U.S. Sen. Rand Paul will be in Plano Thursday to raise money for Texas Senate candidate Phillip Huffines.

The Kentucky Republican is a close friend of the Huffines family. In 2014 he helped Don Huffines beat Dallas Republican John Carona for the North Dallas-anchored seat in the state Senate.

Now Paul is headlining a Thursday night fundraiser for Phillip Huffines at the Gleneagles Country Club in Plano. Donors participating in the event are asked to contribute from $2,500 to $250.

Huffines, the chairman of the Dallas County Republican Party, is running for the Collin County-based Senate seat now held by Plano Republican Van Taylor.

Taylor is expected to campaign for the congressional seat that will be vacated by Sam Johnson, who earlier this year announced his retirement.

Dallas County Republican Party Chairman Phillip Huffines recently moved to Richardson to be inside Senate District 8. (File photo)

Huffines is the only major announced candidate in the Senate race, but he's expected to be joined soon by Rep. Matt Shaheen of Plano.

Shaheen was part of the Texas legislative session that adjourned Monday. The former Collin County Commissioner told The Dallas Morning News that he's leaning toward a candidacy for Senate, and that response to a potential campaign has been positive.

Huffines, a real estate developer, recently moved from Highland Park to Richardson to be inside Senate District 8.

If both of the Huffines brothers win next year, it will be the first time in history that twins have served together in the Texas Senate.