Few Republicans Publicly Back Paul in Dispute with Mullin

Kentucky senator faces backlash from fellow GOP senator over policy disagreement

Mar. 23, 2026 at 7:55am

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In a dispute between Republican Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, few other GOP lawmakers have publicly come to Paul's defense, according to a report from the Tulsa World.

Why it matters

The lack of public support for Paul from his Republican colleagues highlights the partisan divisions within the party and the challenges senators can face when disagreeing with each other on policy matters.

The details

The article states that Paul and Mullin have been at odds over certain policy positions, but most other Republican senators have not publicly backed Paul in the dispute. This suggests a reluctance among Paul's fellow party members to get involved in the disagreement or risk angering Mullin, who is also a Republican.

  • The article was published on March 23, 2026.

The players

Rand Paul

A Republican senator from Kentucky.

Markwayne Mullin

A Republican senator from Oklahoma.

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The takeaway

This story highlights the partisan dynamics within the Republican Party, where senators may be hesitant to publicly support a colleague who disagrees with another member of the party, even on policy matters.