He also served in various other state and local offices, including several years as a member and president of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.
In 1862, with the financial backing of Milwaukee banker Alexander Mitchell, Paul and J. M. Lyon purchased the newspaper.
Paul, however, did come to an accommodation with Mitchell, which ensured his personal, political, and financial future after the defeat of the Reform coalition in the 1875 elections and the subsequent repeal of the Potter Law.
He was elected as a Democratic and Greenbacker candidate for state senator in 1877 to succeed fellow Democrat John L. Mitchell (Alexander Mitchell's son) in the 6th senatorial district (the 5th, 8th, 11th, and 12th Wards of the city of Milwaukee and the towns of Franklin, Greenfield, Lake, and Oak Creek), with 2464 votes to 1664 for Republican David Vance.
He was re-elected senator on November 4, 1879, receiving 2336 votes to 2101 for Republican State Representative David J.
In 1889, he became involved in disputes with his former associates over Milwaukee Cement, was defeated in a lawsuit, and moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he died a few months later.