Photographer: Mark Peterson/Redux
Embattled NRA Loses Its Political Power Broker on Eve of 2020
With the exit of Chris Cox and the longtime producer of NRATV, the gun lobby is entering the election season without the lobbying or publicity power that catapulted Trump in 2016
As the National Rifle Association’s chief lobbyist, Chris Cox pumped more money into the unlikely election of Donald Trump than anyone else. Now, Cox won’t be around to oversee its effort to re-elect him.
Until his resignation was made public on Wednesday, Cox had spent 17 years as the executive director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. He headed its political action committee and was the NRA’s power broker and liaison with Congress, the White House and federal agencies, and he oversaw the rewarding of reliable conservative politicians with “A” ratings for fortifying the Second Amendment. The Tennessee-bred lobbyist also ran NRA Country, the group’s marketing link to the music industry. Cox’s many roles gave him extraordinary influence on U.S. firearms regulation and Republican politics writ large.