Why It Matters

The NRA Victory Fund, Inc., the National Rifle Association's super PAC, is targeting Texas Democratic Senate hopeful James Talarico. As of today, it reported spending about $1.44 million in this election cycle, according to the Oct. 19 to defeat Talarico. ​

The NRA-affiliated Political Victory Fund says it evaluates candidates regardless of party affiliation, based on voting records, public statements, and responses to its questionnaire. NRA Victory Fund received approximately $2.02 million and held $1.80 million in cash on hand as of Sept. 30. It logged 169 transactions supporting Republicans and two opposing Talarico.

The NRA's political spending reflects its advocacy on Second Amendment issues, including opposition to restrictions on semiautomatic firearms and ammunition magazines and support for candidates whose positions align with the organization's gun-rights priorities.

What It Spent

The expenditures include $911,116 supporting Republican candidates and $529,391 opposing Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. It spent about half of that $250,975 supporting Ken Paxton, the committee's largest Republican beneficiary. Its next largest reported support expenditures benefit Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) at $178,986.

Other major reported beneficiaries include Rep. David Taylor (R-OH), with $23,050; Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), with $21,197; and Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), with $19,684. Hinson is running for the open Iowa Senate seat. The committee's three largest reported Republican beneficiaries, Paxton, Husted, and Taylor, accounted for about $453,011 in support spending, less than what it spent opposing Talarico alone.

Who Funds It

According to the supplied September financial records, two NRA-affiliated organizations accounted for nearly all organizational contributions to NRA Victory Fund. The National Rifle Association of America Political Victory Fund reportedly contributed $1,959,401, while the National Rifle Association of America Institute for Legislative Action contributed $12,441. Together, those contributions totaled approximately $1.97 million.

The supplied records also identify a $50,000 individual contribution from Robert Asher. The NRA Political Victory Fund is the organization's political action committee, while the Institute for Legislative Action is its lobbying and advocacy arm. Their reported contributions connect the super PAC's election spending to the NRA's broader political and legislative operations.

The Ad Buy

The committee's largest reported expenditures have gone toward advertising production, direct mail and text messaging. On Oct. 9, Creative Strategic Solutions LLC reportedly received approximately $495,000 for advertising production and placement opposing Talarico.

On Oct. 16, I360 LLC reportedly received approximately $34,000 for text messaging opposing him.

On Oct. 14, Moore A Series LLC reportedly received $217,000 for printing, paper, and postage supporting Paxton. The same vendor reportedly received $152,000 on Oct. 7 for printing and postage supporting Husted. Moore A Series LLC also appears in reported printing and postage transactions involving other Republican candidates. I360 LLC appears in text-messaging expenditures in the Texas and Ohio Senate races.

The Reload reported Oct. 16 that the NRA launched its first major advertisement of the election cycle targeting Talarico over his support for banning certain semiautomatic firearms and restricting ammunition magazine capacity. The advertisement references a 2020 video in which Talarico discussed his support for such restrictions. The NRA also announced a broader multimillion-dollar campaign involving text messages, door-knocking, voter-contact mail and a traveling gun-rights outreach effort in Texas.

You can explore more about this committee's filings at Legis1.com.

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