--- title: Full Text of Rand Paul's Campaign Launch Speech: Transcript description: Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul launched his presidential campaign with a speech in Louisville Tuesday. Here is a transcript of his full remarks. canonical: https://time.com/3773964/rand-paul-presidential-campaign-launch-speech-transcript/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-04-07T15:52:07.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-19T07:43:33.324Z article:section: Politics og:title: Transcript: Read Full Text of Rand Paul's Campaign Launch og:description: Here's what he said in his official kickoff in Louisville, Kentucky. og:url: https://time.com/3773964/rand-paul-presidential-campaign-launch-speech-transcript/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt95aebbdb5c5d5d36/698787043c163991cc452997/rand-paul2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1994 og:image:height: 1122 og:image:alt: U.S. Senator Paul announces candidacy for president during an event in Louisville og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Transcript: Read Full Text of Rand Paul's Campaign Launch twitter:description: Here's what he said in his official kickoff in Louisville, Kentucky. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt95aebbdb5c5d5d36/698787043c163991cc452997/rand-paul2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Transcript: Read Full Text of Sen. 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Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. It reaches 85,000 subscribers with a 37.0% open rate as of August 2026. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. by [Ryan Teague Beckwith](https://time.com/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/) ## Ryan Teague Beckwith Apr 7, 2015 3:52 PM UTC  U.S. Senator Rand Paul formally announces his candidacy for president during an event in Louisville, KY on April 7, 2015. U.S. Senator Rand Paul formally announces his candidacy for president during an event in Louisville, KY on April 7, 2015. Aaron P. Bernstein—Reuters by [Ryan Teague Beckwith](https://time.com/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/) ## Ryan Teague Beckwith Apr 7, 2015 3:52 PM UTC Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul launched his presidential campaign in Louisville Tuesday. Here are the full remarks. --- > “” --- ### Photos: On the Road with Rand Paul  Senator Rand Paul talks to voters at the Horry County Republican Party in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Sept. 30th, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  Senator Rand Paul talks with students at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. on Sept. 30th, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  Senator Rand Paul's boots are seen as he talks with students at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. on Sept. 30th, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  Senator Rand Paul bows his head in prayer before talking to voters at the Horry County Republican Party in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Sept. 30th, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  Senator Rand Paul and GOP Senatorial candidate Thom Tillis meet with diners at Big Ed's restaurant in Raleigh, N.C. on Oct. 1st, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  Senator Rand Paul attends a BBQ event at the Donnelly Barn in Bowling Green, Ky. on Oct. 12th, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  In a back tent, Senator Paul manages to have five minutes alone to go over his speech at the Donnelly Barn in Bowling Green, Ky. on Oct. 12, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  Senator Rand Paul and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell attend a BBQ event at the Donnelly Barn in Bowling Green, Ky. on Oct. 12th, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  Senator Rand Paul speaks at a BBQ event at the Donnelly Barn in Bowling Green, Ky. on Oct. 12th, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME  The BBQ event's band at the Donnelly Barn in Bowling Green, Ky. on Oct. 12, 2014. Charles Ommanney for TIME --- > “” --- **_Take the Quiz:_**[_Who Said It: Ron or Rand Paul?_](http://time.com/3772936/ron-paul-rand-paul-quiz/) --- > “” --- **_Read More:_**[_Rand Paul’s First Gaffe_](http://time.com/3760885/rand-paul-first-gaffe/) --- > “” --- _Read next:_ [_How Rand Paul Wants to Change the GOP_](http://time.com/3771972/rand-paul-announce-president-republican/) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3773964/rand-paul-presidential-campaign-launch-speech-transcript/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3773964/rand-paul-presidential-campaign-launch-speech-transcript/"},"headline":"Transcript: Read Full Text of Sen. Rand Paul's Campaign Launch","datePublished":"2015-04-07T15:52:07.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-19T07:43:33.324Z","description":"Kentucky Sen. 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