Paul questioned top White House doc over 'gain of function' research. EXCLUSIVE – Sen. Rand Paul is weighing in on the increasingly crowded GOP Senate primary field in Ohio in the 2022 race to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Rob Portman. Fox News has learned that the two-term, libertarian-minded senator from Kentucky and 2016 Republican presidential contender is endorsing Cleveland businessman and 2018 Ohio Republican Senate candidate Mike Gibbons. "Mike Gibbons is a liberty minded, fiscal and constitutional conservative who will stand up for our Bill of Rights and to stop our endless wars. Mike will fight the radical liberal policies being pushed by the Biden Administration by championing smaller, limited government principles in D.C.," Paul highlighted in an endorsement statement.