The National Rifle Association's Political Victory Fund has given high grades to Republican candidates running for congressional seats that represent northeast Indiana.

The gun rights advocacy organization on Monday gave an A+ to Reps. Marlin Stutzman, R-3rd, and Todd Young, R-9th, the candidates for the GOP nomination for an open Senate seat from Indiana.

State Sen. Jim Banks, R-Columbia City, and former Wisconsin state senator Pam Galloway of Warsaw also received an A+. They seek the Republican nomination for Stutzman's 3rd District seat.

Also in the 3rd District, Republican farmer Kip Tom of Leesburg received an A and state Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, received an A-. Tom's grade was based on his answers to an NRA-PVF questionnaire because he does not have a legislative voting record.

3rd District Republican candidates Kevin Howell and Mark Baringer and Democratic candidates Todd Nightenhelser and John Roberson have question marks next to their names on the NRA-PVF website, indicating they did not fill out questionnaires.

In the 2nd District, Rep. Jackie Walorski and her opponent in the Republican primary election, Jeff Peterman, each received an A, and the NRA-PVF website identifies Walorski as "NRA endorsed." Peterman's grade was based on his responses to a questionnaire.

bfrancisco@jg.net