Bartholomew Roberts
Member
Here are some contested seats for the 2006 Senate elections. These are the seats where the race is close and includes their GOA grade (note GOA grades do not include votes for the 2006 session):
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FLORIDA
D Bill Nelson (2000-?) - GOA - Not Rated (as in refused to fill out or return the questionaire - usually means strong anti)
R Katharine Harris - GOA C
MARYLAND D Sarbanes - retiring (1976-2006) GOA F- (see www.mcrkba.org)
D Ben Cardin, Most likely anti-gun.
R Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, no info. See Lambo's comments
MICHIGAN
D Deb Stabenow (2000-?) GOA F-
R Mike Bouchard, former Oakland Co. Sheriff - returned very positive pro-gun questionairre (see comments by Barbara below)
MINNESOTA D Dayton GOA F - retiring
D Amy Klobuchar - See halvey's comments
R Rep. Mark Kennedy - NRA Endorsed candidate (see above link)
MISSOURI
R Jim Talent (2002-?) GOA B, Talent won the 2002 midterm elections and supported us during the fight to kill the AWB/pass gun lawsuit reform. However, the Dems are mounting a hard effort to get rid of him in his first reelection bid and the polls are close.
D Claire McCaskill, no info - lost the 2004 governor's race. Has a reputation as a gun grabber (see Bruce's comments below).
MONTANA
R Conrad Burns (1988-?) GOA B, as of July 11, Burns has the lowest approval rating in the country.
D John Tester - no info
NEBRASKA
D Ben Nelson (2000-?) GOA F - Nelson was polling very weakly; but the GOP had trouble finding a candidate to run against him all the same.
R Pete Ricketts - no info, Pro-2A comment on his website (http://petericketts.com/about_issues.asp). Says he supports the 2A; but not clear whether he supports it like John Kerry or supports it like Larry Craig.
NEW JERSEY D Corzine (2000-?) - GOA F-, running for Governor/open seat
D Robert Menendez - no info; but personally appointed by Corzine to fill out his term in 2004. List gun issues under "Crime" on his website, wants to release ATF trace data to the public. Likely no friend of ours.
R Tom Kean Jr. - no info; but apparently part of a NJ political dynasty and already polling well against the incumbent
OHIO
R Mike DeWine (1994-?) GOA F
D Sherrod Brown - no info; reputed to be as bad as Dewine on guns; but can replacing Dewine be a bad choice? Only worry here is any D vote puts us one step closer to Leahy or Teddy Kennedy as Chairman of the Judiciary.
PENNSYLVANIA
R Rick Santorum (1994-?) GOA C, very close race - Santorum trailing
D Bob Casey Jr - no info
RHODE ISLAND - See http://www.cralri.com/ for more info on Rhode Island Gun Rights.
R Lincoln Chafee (2000-?) GOA F-, (conservative Cranston, RI Mayor Stephen Laffey came within 6% of winning)
D Sheldon Whitehouse - Former AG, (reputed to be a strong anti)
TENNESSEE R Frist (1994-2006) - GOA D (though Frist was essential in stopping the AWB renewal and passing lawsuit protection, don't know what problem GOA has with him) retiring, open seat
R Bob Corker, no info - former Chattanooga mayor. Strong pro-2nd comments on website "As Senator, I will protect the Second Amendment’s guarantee of our right to bear arms and reject attempts to limit the freedom of law-abiding gun owners. The best way to stop crime is to capture and imprison criminals—not to impose new burdens on law-abiding citizens."
D Harold Ford, GOA F and already getting much media attention. Avoids gun issue entirely on his website.
VERMONT I Jeffords (1988-2006) - GOA D-, retiring, open seat - Primary is Sept. 12
I Bernie Sanders, GOA F, former Vermont House Rep.
R Richard Tarrant, buisnessman, no info yet
VIRGINIA
R George Allen - GOA C
D James Webb - former SecNav under Reagan, noted author and decorated Vietnam-era Marine, jumped from R party to run against Allen as a D. no info yet; but see Bubbles' comments. No mention of RKBA.
WASHINGTON
D Maria Cantwell (2000-?) GOA F, won her 2000 Senate race by a mere 2,000 votes and hasn't improved her popularity any. Excellent chance to get rid of an anti by turning out pro-gun voters.
R Mike McGavick - no info; but likely better than Cantwell in any case. See Diamondback 6's comments.
WEST VIRGINIA
D Byrd (1958-?) GOA F - kind of a dark horse chance; but Byrd is getting old (89)
R John Raese (NRA endorsed candidate), nice pro-2A statement on website.
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As you can see, we have lots of opportunities to get rid of some really bad Senate votes on RKBA. Even if we don't replace them with strong pro-RKBA votes, we do replace them with junior Senators with less power and less ability to get good committees.
We also have at least two B-rated Senators who are in a tight spot and could use your help. If anybody has any additional information about pro-RKBA candidates running for open seats or pro-RKBA info, please chime in and share what you know. Hopefully, we can not only be well-informed come November, we can help inform other gun owners as well.
