NRA Money Helped These Washington Lawmakers In 2016, Data Show

SEATTLE, WA - On Feb. 22 during a CNN event on school shootings, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Cameron Kasky asked U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio to stop accepting contributions from the National Rifle Association. Rubio sidestepped Kasky's question and would not say whether he'd decline campaign money from the powerful gun lobby.

"In the name of 17 people, you cannot ask the NRA to keep their money out of your campaign?" Kasky said.

"I think in the name of 17 people, I can pledge to you that I will support any law that will prevent a killer like this from getting a gun," Rubio replied.

The NRA donated more than $1 million to candidates in 2016 and $54 million more on outside spending. Some of that support made its way to Washington, backing dozens of Republicans — and two Democrats — in races across the state.

The NRA gave Washington politicians more than $73,000 in 2016, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics. Another $35,000 in independent expenditures went to support candidates.

The top recipient in 2016 was state Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver. The NRA gave her $2,900 directly, plus another $5,200 in the form of independent spending.

Many of the contributions went to conservative-leaning areas outside of Puget Sound. However, several Seattle-area candidates received NRA money. They include: U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert ($1,000); state Rep. Jay Rodne, R- Snoqualmie ($1,950); state Rep. Rep. Melanie Stambaugh, R-Puyallup ($1,950); and Steve O'Ban, R-Lakewood ($1,950).

For the full list of candidates, click here

NRA money went to candidates who sit on legislative committees that deal directly with gun laws. State Sen. Michael Padden, the ranking member of the Senate Law and Justice Committee, got $1,950 from the NRA. Lynda Wilson also is on that committee. In 2018, the committee sat on several bills dealing with gun regulation, including one that would ban the sale of AR-15 rifles.

Patch asked Wilson for comment on the donations that went to her campaign, but she did not respond.

Outside of direct contributions, a number of candidates got support from the NRA via independent spending. That can mean paying for TV ads or fliers to support a candidate, but not in coordination with that candidate's campaign.

Out of the total $35,000 spent, the bulk of the NRA's 2016 independent spending went to just six candidates. The NRA supported a total of 21 candidates in 2016 with independent expenditures.

Here are the top six recipients of NRA independent expenditures:

For all independent expenditures, click here

An analysis by the Seattle Times published Wednesday revealed that Washington got the most NRA money of any state between 2012 and 2016 — Texas came in second place. The reason: the NRA was trying to help Republicans keep control over the state Legislature in 2016, according to the Seattle Times.

The National Institute on Money in State Politics, which runs the campaign cash database Followthemoney.org, is still analyzing reports from the 2017 election cycle.

Two Republicans running in local races in 2018 have received large sums from the NRA in the past. Dino Rossi is trying to hold Reichert's seat for the GOP. He got close to getting $5,000 from the NRA during an unsuccessful bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Patty Murray in 2010.

U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who is up for reelection this year, received more than $10,000 from the NRA between 2010 and 2016. Rodne will not seek reelection this year, but Chad Magendanz has said he will run for the seat.

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