Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky made it official Tuesday – he is running for president.
“I am running for president to return our country to the principles of liberty and limited government,” Paul announced on his website, randpaul.com.
Paul, a freshman Republican senator and ophthalmologist who made his home in Bowling Green more than 20 years ago, is scheduled to personally announce his bid for the White House at noon Tuesday at the Galt House in Louisville.
The senator plans to follow his announcement by participating in a question-and-answer session on Facebook, then attend kick-off events in the early-voting states of New Hampshire, South Carolina, Iowa and Nevada in coming days.
Paul is the second Republican candidate to officially enter the race, following Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who jumped in two weeks ago.
Paul is following in the footsteps of his father, former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, who ran for president three times. He will aim over the coming months to keep his father’s loyal base intact while broadening his reach to more young voters, libertarian-minded voters and Republicans disillusioned with the establishment GOP.
In a campaign video Paul’s team released Monday, the senator is described as “a different kind of Republican” who will take on Washington, D.C.