Cory Gardner
House Candidate
Colorado 4th District

Cory Gardner is the minority whip in the Colorado House of Representatives, the #2 Republican. He is considered “the GOP idea man” by the Denver Post, and was named one of the top 40 young Republican lawmakers by Rising Tide, an RNC publication. In his short time in the legislature, Gardner has built an impressive record including the creation of the Colorado Clean Energy Authority in 2007, tort reform legislation, and sponsoring a Rainy Day Fund

Why he wins our Endorsement

Cory Gardner is considered a rising star and for good reason. His short history in politics has a long list of accomplishments. Gardner is also one of the few candidates that reside in a small rural town rather than in the city or affluent suburb. His platform is well-tailored to the unique interests of his rural district. He has plans to promote natural resources conservation, a pro-farm agenda, property rights, and gun ownership rights. He was given an “A+” rating by the National Rifle Association. He also has a strong record with small businesses, earning an 86 out of 100 rating from the Colorado National Federation of Independent Businesses. Cory Gardner is likely a big part of the future of the Republican Party.

Election Prospects

The incumbent is democrat Betsy Markey, who won the seat in 2008 with 56% of the vote. However, the district has historically been republican. Support for President Obama and the democrats has declined significantly in Colorado since the 2008 election. Markey is particularly vulnerable because of her votes for the Federal Stimulus Bill as well as Cap and Trade. Meanwhile, Gardner has built up an impressive backing from grassroots organizations making him the favorite to win the primary in August. In the general election, Gardner has an excellent chance to take back the conservative-leaning 4th District, which is rated a “toss up” by Congressional Quarterly.