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In light of the recent mass shootings in Roseburg and Florida, how many federal Oregon elected officials received campaign contributions from the NRA and how much, if any, did they receive? — Malcolm M., Medford The NRA doesn’t appear to have too strong a financial interest in Oregon elections, relative to other states, particularly those with more Republican legislators. Greg Walden is Oregon’s only GOP representative, and according to filings from the Federal Election Commission, the only federal legislator from Oregon to receive campaign contributions from the NRA in the last two election cycles. Before that, however, he’s had some company. Walden most recently received $1,000 from the National Rifle Association of America Political Victory Fund in July 2017, according to receipts filed with the FEC. In the previous election cycle, he received $2,000 total: $1,000 during the primary and another in the general election. You’d have to search earlier election cycles at fec.gov to find other federal representatives who received NRA money. Democratic Rep. Kurt Schrader’s campaign also received NRA money in the 2013-14 cycle: $2,000 between both primary and general election. A Feb. 24 article in the New York Times highlights how the NRA’s political clout stems primarily not from direct financial contributions, or even in-kind donations. Its political action committee donated $1.1 million in 2016, small potatoes in the $1.7 billion donation sum in that election cycle. Most of its efforts are concentrated in voter mobilization, particularly the grades distributed to federal legislators based on their voting records, public comments and responses to an NRA questionnaire. The grades, which are made available only to members, are compiled in voters guides distributed also to members. At the state level, the NRA spent $309,000 in direct contributions to legislative candidates in 2016 and 2017, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics. Numbers for Oregon are available on the Secretary of State’s website. Oregon Rep. Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, was the most recent recipient of NRA donations, $2,500 total in 2016. It’s the biggest single donation made to a state candidate in the past decade, according to filings with the Secretary of State. Greg Smith, Ted Ferrioli, Andy Olson, all Republican legislators who still hold a seat, received donations of various sizes from the NRA in the last five years, the filings show. — Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.