Dennis Fusaro and Judge Phil Journey helped launch a new phase of NRA reform in 2024. Now the two reform directors are seeking member signatures to qualify for the 2027 election—and continue rebuilding an organization gun owners need in the fight against unconstitutional restrictions.
The immediate deadline is October 13. In an October 4 post on X, California Rifle & Pistol Association President Chuck Michel urged eligible NRA voting members to sign their petitions, along with the petition for fellow director Todd Vandermyde.
Michel’s appeal follows Jeff Knox’s latest AmmoLand report, which confirms that the NRA’s Nominating Committee selected Knox and Rocky Marshall for the upcoming ballot but did not nominate Journey or Fusaro. Both are circulating petitions, and Knox endorses them.
For members who demanded accountability after the LaPierre scandal, this election offers an opportunity to keep two of the original reformers working on the board.
Help Put Proven 2A Advocates and Reformers on the NRA Board Ballot
For the last few years the NRA has not had the resources it once did to help us fight in the legislature or the courts in California and other battleground states. The misconduct and financial abuse found by a jury to have been committed by the Wayne La Pierre administration, and the ridiculously expensive bet-the-house litigation that accompanied it (ongoing lawsuits could still threaten the NRA’s viability) has made it impossible for the NRA to participate as it once did.
There has been a serious and consistent effort within the NRA to correct past problems and rebuild the organization. But there is more to do, and several candidates for NRA Board listed below should be considered to help do it.
Although NRA is still assisting with the CRPA’s Duncan and Rhode cases, other than that CRPA does the rest. While the NRA has been rebuilding, CRPA (thanks to its members and supporters) stepped up and filled that gap to fund dozens of CRPA’s pro 2A programs and lawsuits. To be clear: CRPA is and for 150 years has been a separate and independent organization with its own Board of Directors, officers, policies, finances, litigation strategy, and governance. The NRA does not appoint or control CRPA’s Board and has no authority over CRPA’s operations. My support for these petitions reflects my judgment that these candidates want to rebuild a stronger and more effective NRA that can again be an important and critical influence at the federal level, and a rejuvenated advocate for to gun owners in California.
NRA voting members can help by signing a petition for the below listed qualified candidates so they will appear on the NRA ballot for the NRA Board election coming up. Signing a petition does not elect anyone. It simply gives NRA voting members the opportunity to consider and vote for that candidate when ballots are distributed.
I am asking eligible NRA voting members to sign the petitions for three people I believe deserve that opportunity. If you are an eligible NRA voting member, please sign these petitions now. The petition deadline is October 13, so there is very little time left. And please forward this message to other eligible NRA voting members.
Todd Vandermyde
Todd currently serves a one-year term on the NRA Board and has spent decades fighting for gun owners in Illinois—another state where defending the Second Amendment requires persistence and creativity. He serves on important NRA committees including Legal Affairs and Legislative Policy and brings the perspective of someone who has spent years fighting on difficult ground.
You can hear Todd talk about the elections process here: https://t.co/Fe6GSqErBj
Sign Todd’s petition:
https://t.co/sUytyYSt1o
Dennis Fusaro
Dennis has been deeply involved in efforts to reform the NRA and has also worked to develop and support constitutional challenges to restrictive firearms laws in Virginia. He has demonstrated a willingness to ask difficult questions and pursue legal strategies that others may overlook.
Sign Dennis’s petition:
https://t.co/85pafsScqv
Phil Journey
Judge Phil Journey was one of the original “Four for Reform” and was elected near the top of the NRA Board vote in 2024. During the NRA bankruptcy proceedings, he publicly pressed for greater transparency and sought appointment of an independent examiner. His willingness to challenge the status quo helped drive the reform movement that followed.
Hes an article about Phil’s work so far: https://t.co/z7S1gRwgPD
Sign Phil’s petition:
https://t.co/0VElofNjkA— Chuck Michel (@CRPAPresident) October 4, 2026
A Reform Record That Predates the New Majority
Fusaro and Journey were part of the original “Four for Reform,” alongside Knox and Marshall. All four qualified for the 2024 ballot through member petitions and won three-year seats.
AmmoLand reported those results in May 2024: Journey finished second, behind Ronnie Barrett, while Fusaro finished 16th. The members had given the reform slate a clear opening to challenge the organization’s direction.
By April 2025, Knox reported that the four directors’ election had helped build a majority for new leadership and a new focus. He also emphasized that reformers were a coalition of independent directors with differences over how to achieve their goals.
Fusaro and Journey were running on reform when gaining a foothold on the board was still an uphill fight.
Accountability and the Second Amendment Fight
Michel points to Journey’s conduct during the NRA bankruptcy proceedings as evidence of his commitment to accountability. Journey publicly pressed for greater transparency and sought an independent examiner. Michel credits his willingness to challenge the status quo with helping drive the reform movement.
Fusaro’s work also extends beyond NRA governance. Michel highlights his involvement in developing and supporting constitutional challenges to restrictive Virginia firearms laws. AmmoLand’s reporting provides a concrete example. In August, David Codrea reported that Fusaro was soliciting funds for a proposed Ken Cuccinelli amicus brief arguing that the AR-15’s militia utility strengthens its constitutional protection. That approach directly challenges the gun-ban argument that a firearm’s military characteristics somehow place it outside the Second Amendment.
Gun owners deserve directors who protect the organization’s resources and put those resources toward defending the right to keep and bear arms.
The Reforms Are Still Taking Shape
There are specific governance changes to build on. In April, Knox reported the adoption of an 11-member Executive Committee with limits on its authority, notice and monitoring access for all directors, and provisions allowing the full board to meet electronically.
His latest report describes September’s adoption of provisions governing the Chief Compliance Officer’s duties, incorporation of much of the conflict-of-interest policy into the bylaws, and a requirement that directors notify the secretary when leaving a meeting early.
The proposal to eliminate ten board seats annually for three years was sent back to the Special Committee on Organization for further study. Knox supported that referral while maintaining his support for a smaller board.
That work remains unfinished. Fusaro and Journey’s supporters are asking members to keep experienced reform voices involved as the NRA strengthens its oversight and considers further changes.
October 13: Members Can Help Put Them on the Ballot
Michel connects the petition effort to the NRA’s diminished ability to support legislative and courtroom battles in California and other states. He acknowledges its ongoing assistance in CRPA’s Duncan and Rhode cases while describing how CRPA has filled gaps during the NRA’s rebuilding. He also stresses that CRPA is independently governed and is not controlled by the NRA.
His appeal includes Vandermyde, who serves a one-year board term and brings decades of Illinois gun-rights experience, including service on the NRA’s Legal Affairs and Legislative Policy committees.
Signing a petition gives members the opportunity to consider a candidate on the election ballot; it does not elect anyone. Eligible signers are NRA Life Members and Annual Members with at least five consecutive years of membership. Members will need their NRA membership number.
The petitions are available for Dennis Fusaro, Phil Journey, and Todd Vandermyde.
For NRA members who want Fusaro and Journey to continue the reform effort, the next step is helping them qualify for the ballot before October 13. Restoring the NRA’s effectiveness requires continued scrutiny of its leadership and a sustained commitment to the gun owners it exists to serve.
About Duncan Johnson:
Duncan Johnson is a lifelong firearms enthusiast and unwavering defender of the Second Amendment—where “shall not be infringed” means exactly what it says. A graduate of George Mason University, he enjoys competing in local USPSA and multi-gun competitions whenever he’s not covering the latest in gun rights and firearm policy. Duncan is a regular contributor and editor-in-chief for AmmoLand News and is responsible for AmmoLand’s daily gun-rights reporting and industry coverage.
