This midterm election on November 3 will soon be behind us. We could see, come January 2027, a Congress that respects our Second Amendment freedom, or the American electorate could vote in the opposite—as always, turnout is everything.
As is the case in our constitutional process, all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are on the ballot, as is about one-third of the U.S. Senate, and many state and local representatives.
To bring this election into focus, the NRA’s The Armed Citizen Podcast spoke with NRA-ILA Executive Director John Commerford.
“Well, look,” said Commerford as he explained what the NRA is doing with regards to this election, “we’ve issued over 3,000 endorsements this session and over 7,000 overall assessments for our members and Second Amendment supporters across the country. If you are in a hotly contested constituency, you can expect to see our orange postcards in your mailbox. You will expect to receive some text messages from us. You may also see some targeted digital advertisements. But where do we stand now? We stand with the pro-gun majority in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. And of course, this is the golden age of the Second Amendment thanks to President Trump and the work his administration is doing.”
When asked about how the NRA Political Victory Fund grades candidates and incumbent politicians, Commerford said, “Well, the National Rifle Association is a non-partisan organization. We support Republicans, we support Democrats, we support independents, and most importantly, we support anyone who supports your Second Amendment rights. It just so happens that Republicans tend to support the Second Amendment to a much higher degree than Democrats. The conservative Democrats (Blue Dogs) have become a relic of the past, an extinct species, and we are seeing some partisan polarization related to that. But, as we rush towards election day, the real battles are fought in a few races.”
When asked about polls, Commerford said, “If you look at national opinion polls, close the window and ignore them because they are irrelevant. What matters in these elections is the position of the polls in the crucial races, whether at the Senate level, the governorship, or other positions at the state level, and at the House of Representatives level. So, when you look at the balance of power, everything is at stake, and that’s why you hear so many people say that this election is the most important in your life, because it really is, and elections have consequences.”
As for the voters who do not think their vote matters, Commerford said, “Here in Virginia, where I am, we are living with those consequences. But it is important that gun owners get involved, so that we can protect the balance of power in the House of Representatives and the Senate.”
When asked about the close races that will tip the balance of power for or against our freedom, Commerford said, “Let’s look at the U.S. Senate first. And I think, why do I look at the Senate first? Because it is the most important. Not because the House of Representatives is unimportant—it is extremely important. But where did we end up in the battle for the Second Amendment? The matter ended up in court. The U.S. Senate is the body that confirms President Trump’s judicial nominations. We really need two more full years of Trump nominees to reshape the American judiciary in favor of constitutional liberty. And that is exactly what the Senate does.”
Commerford noted that the federal judge who recently ruled on the National Firearms Act (NFA) was appointed by President Donald Trump (R) in his first term and confirmed by a Republican-led U.S. Senate.
“That firewall is extremely vital,” said Commerford before specifically pointing to races in Ohio, Texas, Alaska and others.
Voters can check NRA-Political Victory Fund scores of politicians and candidates at NRAPVF.org. Just select a state and scroll through the grades and endorsements of the politicians seeking to represent you.
