The National Rifle Association made a slew of endorsements in Minnesota, including Democratic Rep. Tim Walz in the first district.

While the NRA gave both Walz and his Republican challenger, state Rep. Randy Demmer, an "A" grade, the gun group endorsed Walz over Demmer in the rural Southern Minnesota congressional district.

NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said Walz got the nod over Demmer because the NRA has "an incumbent friendly policy" when a race features two candidates with "A" grades.

In a release, the NRA cited Walz's vote in favor of legislation allowing people to carry guns in national parks, as well as a legal brief he signed onto backing gun rights in District of Columbia vs. Heller, the 2008 Supreme Court case that overturned a firearms ban in the nation's capital.

The NRA typically backs more Republicans than Democrats, but in Minnesota the group endorsed three Democratic House incumbents – Reps. Collin Peterson, Jim Oberstar and Walz — and all three House Republicans.

The NRA also endorsed GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.