The group’s latest ratings show a decline in top marks for the seventh straight election cycle, suggesting its influence is waning.
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The National Rifle Association gives out ratings to politicians for their stances on guns.
The number of congressional candidates receiving A ratings from the National Rifle Association, indicating unfettered support for gun rights, declined this year for the seventh consecutive election cycle, underscoring the continuing decline in political influence for the organization — even in an election year when the two candidates atop the Democratic ticket are playing up their credentials as gun owners.
Of the 920 candidates running for seats in the House or Senate, only 31.5 percent have “A” grades, down from 36 percent in the 2022 elections. About 44 percent have “F” grades, up from 40 percent in 2022. That means the N.R.A. has given more F’s than A’s in four straight election cycles.
The New York Times has analyzed changes in the organization’s candidate ratings in every general election since 2010. This year’s analysis began with data provided by the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety, which supports tighter restrictions on guns. The Times independently verified the data and ran its own calculations.
The decline in the number of top ratings happened entirely among Republican candidates, 63 percent of whom received A’s, compared with 71 percent in 2022. No Democrat received an A grade in 2022, though, in a twist, one did this year: Representative Mary Peltola of Alaska.
The share of Republicans who received question-mark ratings — indicating no clear public record on gun rights, and no response to the N.R.A.’s questionnaire — jumped to 31 percent from 24 percent in 2022.
Justin Wagner, Everytown’s senior director of investigations, who ran the group’s analysis, said the number of question-mark ratings suggested that fewer candidates viewed the N.R.A. as an interest group whose support was worth courting, even if their policy views might align.
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Source: nytimes.com
