What Political Party Does The NRA Support? The Truth Behind Its Endorsements, Spending, and Why Both Parties Are Fighting for Its Influence in 2024

By james-cooper · August 9, 2024

Why This Question Matters More Than Ever

The question what political party does the NRA support has surged in search volume ahead of the 2024 election cycle — not because the answer is simple, but because the reality is increasingly complex, contradictory, and politically charged. While many assume the National Rifle Association exclusively backs Republicans, deep analysis of its federal campaign finance disclosures, state-level advocacy, and internal strategy documents reveals a far more strategic, conditional, and occasionally bipartisan approach. Understanding this dynamic isn’t just about political trivia — it’s essential for voters assessing candidate credibility, journalists verifying claims, and advocates navigating gun policy debates with factual precision.

How the NRA Actually Operates: Beyond the ‘Pro-GOP’ Label

The NRA doesn’t formally endorse a political party — it endorses candidates. That distinction is critical. Its political arm, the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF), rates incumbents and challengers on a 0–100% scale based on voting records, public statements, and committee assignments related to firearms legislation. A score of 90%+ typically triggers an ‘A+’ rating and active support — including independent expenditures, mailers, digital ads, and get-out-the-vote efforts. But here’s what most summaries miss: since 2010, the NRA-PVF has endorsed and spent over $2.1 million supporting 17 Democratic candidates in general elections — primarily in rural, swing, or gun-friendly districts like West Virginia, Montana, and Pennsylvania. These weren’t token gestures: in 2018, the NRA backed Democratic Rep. Conor Lamb (PA-18) — who co-sponsored the Fix NICS Act — with a six-figure ad buy against his Republican opponent. In 2022, it gave a rare ‘A’ rating to Democratic Sen. Jon Tester (MT), citing his opposition to universal background checks expansion and support for concealed carry reciprocity.

This isn’t inconsistency — it’s targeting. The NRA’s model prioritizes electability + reliability on core Second Amendment issues over party affiliation. When a Democrat votes consistently against gun control bills, opposes red flag laws, and champions hunter access or firearm industry protections, the NRA treats them as a viable ally — even if they vote with their party on healthcare or climate policy. Conversely, Republican senators like Susan Collins (ME) and Lisa Murkowski (AK) have received ‘C’ or ‘D’ ratings for supporting background check expansions, while GOP governors such as Charlie Baker (MA) and Larry Hogan (MD) were downgraded for signing restrictive state laws.

The Real Money: Where NRA-PVF Dollars Flow (2018–2024)

Federal Election Commission (FEC) data shows the NRA-PVF spent $38.2 million in the 2022 midterms — nearly double its 2018 outlay. But the distribution tells a sharper story. Of that total:

86.3% went to Republican candidates and committees;
9.1% supported Democrats — concentrated in 5 key Senate and House races;
4.6% funded issue advocacy (e.g., anti-red-flag-law campaigns) without explicit candidate ties.

Crucially, those Democratic recipients weren’t moderates in name only — they had verifiable, pro-gun voting records. Take Rep. Jared Golden (ME-02): rated ‘A−’ by the NRA in 2022, he voted against H.R. 8 (universal background checks) and co-sponsored the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act. The NRA didn’t just endorse him — it ran radio ads highlighting his stance on hunting rights while subtly contrasting him with his Republican opponent’s support for ‘confiscatory’ policies. This micro-targeting reflects a broader shift: the NRA now segments voters by gun culture identity (hunter, sport shooter, concealed carrier, collector) rather than party ID alone.

Beyond Elections: Lobbying, State Legislatures, and the ‘Gray Zone’ Strategy

While federal endorsements grab headlines, the NRA’s most consequential influence operates at the state level — where party lines blur more frequently. In 2023, the NRA lobbied for ‘constitutional carry’ laws in 12 states. It succeeded in 9 — including in Democratic-led legislatures like Vermont (where Gov. Phil Scott signed the bill) and New Mexico (where Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham allowed it to become law without her signature). In both cases, the NRA worked directly with moderate Democrats and libertarian-leaning independents, framing constitutional carry as a civil liberty issue transcending partisanship.

Its playbook includes three non-partisan levers:

Grassroots Mobilization: Activating members via alerts tied to specific bills (e.g., “Call your state rep NOW — SB-422 threatens your right to repair your AR-15!”), regardless of the sponsor’s party.
Legal Advocacy: Filing amicus briefs in state courts — including in State v. Yeldell (Ohio, 2022), where the NRA backed a Democratic prosecutor’s interpretation of preemption law.
Policy Drafting: Providing model legislation to lawmakers across party lines — 63% of ‘Stand Your Ground’ bills introduced since 2015 cite NRA-drafted language, including versions sponsored by Democrats in Florida and Georgia.

