Senator Randal Howard “Rand” Paul, M.D is a self-described “constitutional conservative,” yet is usually labeled by the media as a Libertarian running under the GOP. Paul has been a practicing ophthalmologist in Bowling Green, Kentucky for 18 years and became a US Senator in 2010. On April 7, 2015, Paul announced his candidacy; within a day, he had raised $1 million. However, due to a law in Kentucky, Paul may not run simultaneously for president and senator; he is working to overturn this law or choose between the two.

Keep on reading for a quick overview of his ideas and beliefs:

Background: Paul was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 7, 1963, to Senator and three-time presidential candidate Ron Paul; the family moved to Lake Jackson, Texas, where Paul grew up. Though he attended Baylor University, he never completed his bachelor’s degree and went straight to Duke University to obtain his medical degree. Paul is famous in his community for his many pro-bono surgeries to remove cataracts both in Kentucky and around the world.

Foreign Policy:

• Wants to continue supporting Israel
• Believes that only Congress can declare war, not the president; subscribes to Reagan’s motto “Peace through strength”
• Supports boycotting “countries that demonize women, like Saudi Arabia”

The Economy:

• Supports the “Fair and Flat Tax” which would be levied equally on individuals and businesses at a rate of 14.5%
• Wants to audit the Federal Reserve to bring it back under Congressional power
• Supports cuts in federal spending

Domestic Issues:

• Wants to repeal Obamacare in favor of a free-market system for health care
• Wishes to secure the border and implement the “Trust but Verify” system in which visa-holders would be tracked by the government
• Is against gun control policies and supports the 2nd and 4th Amendments
• Believes in local control of education; opposes the Common Core

Social Issues:

• Opposes the use of federal funding for abortion; believes that life begins at conception
• Wants to reform Social Security
• Supports the reform of the criminal justice system

Quotes:

“The great and abiding lesson of American history, particularly the cold war, is that the engine of capitalism, the individual, is mightier than any collective.”

“You campaigned against rich people and you got enough envy whipped up in the country and you’re gonna get ’em. You’re gonna stick it to those rich people. But guess what? You may not get anymore revenue. You may not get anymore economic growth. But you can say, ‘I stuck it to the rich people.'”

“I don’t think I’ve ever used the word ‘gay rights,’ because I don’t really believe in rights based on your behavior.”

Muppet he most resembles: Sam Eagle. Paul is maybe–maybe–as conservative as Eagle, who was created to be a cross between Uncle Sam, Richard Nixon, and a bald eagle.

Sources: randpaul.com, brainyquote.com, youtube.com