The National Rifle Association does not have a lot of influence in Illinois.
This year, according to the website opensecrets.org, the NRA donated money to 12 Republicans who were either in Congress or running for Congress. Five of them will not be in Washington next month.
Rep. Timothy Johnson, the NRA’s top Illinois recipient, retired after his district was redrawn. Bobby Schilling, Judy Biggert, Joe Walsh and Don Manzullo all lost their elections, although Manzullo lost the Republican primary to Adam Kinzinger, who also received NRA money.
Two years ago, Kinzinger defeated Democrat Debbie Halverson despite her endorsement by the NRA. Our Republican senator, Mark Kirk, regularly received an F rating from the NRA when he served in the House of Representatives. The gun rights group has not given him any money now that he’s in the Senate, either.
Here’s a complete list of Illinois congressmen funded by the NRA:
Timothy Johnson $4,000
Bobby Schilling $3,500
Peter Roskam $3,000
Judy Biggert $2,000
Adam Kinzinger $2,000
Politics
Aaron Schock $2,000
John Shimkus $2,000
Joe Walsh $2,000
Rodney Davis $1,000
Don Manzullo $1,000