How Many Republicans Got Money From Nra

Which lawmakers got the most NRA coin?

In the by xv years, the NRA has spent more than $132 million on political ads.

— -- Last week'south shooting at a Parkland, Fla., high school that left 17 dead and xiv wounded has once again brought the contend over gun control to the forefront. This time, the school'south students are taking the atomic number 82 in demanding modify at both the local level and in Washington.

Critics, nevertheless, fence that pro-gun campaign money has more influence in the gun policy debate than victims of gun violence.

The National Rifle Association continues to exist a huge force in American politics. It's made more than $xi million in directly contributions to federal lawmakers and candidates over the past 20 years. In 2017, the group's lobbying expenditures included $5 1000000 spent pushing 2d Amendment rights.

But the NRA's existent power shows up in independent expenditures. It tin raise and spend unlimited amounts of coin supporting or opposing candidates - every bit long every bit it doesn't coordinate with the candidates.

During just the 2016 election cycle, the NRA spent $54 million in the presidential and congressional races, nigh $20 one thousand thousand of which went to attacking Democrat Hillary Clinton and more than than $11 one thousand thousand to support Republican Donald Trump. In 2008 and 2012, the group had spent $18 million opposing Democrat Barack Obama and $10 meg supporting Republicans John McCain and Mitt Romney.

A NRA spokesperson said the group spends money in elections on behalf of its five million members across America to defend their ramble correct to ain guns.

In the past fifteen years, the pro-gun group has spent a full of more $132 1000000 on ads supporting or opposing presidential or congressional candidates.

Here are the three U.S. senators and House members who have benefited the nearly from the NRA'due south advertisement buys, according to Federal Ballot Commission records:

SENATE

Sen. Richard Burr: $six.9 million

In 2016, the NRA was determined to proceed North Carolina Republican Sen. Richard Burr's seat. The group spent $5.6 million on ads attacking his Autonomous challenger, Deborah Ross. Over the years, the group has spent $1.four million on ads supporting Burr and donated $40,150 to his House and Senate entrada committees.

Sen. Roy Blunt: $iv.v one thousand thousand

Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., has long been one of the biggest beneficiaries of NRA money. Not only has the grouping donated $56,500 to Blunt's campaign commission over the years, the group has besides spent $1.4 meg bankrolling ads supporting him. The NRA besides spent $2.5 1000000 in 2016 opposing Democrat Jason Kander'southward bid confronting the Missouri Republican.

Sen. Thom Tillis: $4.four 1000000

The NRA was one of many outside groups that helped unseat North Carolina's Democratic incumbent senator, Kay Hagan, and elect Republican Sen. Thom Tilllis in 2014. The NRA spent $2.45 million against Hagan and well-nigh $2 one thousand thousand in back up of Tillis.

HOUSE

Rep. French Hill: $1.one million

The NRA was one of the biggest spenders in a competitive Arkansas Business firm race in 2014. The group spent more than half a million dollars supporting Republican French Colina and some other half million attacking Democrat Patrick Hays.

Rep. Ken Buck: $829,377

In 2010, the NRA spent nearly $830,000 in an unsuccessful effort to replace Democratic incumbent Michael Bennet with Republican Ken Buck in Colorado. Buck, notwithstanding, was able to win the seat only later on Bennet left function to run for the Senate in 2012. The NRA didn't go involved in the 2014 race, but Buck was backed by another pro-gun group called Gun Owners of America.

Rep. David Young: $697,778

The NRA helped elect Republican David Young in an open Business firm race in Iowa in 2014 by spending nearly $700,000 on ads in back up of Immature and against Democratic opponent Staci Appel.