The National Rifle Association (NRA) endorsed Missouri Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Koster over his Republican opponent Eric Greitens.
“The NRA is proud to endorse Chris Koster and we urge Missouri’s gun owners and sportsmen to get out this November and vote to elect a governor with a proven record of fighting to preserve the Second Amendment.”
Greitens, a combat veteran and former Navy SEAL, served four tours of duty overseas, including tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Greitens returned home to start the non-profit, The Mission Continues; the organization encourages veterans to lead a life of service and leadership after their military careers. In 2015, Greitens opened up about his past as a Democrat in an Fox News post entitled, “Former Navy SEAL: Why I am no longer a Democrat.”
Greitens explained that growing up, he was taught that Harry Truman was the greatest president ever because of his strength and the fact that “he stood up to communists.” As he got older, he realized that, “liberals aren’t just wrong, but world-class hypocrites.”
“We’re not going to win the career-politician-insider-endorsement-contest,” Greitens campaign manager Austin Chambers told Politico Tuesday. “But no one is stronger than Eric on second amendment issues,” he asserted.
Like Greitens, Koster also switched parties, but in reverse. Koster was a super-star prosecutor and led the investigations into some of Missouri’s most high-profile criminals. He served as a Republican state senator, until he switched to the Democratic Party in 2007. Both candidates have faced questions regarding their party loyalty.
The National Rifle Association’s Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) announced the endorsement in a statement released Tuesday. “Chris Koster has never wavered from his Second Amendment beliefs. For over 17 years, he has fought to preserve the constitutional rights of law-abiding Missourians,” NRA-PVF’s chairman, Chris W. Cox, said in the press release.
The NRA endorsed Republicans in Missouri’s down ballot races, including the lieutenant governor, attorneys general, secretary of state, and state treasurer positions. The group threw their support behind Mike Parson for lieutenant governor, Josh Hawley for attorney general, Jay Ashcroft for secretary of state and Eric Schmitt for state treasurer.
The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to both campaigns for comment, but did not hear back by press time.
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