When it was founded over a century and a half ago, the National Rifle Association’s stated mission was to “promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis.” And for much of its history, the NRA was a bi-partisan organization. Now, the NRA is one of the most influential political lobbying groups in the country, one dedicated to promoting gun rights and opposing gun control – and one that moves in lockstep with the GOP.
According to Federal Election Commission data compiled by OpenSecrets, the NRA contributed a combined $5.4 million to Republican political campaigns since 2012, over 25 times the $216,000 it contributed to Democratic candidates. In the most recent 2022 election cycle, the NRA gave nothing to Democrats running for office.
In Washington, money talks, and many of the most powerful lawmakers on Capitol Hill are outspoken gun rights advocates, and all are members of the Republican Party.
Using data from Gun Owners of America, another nonprofit gun rights lobbying group, 24/7 Wall St. identified the strongest gun rights advocates in the U.S. Senate. GOA assigned 96 of the 100 sitting U.S. senators with a letter grade, from A+ to F-, for their positions on gun legislation, with the highest grades going to the most pro-gun lawmakers, and the lowest to the most staunch supporters of gun control. The 31 senators on this list are split into three groups, starting with those who received a grade of A-, followed by those with an A rating, and finally, those with an A+. Within each group, senators are listed alphabetically.
While gun policy is the single most important issue for some voters, when it comes to assessing their representative’s job performance, the bulk of Americans take multiple factors into account. And despite potentially alienating themselves from voters in favor of stronger gun control policies, many senators on this list remain relatively popular with their constituency. (Here is a look at the states with the least restrictive gun laws.)
Of the 10 most popular U.S. senators, identified by a 2023 survey from public opinion research company Morning Consult, three appear on this list, as do 17 of the 50 most popular senators. Meanwhile, Sens. Ted Budd of North Carolina and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin are the only lawmakers on this list to rank among the 10 least popular sitting U.S. senators.
It is important to note that GOA gun policy grades are based only on the most recent available data, and, while it is not especially common, some prominent lawmakers have shifted their positions in recent years. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R) of Wyoming, for example, was hard set against expanded background checks, a position she walked back in the wake of the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Still, Lummis has an A grade from the GOA, which was assigned in 2020, the year she was elected to the U.S. Senate. (Here is a look at universal background check laws in every state.)
Click here to see the most pro gun senators.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
Source: Alex Wong / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R) of Tennessee
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: A- (generally supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 52% approve, 33% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2025
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Sen. Kevin Cramer (R) of North Dakota
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: A- (generally supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 52% approve, 27% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2025
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Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Sen. Joni Ernst (R) of Iowa
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: A- (generally supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 46% approve, 40% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2027
Source: Win McNamee / Getty Images
Sen. James Lankford (R) of Oklahoma
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: A- (generally supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 54% approve, 32% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2029
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Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R) of Oklahoma
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: A- (generally supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 47% approve, 28% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2027
Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Sen. Mike Rounds (R) of South Dakota
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: A- (generally supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 61% approve, 31% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2027
Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Sen. Mike Rounds (R) of South Dakota
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: A- (generally supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 61% approve, 31% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2027
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Sen. Marco Rubio (R) of Florida
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: A- (generally supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 50% approve, 39% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2029
Source: Win McNamee / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Sen. Roger Wicker (R) of Mississippi
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: A- (generally supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 43% approve, 35% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2025
Sen. John Barrasso (R) of Wyoming
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: A (reliably supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 63% approve, 26% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2025
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Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Sen. John Boozman (R) of Arkansas
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: A (reliably supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 55% approve, 27% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2029
Source: Aaron P. Bernstein / Getty Images
Sen. Mike Braun (R) of Indiana
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: A (reliably supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 43% approve, 35% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2025
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Sen. Katie Britt (R) of Alabama
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: A (reliably supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 49% approve, 22% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2029
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Source: Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R) of Louisiana
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: A (reliably supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 47% approve, 38% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2027
Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Sen. Tom Cotton (R) of Arkansas
