Alison Grimes threatens to take Rand Paul to court

(Image credit: Mike Stone/Getty Images)

last updated 8 January 2015

Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is a presumed presidential candidate for 2016, but he may have to quit his day job if he wants to run.

According to the Washington Times, Kentucky's Secretary of State Alison Grimes says she "will not hesitate to seek help and assistance in the opinion of a court" if Paul tries to get his name on the ballot for both his race for re-election and in the race for president.

"The law is clear," Grimes said. "You can't be on the ballot twice for two offices."

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Paul has officially announced he intends to seek a second term in the Senate, and if he wants to run for president, too, he'll have to issue a legal challenge to the state law. The Times reports, however, that the state House, controlled by Democrats, has blocked efforts by the GOP-controlled state Senate to change the law. The state Republican Party could also make it possible for Paul to run by changing the presidential nominating contest to a caucus instead of a primary.

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