See NRA Gun Grades For Minnesota Candidates Running In 2018

MINNESOTA —The National Rifle Association (NRA) is the country's fiercest opponent of gun control, and the group wants its members to support gun-friendly candidates come Election Day next week. The NRA applies political pressure by giving each candidate grades on how pro-gun they are.

Politicians with higher grades can get access to NRA campaign contributions and a fervent voter base.

While the NRA gives out grades from A+ to F, most of the candidates running in Minnesota's statewide and federal elections this year were given either an A+, A, AQ, or F.

Republican Rep. Tom Emmer scored the highest with a rating of A+.

What those grades mean:

A+: Per the NRA, "A legislator with not only an excellent voting record on all critical NRA issues, but who has also made a vigorous effort to promote and defend the Second Amendment."

A: Per the NRA, “Solidly pro-gun candidate. A candidate who has supported NRA positions on key votes in elective office or a candidate with a demonstrated record of support on Second Amendment issues.”

AQ: Per the NRA, “A pro-gun candidate whose rating is based solely on the candidate's responses to the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire and who does not have a voting record on Second Amendment issues.”

F: Per the NRA, “True enemy of gun owners' rights. A consistent anti-gun candidate who always opposes gun owners' rights and/or actively leads anti-gun legislative efforts, or sponsors anti-gun legislation.”

Find the NRA grades for politicians in your area by searching here.

Find NRA grades for Minnesota candidates running in statewide and federal elections below:

Governor

• Republican Jeff Johnson - A
• Democrat Tim Walz - F

Lieutenant Governor

• Republican Donna Bergstrom - A
• Democrat Peggy Flanagan - F

Secretary of State

• Republican John How - A
• Democrat Steven Simon - F

Attorney General

• Republican Doug Wardlow - A
• Democrat Keith Ellison - F

State Auditor

• Republican Pamela Myhra - AQ
• Democrat Julie Blaha - F

U.S. Senate

• Republican Jim Newberger - A
• Democrat Sen. Amy Klobuchar - F

U.S. Senate (Special Election)

• Republican Karin Housley - A
• Democrat Sen. Tina Smith - F

U.S. House District 1

• Jim Hagedorn - AQ
• Dan Feehan - F

U.S. House District 2

• Republican Rep. Jason Lewis - A
• Democrat Angie Craig - F

U.S. House District 3

• Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen - A
• Democrat Dean Phillips - F

U.S. House District 4

• Republican Greg Ryan - AQ
• Democrat Rep. Betty McCollum - F

U.S. House District 5

• Republican Jennifer Zielinski - AQ
• Democrat Ilhan Omar - F

U.S. House District 6

• Republican Rep. Tom Emmer - A+
• Democrat Ian Todd - F

U.S. House District 7

• Dave Hughes - AQ
• Democrat Rep. Collin Peterson - A

US House District 8

• Republican Pete Stauber - AQ
• Democrat Joe Radinovich - F

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Photo: National Rifle Association spokesperson Dana Loesch speaks at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum during the NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on May 4, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. The National Rifle Association's annual meeting and exhibit runs through Sunday. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)