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: A (reliably supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 55% approve, 31% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2027
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Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Sen. Deb Fischer (R) of Nebraska
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: A (reliably supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 45% approve, 37% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2025
Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Sen. Bill Hagerty (R) of Tennessee
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: A (reliably supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 54% approve, 27% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2027
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Source: Alex Wong / Getty Images
Sen. John Hoeven (R) of North Dakota
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: A (reliably supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 54% approve, 27% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2029
Source: Alex Edelman / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Sen. Ron Johnson (R) of Wisconsin
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: A (reliably supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 40% approve, 52% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2029
Sen. John Kennedy (R) of Louisiana
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: A (reliably supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 54% approve, 33% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2029
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Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R) of Wyoming
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: A (reliably supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 61% approve, 28% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2027
Source: Stefani Reynolds / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Sen. James Risch (R) of Idaho
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: A (reliably supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 50% approve, 34% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2027
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Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Sen. Tim Scott (R) of South Carolina
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: A (reliably supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 53% approve, 31% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2029
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Source: Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R) of Alabama
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: A (reliably supports gun-rights and pro-gun legislation)
> 2023 popularity: 50% approve, 32% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2027
Source: Melissa Sue Gerrits / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Sen. Ted Budd (R) of North Carolina
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: A+ (carries or cosponsors pro-gun legislation and reliably supports gun-rights bills)
> 2023 popularity: 39% approve, 37% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2029
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Source: Pool / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Sen. Michael Crapo (R) of Idaho
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: A+ (carries or cosponsors pro-gun legislation and reliably supports gun-rights bills)
> 2023 popularity: 48% approve, 38% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2029
Source: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Sen. Ted Cruz (R) of Texas
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2018: A+ (carries or cosponsors pro-gun legislation and reliably supports gun-rights bills)
> 2023 popularity: 46% approve, 45% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2025
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Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Sen. Steve Daines (R) of Montana
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: A+ (carries or cosponsors pro-gun legislation and reliably supports gun-rights bills)
> 2023 popularity: 45% approve, 39% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2027
Source: Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images
Sen. Mike Lee (R) of Utah
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: A+ (carries or cosponsors pro-gun legislation and reliably supports gun-rights bills)
> 2023 popularity: 46% approve, 39% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2029
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Sen. Roger Marshall (R) of Kansas
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2020: A+ (carries or cosponsors pro-gun legislation and reliably supports gun-rights bills)
> 2023 popularity: 44% approve, 37% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2027
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Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Sen. Rand Paul (R) of Kentucky
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: A+ (carries or cosponsors pro-gun legislation and reliably supports gun-rights bills)
> 2023 popularity: 49% approve, 39% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2029
Source: Kyle Rivas / Getty Images News via Getty Images
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R) of Missouri
> Gun Owners of America grade as of 2022: A+ (carries or cosponsors pro-gun legislation and reliably supports gun-rights bills)
> 2023 popularity: 44% approve, 32% disapprove
> Current term ends: 2029
Methodology
To identify the U.S. senators with the strongest pro-gun rights positions, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data compiled by Gun Owners of America, a nonprofit gun rights lobbying group. GOA uses legislative voting records to assign a letter grade to sitting U.S. senators on their gun policy positions. In the case where a senator does not have an extensive voting record, they are graded based on their responses to GOA survey questions. Grades range from A+, reserved for the most staunchly pro-gun rights senators, to F-, for the senators with the strongest gun-control agendas.
The 31 senators on this list are split into three groups, starting with those who received a grade of A-, followed by those with an A rating, and finally, those with an A+. Within each group, senators are listed alphabetically. Each senator’s grade is for the most recent year of available data, between 2018 and 2022.
Of all 100 sitting U.S. senators, four have not received a grade from GOA: Sen. Dan Sullivan (R) of Alaska, Sen. Cindy Clyde-Smith (R) of Mississippi, Sen. Pete Ricketts (R) of Nebraska, and Sen. J.D. Vance (R) of Ohio.
We also reviewed supplementary data on each senator’s approval and disapproval rating from Morning Consult, a public opinion data research company. Approval and disapproval ratings are based on survey data from each senator’s state, collected in the first quarter of 2023.
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