By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
On Friday, February 20, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), a probable 2016 Republican presidential candidate, will be the keynote speaker at the Alabama Republican Party’s 2015 ALGOP Victory Celebration and Winter Dinner.
If Paul enters the 2016 Republican Primary it will likely be a crowded field with former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker being two of the early favorites. Because Alabama’s presidential primary is relatively early in the process, this State is expected to see a lot of presidential attention. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was recently in the State on his book tour. Other possible candidates include former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, former Alaska Governor Sara Palin, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, former Texas Governor Rick Perry, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Dr. Ben Carson with others likely to consider getting in the race to succeed President Obama who is term limited from running again.
The event will be held at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel at 7:00 pm, but all tickets have been sold. The ALGOP Winter Meeting will follow on Saturday. The Alabama GOP’s Executive Committee will select new leadership on Saturday.
Outgoing Alabama Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead said in a written statement, “We are honored to have Senator Rand Paul as our keynote speaker as we celebrate the incredible statewide Republican successes the Party had during this election cycle.”
Chairman Armistead continued, “The Victory Celebration will give Alabamians an opportunity to see up close one of the leading candidates for the Republican presidential nomination. Senator Paul has ignited a lot of excitement amongst a segment of our population that we need to become more active in our Party: young people, females and minorities. We look forward to celebrating our victories with Republicans from every corner of the state at the Winter Dinner on February 20, 2015.”
Chairman Armistead said, “The Victory Celebration will be an opportunity for the party to unite in showing our appreciation to all of our candidates who sought office this year. A great sacrifice was made by all, and we owe a debt of gratitude to the candidates, their supporters and the grassroots workers for these magnificent victories.”
Dr. Rand Paul is the junior United States Senator for Kentucky. Senator Paul was elected in 2010 and still is in his first Senate term. Sen. Paul has proposed: cutting $500 billion in federal spending and a plan to balance the federal budget in just five years. He has since introduced similar bills with growing support. Senator Paul serves on the Senate’s Foreign Relations, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and Small Business Committees.
Dr. Paul is an ophthalmologist and is a graduate of the Duke University School of Medicine. In 1995, he founded the Southern Kentucky Lions Eye Clinic, an organization that provides eye exams and surgery to needy families and individuals. Today, even as a US Senator, he continues to provide pro-bono eye surgery to Kentuckians in need of care.
Rand Paul supports term limits, a balanced-budget amendment, a Read the Bills Act, and an audit of the Federal Reserve. Sen. Paul has been married for 23 years to Kelley Ashby of Russellville, Ky., and they have three sons.
Senator Paul’s father, Congressman Ron Paul (R from Texas), was a GOP Presidential candidate in 2012 and 2008 and was the Libertarian Party presidential nominee in 1988.
