BELLEVUE, WA – The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today congratulated three new pro-Second Amendment senators who replace anti-gunners and strengthen the Republican majority, which will be important to confirming federal court nominees and prevent House Democrats from pushing extremist gun control laws.
Democrats Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Bill Nelson of Florida and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota all lost their seats to pro Second Amendment challengers. It is also important to note that all four voted against confirmation of strong constitutionalist Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. McCaskill was defeated by Josh Hawley, Donnelly was displaced by Mike Braun and Heitkamp lost her seat to Kevin Cramer. Nelson has been defeated by Gov. Rick Scott.
Likewise, pro-rights Sen. Ted Cruz will be back after fending off a tough challenge by anti-gun-rights Democrat Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke. Sen. Cruz called out Senate Democrats during the Kavanaugh hearings, noting that much of their opposition was grounded in their dislike for the Second Amendment.
According to ABC News preliminary exit polling, 47 percent of voters live in gun-owner households, suggesting that gun ownership played a key role in successful races. Gun owners turned out in higher percentages than most other exit poll demographic groups.
“We think these five races constitute big wins for gun owners,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. “With a stronger Senate, President Trump’s agenda can continue making the Second Amendment great again.
“We were particularly delighted that North Dakota voters will send Cramer to the Senate after an attempt by Democrats to discourage hunters in the state from voting backfired dramatically,” he added.
There is also some indication that fallout from the Brett Kavanaugh hearings might have hurt incumbent Democrats who voted against confirmation, because of his previous pro-gun-rights court opinion. McCaskill, Donnelly, Nelson and Heitkamp all voted against confirmation.