Rand Paul also a winner in Tuesday's election

Sen. Rand Paul wasn't on Tuesday's ballot in Kentucky but came away as a big winner.

Paul in 2016 is running for re-election to his Senate seat in addition to his presidential hopes.

Many Democrats in the state pinned their hopes on Kentucky Auditor Adam Edelen providing a credible challenge to Paul for his Senate seat.

Those hopes were dashed when Edelen lost his re-election bid for auditor Tuesday to Republican Mike Harmon.

It isn't clear who on the Democratic side will challenge Paul. In an interview with the Enquirer on Wednesday, Paul seemed ecstatic about the Republican wins in Kentucky, not for of his Senate race but for how it will change Kentucky.

"What a wonderful night," Paul said. "I watched the returns all evening ... We're excited to see a Kentucky now that will be more attractive to businesses."

Republicans won the races for governor, auditor, treasurer and agriculture commissioner.

Paul wouldn't say he feels more secure in his Senate position after Tuesday.

"I don't take anything for granted," Paul said. "I continue to work hard. I continue to try to continue to work actively in the Senate."

Does the Republican victories allay pressure for him to decide whether to drop his presidential bid? Not really since the media fabricated that pressure, Paul said.

"I never really heard anyone wanting me to drop the bid other than people in the media," Paul said. "I've had no conversations like that. I believe the story to be a completely concocted story."

Paul successfully lobbied the Republican Party of Kentucky to change it's primary to a caucus so he could run for both president and Senate. But Paul's star has waned on the presidential stage. His poll numbers in the presidential race have dipped in recent months as Donald Trump and Ben Carson have garnered the lion's share of attention.

Paul saw similarities between his run for Senate in 2010 and Bevin's run in 2015 in that they both had never held elected office before.

"I think they did want a businessman, an outsider when they picked Matt Bevin," Paul said. "They really didn't want a career politician."