In the 2016 presidential election, the group spent a whopping $54 million in support of the presidential and congressional races. Of that amount, $11 million went in support of Donald Trump’s campaign and nearly $20 million went out in expenditures attacking Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Organizations such as the NRA may support (or oppose) candidates by making independent expenditures. Independent expenditures are generally in the form of advertisements for a candidate – or against that candidate’s opponent. Independent expenditures can also include items like paying for flyers to be printed or paying the postage to mail them out.

Independent expenditures are not considered contributions to candidates and are not subject to contribution limits. The donor may not coordinate with candidates in spending the money.

In contrast, the gun safety political action committee created by Gabrielle Giffords, the former Arizona congresswoman who was shot in the head at a 2011 constituent meeting in a Tucson suburb parking lot, has spent $15 million this election cycle.

Here are the candidates whose campaigns have received the most direct contributions from the NRA in this election cycle. The numbers below are from Open Secrets, a nonpartisan website that “tracks money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy,” and they are based on contributions from PACs and individuals giving $200 or more.

All donations were made during the 2018 election cycle and were released by the Federal Election Commission. Figures for the current election cycle are based on data released on Oct. 26, 2018.

House of Representatives

Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee – $10,850

John Culberson, R-Texas – $9,900

John Faso, R-New York – $9,900

Collin Peterson, D-New Mexico – $9,900

Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine – $9,900

Jim Renacci, R-Ohio – $9,900

Pau Ryan, R-Wisconsin – $9,900

Pete Sessions, R-Texas – $9,900

Claudia Tenney, R-New York – $9,900

Lee Zeldin, R-New York – $9,900

Steve Chabot, R-Ohio – $7,950

Mike Coffman, R-Colorado – $7,950

Andy Barr, R-Kentucky – $7,450

Senate

Ted Cruz, R-Texas – $9,900

Josh Hawley, R-Missouri – $9,900

Dean Heller, R-Nevada – $9,900

Patrick Morrisey, R-West Virginia – $9,900

Matt Rosendale, R-Montana – $9,900

Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi – $8,950

By the numbers: