president….unless he wants to engage in some shenanigans, like running for president in 49 states, but leaving his name off the ballot in Kentucky.

[Likely Voter]

So what happens if he actually wins the KY GOP Senate primary and the GOP presidential nomination?

[Mr. Morden]

So what happens if he actually wins the KY GOP Senate primary and the GOP presidential nomination?

He can't.  That's the point.  He can't run in the primary for KY GOP Senate and in the primary for the GOP presidential nomination.  At least not under current law.  The only loophole is if he runs for president in 49 states, but doesn't run in Kentucky, either in the primary or the general election.

But that seems like a too cute by half solution that the party would frown on.  I don't think they'd want him to play games like that.

[Likely Voter]

that was my question...what if he wins the GOP Senate nomination in KY and also wins the national GOP nomination (although without the KY delegates since he cant run in the KY pres primary).

I think Paul is crazy enough to do the 'cute' option as long as the party would have some say in who would replace Paul on the GOP ballot for Senate if he actually wins the pres nomination.


I suspect that he knows he is a longshot for Pres but he wants to run to get in his 'first time' and he can come back and win in 2020, in the mean time he wont want to jeopardize his Senate seat.

[ShadowRocket]

I'm thinking that he'll hold off on a final decision regarding his Senate seat until the last possible minute. He can still run for President, but quickly change races if things start to look bleak for him there.

[Mr. Morden]

*UPDATE*

Looks like the Kentucky GOP may have a solution for Paul.  Since they can't change Kentucky law without the cooperation of Democrats, they're instead exploring the option of having the GOP ditch the presidential primary in favor of a caucus.  That way, Paul could run in the Senate primary while also running in the state presidential caucus, and could stay in both races at least until the nominations are decided.  He then wouldn't have to pick which race to stick with until the general election season:

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/2016-elections-rand-paul-112629.html?hp=l7

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[IceSpear]

Doesn't the fact that Paul is so desperate to have a "fallback option" make him look bad?

[Cobbler]

Doesn't the fact that Paul is so desperate to have a "fallback option" make him look bad?

Did it make LBJ look bad? I feel like most politicians would be doing this if they had presidential ambitions and held office at the same time.