The National Rifle Association has endorsed freshman Rep. Zack Space (D) for both the primary and general elections, where he will face one of three Republicans running for the GOP nod in the conservative district.

In a letter to Space, NRA Federal Affairs Director Chuck Cunningham wrote that the Congressman has “consistently supported the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen.”

Space issued a statement saying he was honored to receive the group’s endorsement.

“During just my first term in Congress, the NRA and I have already forged a strong working relationship as we both seek to protect the gun owners and sportsmen in the 18th Congressional District,” he said. “We are both committed to preserving the constitutional rights of gun owners and sportsmen everywhere as we work to end the continual whittling away of the Second Amendment by those opposed to gun ownership.”

Attorney Paul Phillips, former Guernsey County Magistrate Jeanette Moll and former state Agriculture Director Fred Dailey are running in the Republican primary on March 4. Although Space began the election cycle as a top Republican target, most Democrats believe he is likely to win re-election.
— Shira Toeplitz