NRA kicks off cross-country bus tour to rally gun voters for 2026 midterms

On Thursday, the National Rifle Association launched its first nationwide bus tour, dubbed the 2026 NRA’s Gun Bus Battleground Tour, to encourage gun owners to vote in the upcoming midterms. Departing from the NRA headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia, the vehicle will travel through Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming, making a total of 63 stops before Election Day on Nov. 3.

The inaugural public appearance is scheduled for Sept. 3 in Dillon, Montana, coinciding with the state’s Biggest Weekend festivities. At each venue—ranging from gun stores to college football tailgates—the NRA will distribute branded items, hold talks with voters, and feature local, state and federal candidates supportive of the Second Amendment. NRA-ILA Executive Director John Commerford emphasized the need for “real conversations,” while Executive Vice President and CEO Doug Hamlin warned that losing pro-gun control of legislatures could erase recent gains. The tour also serves as a public-relations push as the organization seeks to recover from recent legal and financial setbacks.