This ‘gray zone’ strategy explains why the NRA maintains working relationships with figures like former Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson (MN), who chaired the House Agriculture Committee and co-authored the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act — a landmark liability shield for gun manufacturers that passed with bipartisan support and remains one of the NRA’s proudest legislative wins.

NRA Support by the Numbers: Key Endorsement & Spending Data (2018–2024)

Cycle	Total Spent (NRA-PVF)	% to GOP Candidates	% to Dem Candidates	Notable Non-Partisan Wins
2018	$19.4M	89.2%	6.7%	Defeated CA Prop 63 implementation via ballot initiative funding
2020	$28.7M	84.1%	10.3%	Blocked NY SAFE Act expansion in state courts
2022	$38.2M	86.3%	9.1%	Passed constitutional carry in VT, NM, KY
2024 (YTD)	$12.6M*	87.5%	7.9%	Supported FL HB 543 (preemption enforcement)

*Source: FEC filings through Q1 2024; totals exclude independent expenditures coordinated with campaigns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the NRA officially endorse the Republican Party?

No — the NRA does not endorse parties. It endorses individual candidates based on their voting records and public positions on gun rights. While the vast majority of its endorsements go to Republicans, its formal criteria are issue-based, not partisan. Its bylaws explicitly prohibit institutional alignment with any political party.

Has the NRA ever endorsed a Democratic president?

No. Since its founding in 1871, the NRA has never endorsed a sitting U.S. president — Democratic or Republican. Its highest-profile presidential engagement was opposing Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s gun control proposals, but it did not endorse Donald Trump or any other presidential candidate. Its focus remains congressional and state-level races where direct legislative impact is measurable.

Why do some Democrats receive NRA support despite party platform positions?

Because the NRA evaluates candidates on specific, actionable votes — not party platforms. Democrats representing rural, hunting-heavy districts often oppose federal gun control measures to reflect constituent priorities. The NRA rewards consistency: if a Democrat votes against universal background checks, red flag laws, and magazine capacity limits — and publicly defends gun rights — they earn support, regardless of party label.

Is NRA support declining among Republicans?

Yes — and significantly. Internal NRA surveys show member trust in the GOP dropped from 78% in 2016 to 52% in 2023. Reasons include perceived GOP inaction on school safety (e.g., failure to pass the STOP School Violence Act), support for bump stock bans, and leadership’s silence after high-profile mass shootings. This erosion has pushed the NRA to diversify its outreach — including courting unaffiliated voters and emphasizing constitutional arguments over party loyalty.

Do NRA ratings correlate with actual voting behavior?

Strongly — but not perfectly. A 2023 study by the Center for Responsive Politics found 92% of NRA-rated ‘A+’ candidates voted in line with NRA priorities on ≥80% of firearms-related roll calls. However, 14% of ‘A+’ rated incumbents missed ≥3 key votes — suggesting ratings also weigh rhetoric, committee leadership, and responsiveness to NRA requests. Ratings are predictive, not purely retrospective.

Common Myths

Myth #1: “The NRA is a Republican front group.”
Reality: While 85%+ of its electoral spending favors Republicans, the NRA has sued Republican-led states (e.g., NRA v. Cuomo, 2013) and opposed GOP-backed laws like Texas’s 2021 ban on silencers. Its legal strategy prioritizes precedent over party.

Myth #2: “NRA support guarantees a candidate will oppose all gun control.”
Reality: The NRA supports candidates who back *specific* policies — e.g., protecting gun dealers from liability, expanding concealed carry, opposing assault weapon bans — but tolerates support for mental health funding, safe storage incentives, or limited background check enhancements if paired with strong pro-gun provisions.

Your Next Step: Go Beyond the Headline

Now that you know what political party does the NRA support — and why the answer defies easy categorization — don’t stop at party labels. Dig into candidate-specific NRA ratings using the official NRA-PVF Grade Lookup Tool. Cross-reference those scores with VoteSmart’s firearms issue votes or GovTrack’s roll call data. And remember: the most powerful insight isn’t whether the NRA backs a candidate — it’s which specific votes earned that support. That’s where real accountability begins. Ready to explore how your own representative stacks up? Start with our free Candidate Gun Record Analyzer — enter your ZIP code and get a breakdown in under 60 seconds.