Annually, one-third of the National Rifle Association board seats open for election. The NRA’s nominating committee meet to select candidates they recommend. The 2025 report was finalized last month.
The NRA’s nominating committee report is in for the 2026 election. The committee met on multiple occasions in person and/or asynchronously in order to compile a slate of 30 candidates they feel meet the requirements to serve on the board. While what goes on within their meetings is not publicly telegraphed and occurs in executive sessions, Bearing Arms obtained a copy of the 2025 report from NRA Secretary John Frazer.
The board elections will be held early 2026. Eligible voting members include life members and those who have been members for five years or more. Ballots are included in an individual’s magazine once the election is open. In the event of having no magazine subscription, ballots will be mailed separately.
According to “America’s 1st Freedom,” the full slate of candidates who have been nominated and successfully gained enough petition signatures “will be published in the February 202[6] Official Journals.” Members should look for those issues/ballots in January.
The nominating committee consists of both current board members and rank and file NRA members. Previously reported, the committee consisted of the following members: Cam Edwards, Al Hammond (28), Maria Heil (27), Robben Love, Mitzy McCorvey (28), Buz Mills (27), Janet Nyce (27), Susan Springhorn, and Robert Wos (27).
Directors on the nominating committee are indicated as such with the year their term expires following their name. No director whose term expires in 2026 is currently on the nominating committee.
A note at the top of the report states that Director Maria Heil resigned from the committee for “personal reasons” and Robben Love “died unexpectedly." After the passing of member Love—a non-board member—there remained two general NRA members on the committee. When the committee was whole it consisted of one-third non-board members and two-thirds board members.
During the committee’s August 14 meeting they nominated the following individuals:
1. William Bailey from Milledgeville, Georgia
2. Robert Beckman from Cincinnati, Ohio
3. Kenneth Bowra from Smithfield, Virginia
4. Charles Brown from Dayton, Ohio
5. Alex Carroll from Connersville, Indiana
6. Ted W. Carter+ from Jacksonville, Florida
7. James D’Cruz from Oakland, Florida
8. Richard Fairburn+ from Canton, Illinois
9. Richard Todd Figard from Wadsworth, Ohio
10. Megan Hilbish from Emporia, Kansas
11. Charles T. Hiltunen, III+ from Indianapolis, Indiana
12. Kyle Hupfer from Pendleton, Indiana
13. Jacqueline Janes from Mesa, Arizona
14. Jerry Kraus from S. Augustine, Florida
15. Randy Luth from Becker, Minnesota
16. Robert Mansell+ from Bullhead City, Arizona
17. Eric Metteauer from Beaumont, Texas
18. Ernest Myers from Windermere, Florida
19. James W. Porter II+ from Birmingham, Alabama
20. David Raney+ from Hillsdale, Michigan
21. Mark Robinson+* from Colfax, North Carolina
22. Steven C. Schreiner+* from Englewood, Colorado
23. Leroy Sisco+ from Boerne, Texas
24. Amanda Suffecool+ from Wayland, Ohio
25. Regis Synan from Export, Pennsylvania
26. Mark Vaughan+ from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
27. Linda Walker+ from Newark, Ohio
28. James Wallace from Newburyport, Massachusetts
29. Jay Wallace from Smyrna, Georgia
30. Bruce Widner+ from Anderson, South Carolina
Candidates whose name has a “+” following it are incumbent directors. There are 13 incumbent directors and 17 candidates who are general members. That means 57 percent—more than the majority—of the director candidates are not currently members of the Board of Directors and 43 percent are incumbents.
There are 12 directors whose terms end in 2026 that are not on the nominating committee’s report of recommendations. It’s not known if those directors whose terms end next year have decided to not run again or if they simply don’t come duly recommended by the committee.
The following notation is at the bottom of the report: “*Nominated contingent on the attendance waiver by the NRA Board pursuant to Article IV, Section 1(a)(3) of the NRA Bylaws.”
According to Secretary Frazer, attendance waivers were approved by the Board of Directors for Director Robinson, Director Schreiner, and Director Arvas (not recommended by the committee) during their last meeting in early September.
“The waiver relates to Board members who didn’t attend at least two-thirds of the meetings in their current terms,” Frazier said in an email. “The Board granted all three waivers at its meeting last week.”
In addition to the 30 members selected by the nominating committee, there are members running via petition. There’s currently no list of which members are running by petition. When asked for a list, Secretary Frazer said he could not share the names of who requested petition information.
“Members often ask for our petition packet and decide not to run, so it’s really up to the candidates to get their own names out,” Frazer said. “In the meantime, I’m sure you’ll understand that we have to protect their privacy.”
Who does or does not make the cut according to the nominating committee is based upon “a list of desired qualities and skills which it seeks in director candidates.” A policy adopted in January requires that the committee "memorialize" such a list. The report further stated that the qualifications list was discussed with “the Association’s President, First and Second Vice Presidents, and Executive Vice President.”
The qualities that the nominating committee officially resolved are desired in director candidates in the 2026 election are as follows:
- Unquestioned personal integrity
- Passion for the NRA’s mission
- Proven executive-level leadership abilities
- A record of entrepreneurial success
- Financial, investment, insurance, and risk management experience
- Experience in NRA program areas such as competitive shooting and gun collecting
- Firearms industry experience and relationships
- Strong communication skills, social media influence, and willingness to serve as the public face of the Association
- Proven ability to connect with emerging constituencies such as younger gun owners and members of minority groups
- Available time to devote to NRA business
According to “America’s 1st Freedom” magazine, “the terms of office of 25 Board members will expire at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Members in Houston, Texas, on April 18, 2026.” If you’re an eligible voting member of the NRA, keep your eyes peeled for your ballot in January 2026. We’ll continue to provide NRA Board of Director election coverage as more information becomes available.
The full nominating committee report can be read HERE or below.
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