Following several weeks of highly publicized turmoil within the National Rifle Association, some Republicans feel that the group’s problems could affect the vigor of potential GOP voters in the upcoming 2020 election, according to a new report.
“No organization has been more important to conservative voter education and engagement than the NRA,” former executive director of American Conservative Union Gregg Keller told Politico. “We all hope they’re able to mount the kind of effort in the 2020 cycle they have in the past.” But he noted, “The situation has folks nervous.”
The NRA has been embattled in recent weeks with infighting of their top executives that resulted in an ousting of some of their most recognizable faces, including spokeswoman Dana Loesch and the organization’s president Oliver North, and the liquidation of the popular NRA TV. One major donor has even called for the removal of the NRA’s chief executive Wayne LaPierre. The donor, David Dell’Aquila, said “Even if these allegations regarding Mr. LaPierre and his leadership are false, he has become radioactive and must step down.”
Many concerns over the NRA’s ability to raise funds ahead of the 2020 election stem from the resignation of Chris Cox, who has been in charge of the lobbying arm of the organization since 2002. Cox was known to be well-liked by board members and had several important relationships with top donors. Steven Law, president of the super PAC Senate Leadership Fund, said Cox was known to be the main contact for many important people inside and outside of the organization.
A large concern for the NRA is an investigation by the New York attorney general into their tax-exempt status. President Trump tweeted of the investigation, “People are fleeing New York like never before. If they own a business, they are twice as likely to flee. And if they are a victim of harassment by the A.G. of the state, like what they are doing to our great NRA, which I think will move quickly to Texas, where they are loved.”
[Also read: Chaos at the NRA]
…Texas will defend them & indemnify them against political harassment by New York State and Governor Cuomo. So many people are leaving New York for Texas and Florida that it is totally under siege. First New York taxes you too high, then they sue you, just to complete the job
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 2, 2019
In a statement to the Washington Examiner, NRA-ILA Executive Director Jason Ouimet said: “The NRA will be ready to fight in the 2019 and 2020 elections. Anyone suggesting otherwise is engaged in wishful thinking. Anyone who chooses to discount us does so at their peril. The real action happens at the grassroots level, which has always been the NRA’s strength. The NRA is poised to mobilize the tens of millions of Second Amendment supporters in the upcoming elections.”