===============================================================================================
FLORIDA
D Bill Nelson (2000-?) - GOA - Not Rated (as in refused to fill out or return the questionaire - usually means strong anti)
R Katharine Harris - GOA C
MARYLAND D Sarbanes - retiring (1976-2006) GOA F- (see www.mcrkba.org)
D Ben Cardin, Most likely anti-gun.
R Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, no info. See Lambo's comments
MICHIGAN
D Deb Stabenow (2000-?) GOA F-
R Mike Bouchard, former Oakland Co. Sheriff - returned very positive pro-gun questionairre (see comments by Barbara below)
MINNESOTA D Dayton GOA F - retiring
D Amy Klobuchar - See halvey's comments
R Rep. Mark Kennedy - NRA Endorsed candidate (see above link)
MISSOURI
R Jim Talent (2002-?) GOA B, Talent won the 2002 midterm elections and supported us during the fight to kill the AWB/pass gun lawsuit reform. However, the Dems are mounting a hard effort to get rid of him in his first reelection bid and the polls are close.
D Claire McCaskill, no info - lost the 2004 governor's race. Has a reputation as a gun grabber (see Bruce's comments below).
MONTANA
R Conrad Burns (1988-?) GOA B, as of July 11, Burns has the lowest approval rating in the country.
D John Tester - no info
NEBRASKA
D Ben Nelson (2000-?) GOA F - Nelson was polling very weakly; but the GOP had trouble finding a candidate to run against him all the same.
R Pete Ricketts - no info, Pro-2A comment on his website (http://petericketts.com/about_issues.asp). Says he supports the 2A; but not clear whether he supports it like John Kerry or supports it like Larry Craig.
NEW JERSEY D Corzine (2000-?) - GOA F-, running for Governor/open seat
D Robert Menendez - no info; but personally appointed by Corzine to fill out his term in 2004. List gun issues under "Crime" on his website, wants to release ATF trace data to the public. Likely no friend of ours.
R Tom Kean Jr. - no info; but apparently part of a NJ political dynasty and already polling well against the incumbent
OHIO
R Mike DeWine (1994-?) GOA F
D Sherrod Brown - no info; reputed to be as bad as Dewine on guns; but can replacing Dewine be a bad choice? Only worry here is any D vote puts us one step closer to Leahy or Teddy Kennedy as Chairman of the Judiciary.
PENNSYLVANIA
R Rick Santorum (1994-?) GOA C, very close race - Santorum trailing
D Bob Casey Jr - no info
RHODE ISLAND - See http://www.cralri.com/ for more info on Rhode Island Gun Rights.
R Lincoln Chafee (2000-?) GOA F-, (conservative Cranston, RI Mayor Stephen Laffey came within 6% of winning)
D Sheldon Whitehouse - Former AG, (reputed to be a strong anti)
TENNESSEE R Frist (1994-2006) - GOA D (though Frist was essential in stopping the AWB renewal and passing lawsuit protection, don't know what problem GOA has with him) retiring, open seat
R Bob Corker, no info - former Chattanooga mayor. Strong pro-2nd comments on website "As Senator, I will protect the Second Amendment’s guarantee of our right to bear arms and reject attempts to limit the freedom of law-abiding gun owners. The best way to stop crime is to capture and imprison criminals—not to impose new burdens on law-abiding citizens."
D Harold Ford, GOA F and already getting much media attention. Avoids gun issue entirely on his website.
VERMONT I Jeffords (1988-2006) - GOA D-, retiring, open seat - Primary is Sept. 12
I Bernie Sanders, GOA F, former Vermont House Rep.
R Richard Tarrant, buisnessman, no info yet
VIRGINIA
R George Allen - GOA C
D James Webb - former SecNav under Reagan, noted author and decorated Vietnam-era Marine, jumped from R party to run against Allen as a D. no info yet; but see Bubbles' comments. No mention of RKBA.
WASHINGTON
D Maria Cantwell (2000-?) GOA F, won her 2000 Senate race by a mere 2,000 votes and hasn't improved her popularity any. Excellent chance to get rid of an anti by turning out pro-gun voters.
R Mike McGavick - no info; but likely better than Cantwell in any case. See Diamondback 6's comments.
WEST VIRGINIA
D Byrd (1958-?) GOA F - kind of a dark horse chance; but Byrd is getting old (89)
R John Raese (NRA endorsed candidate), nice pro-2A statement on website.
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As you can see, we have lots of opportunities to get rid of some really bad Senate votes on RKBA. Even if we don't replace them with strong pro-RKBA votes, we do replace them with junior Senators with less power and less ability to get good committees.
We also have at least two B-rated Senators who are in a tight spot and could use your help. If anybody has any additional information about pro-RKBA candidates running for open seats or pro-RKBA info, please chime in and share what you know. Hopefully, we can not only be well-informed come November, we can help inform other gun owners as well.