Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is looking for a way to run for both reelection to his current seat and for president in 2016 in the latest indication he’s moving toward a presidential bid.
Kentucky Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer told The Washington Times he’s proposed a bill to allow any candidate in the state to run for multiple offices simultaneously.
“Yes, I am working on clarifying an ambiguous state law that Rand Paul believes is unconstitutional if it is interpreted to bar running for reelection to the Senate and for president at the same time,” he told the Times.
“The purpose of the bill will be to make clear that Rand Paul or anyone in a similar situation in Kentucky can run for both offices in the same year,” Thayer added.
The clarification would allow Paul to hedge his bets on a potential presidential run. If he ran for reelection and won but lost the presidential race, he’d be able to return to the Senate in 2017.
The Times reports the measure would face opposition in the Democratic-controlled Kentucky House, however.
Paul has made no secret of his interest in the 2016 presidential race, but he is expected to face a wide range of competitors for the GOP nomination.