KENTUCKY: Sen. Rand Paul Asks To Be Listed Twice On 2016 State Ballot

In preparation for his 2016 presidential bid, Sen. Rand Paul is pushing the Kentucky legislature to change state rules about appearing twice on the same ballot.

A bill that would allow Sen. Rand Paul to appear on the Kentucky ballot twice — running both for re-election and for president in 2016 — passed a Senate Committee on Wednesday, but its chances when it gets to the House still appear dim. Paul has asked Senate Republicans to pass the measure because under current state law, he would essentially have to give up his Senate seat if he wanted to appear on the ballot in the state’s GOP presidential primary. Senate Majority Damon Thayer said he would probably schedule a floor vote on the matter next week. The bill passed the Senate State & Local Goverment Committee on an 8-2 vote, with two Democrats voting against it.

Sen. Paul dominated the presidential straw poll at CPAC last weekend.