Businessman Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) won the GOP nomination for the governor’s race in Virginia this year. Given the mania for gun rights that pervades the GOP, this caught me by surprise:
The National Rifle Association [NRA] on Thursday declined to endorse Republican Glenn Youngkin in the Virginia governor’s race, even as it endorsed the two other candidates on the party’s statewide ticket.
The NRA issued endorsements for Winsome Sears, the GOP’s nominee for lieutenant governor, and Del. Jason Miyares of Virginia Beach, the party’s nominee for attorney general, both of whom had received top ratings from the gun lobbying group. The group was mum on Youngkin.
“On behalf of NRA members across the Commonwealth, @NRAPVF is proud to endorse @JasonMiyaresVA for attorney general and @WinsomeSears for lieutenant governor of Virginia,” the gun rights group said in a tweet Thursday afternoon, referring to the NRA Political Victory Fund.
Youngkin has so far declined to complete a candidate questionnaire issued by the advocacy group, which asks candidates questions on topics like banning assault weapons and limiting handgun purchases. Traditionally, the survey has been considered part of the NRA’s endorsement process, which, among other things, includes promotion among its grassroots network.
Youngkin’s campaign, reached for comment, did not directly address the NRA’s endorsement but said Youngkin “will work to make it harder for criminals to get guns.” [Richmond Times-Dispatch]
This goes along with Youngkin attempting to play the abortion issue very close to his vest; observers believe he’s trying to not alienate independent voters by displaying an extremist view he’s rumored – but not proven – to have.
Is this the same deal?
Or does the NRA have such strict requirements that Youngkin cannot meet them? He wants some common-sense rules that the NRA rejects?
I don’t think the Republicans are thought to have much of a chance at winning the Virginia governorship, but it’s still an interesting question. Could Youngkin lose – even lose big – without an NRA endorsement? What does it say if he keeps it respectable without the help of the NRA?
Does the NRA begin to fade into irrelevance, a victim of its own extreme positions?
