Cory Gardner#Gun law

Gardner was born on August 22, 1974, in Yuma, Colorado,{{cite web|title=Cory Gardner's Political Summary|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/30004/cory-gardner#.VAjni0h8Gnc |publisher=Project Vote Smart|access-date=September 4, 2014}} the son of Cindy L. (née Pagel) and John W. Gardner. He is of Irish, German, Austrian, and English descent.{{cite web |url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Ebattle/reps/gardner.htm|title=Cory Gardner ancestry|publisher=Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com|access-date=November 17, 2012}} He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1997 from Colorado State University, where he was a member of the FarmHouse fraternity.[http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2014-new-members/colorado-senate-cory-gardner-r-20141104 Colorado Senate: Cory Gardner (R)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511155644/http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2014-new-members/colorado-senate-cory-gardner-r-20141104 |date=May 11, 2015 }}, National Journal; accessed January 30, 2017.

In college, Gardner switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party{{cite news|last=Murray|first=Sara|date=October 17, 2014|title=GOP Senate Candidate Puts Colorado Democrats Off Balance|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/gop-senate-candidate-puts-colorado-democrats-off-balance-1413587405|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|location=New York|access-date=October 18, 2014|quote=He entered Colorado State University as a Democrat and switched to the Republican Party in college.}} and interned at the Colorado State Capitol.{{cite news|last1=Kosena|first1=Jason|title=Cory Gardner joins Tom Lucero in GOP bid against Betsy Markey|url=http://www.coloradostatesman.com/content/991020-cory-gardner-joins-tom-lucero-gop-bid-against-betsy-markey|access-date=September 4, 2014|publisher=Colorado Statesman|date=May 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905031837/http://www.coloradostatesman.com/content/991020-cory-gardner-joins-tom-lucero-gop-bid-against-betsy-markey|archive-date=September 5, 2014|url-status=dead}} He went to law school at the University of Colorado to earn his Juris Doctor in 2001.

Prior to public office, Gardner worked at his family's implement business and served as spokesman for the

National Corn Growers Association. Gardner later served as general counsel and legislative director for former U.S. Senator Wayne Allard of Colorado from 2002 to 2005.{{cite news |last1=Zezima |first1=Katie |title=Who is Cory Gardner? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2014/11/04/who-is-cory-gardner/ |access-date=February 29, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 4, 2014}}

Gardner was appointed to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2005 and elected to a full term in 2006. He represented District 63 in the Colorado House of Representatives from 2005 through 2011.{{cite web|title=Cory Gardner (R)|url=http://projects.wsj.com/campaign2012/candidates/view/cory-gardner--CO-H|website=Election 2012|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 4, 2014}}

In 2006, Gardner proposed legislation to create a rainy-day fund to help protect the state from future economic downturns. His proposal relied on money made available by Referendum C—which allowed state revenue caps to be exceeded for five years{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Alex |date=October 31, 2005 |title=Referendums C&D: Balanced budget or bust |url=https://www.vaildaily.com/news/referendums-cd-balanced-budget-or-bust/ |work=Vail Daily |access-date=September 23, 2019}}—for future budget emergencies.{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DP&p_theme=dp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10F65265527762F0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |author=Couch, Mark P.|title=Rainy day funding bills see daylight|work=The Denver Post|date=January 26, 2006|access-date=November 17, 2012}} He staunchly opposed any tax increases. He helped create the Colorado Clean Energy Development Authority which issued bonds to finance projects that involve the production, transportation and storage of clean energy until it was repealed in 2012.{{cite web|title=Clean Energy Development Authority |url=http://www.afdc.energy.gov/laws/law/CO/6291|publisher=United States Department of Energy |access-date=April 15, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://gardner.house.gov/about-me/biography|title=Biography | Congressman Cory Gardner|publisher=Gardner.house.gov|access-date=November 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109061612/https://gardner.house.gov/about-me/biography|archive-date=November 9, 2012|url-status=dead}}

Committee assignments

• House Education Committee{{cite web|url=http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20070330/NEWS/70330010|title=GOP calls for House education chairman to step down over e-mail|publisher=SummitDaily.com|access-date=November 17, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=CSGB&d_place=CSGB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=116DF41746FC3D10&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=NewsLibrary.com – newspaper archive, clipping service – newspapers and other news sources|publisher=Nl.newsbank.com |date=January 23, 2007|access-date=November 17, 2012}}
• House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee
• Legislative Council{{cite web|url=http://www.ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Cory_Gardner |title=Cory Gardner profile|publisher=Ballotpedia|access-date=November 17, 2012}}

File:Cory Gardner, Official Portrait, 112th Congress.jpgional session official photo]]

{{Main|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado#District 4}}

Gardner won the Republican primary in the 4th Congressional District to challenge Democratic incumbent Betsy Markey. Also running were American Constitution Party nominee Doug Aden and Independent Ken "Wasko" Waszkiewicz. In an early September poll, Gardner was up 50% to 39% over Markey.{{cite news|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/battle10/245491/gardner-leads-markey-50-39-first-public-co-4-poll-michael-sandoval#|author=Sandoval, Michael|title=Gardner Leads Markey 50-39 in First Public CO-4 Poll|work=National Review|date=September 2, 2010 |access-date=November 17, 2012}} Gardner was endorsed by former U.S. Congressman Tom Tancredo.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/29/tom-tancredo-standing-by-_n_698316.html|title=Tom Tancredo Standing By Endorsement Of Cory Gardner Over ACP Candidate In CD-4|work=HuffPost Denver|date=October 29, 2010|access-date=November 17, 2012}} On November 2, 2010, Gardner defeated Markey, 52%–41%.

{{Main|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado#District 4}}

Gardner ran unopposed in the Republican primary before defeating Democratic nominee Brandon Shaffer 59%–37% in the general election.{{cite web|title=Official Results |url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/43032/116650/en/summary.html|website=Colorado Election Results|publisher=Colorado Secretary of State|access-date=September 5, 2014}} He was helped by the 2010 redistricting, which cut Fort Collins and Larimer County out of the district. Fort Collins had long been the 4th's largest city. For years, Larimer and the district's second-largest county, Weld County, home to Greeley, accounted for 85 percent of the district's population even though they only took up 15 percent of its land.

{{main|2014 United States Senate election in Colorado}}

Gardner was the Republican nominee for Senate, and narrowly defeated incumbent Senator Mark Udall in the general election receiving 965,974 (48%) votes to Udall's 916,245 (46%),.{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Kurtis |date=April 12, 2014 |title=Rep. Cory Gardner wins big at assembly, will challenge Sen. Mark Udall |newspaper=The Denver Post |url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_25553402/u-s-rep-cory-gardner-clear-favorite-become |access-date=October 28, 2014}} No Labels performed independent get-out-the-vote efforts on behalf of its Problem Solvers, including Gardner.{{cite magazine |last1=Rogers |first1=Alex |title=How Joe Manchin Ended Up Getting Out the Vote Against a Fellow Democrat |url=https://time.com/3542074/joe-manchin-no-labels-cory-gardner-mark-udall-colorado/ |magazine=Time|access-date=October 28, 2014}}

{{main|2020 United States Senate election in Colorado}}

Gardner ran for reelection in 2020. During his tenure as a Senator, he notably did not hold many public town halls.{{cite news|url=https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2017/08/11/cory-gardner-under-fire-over-town-halls-but-do-they-matter/494061001/|title=Cory Gardner is under fire over town halls, but do they matter?|publisher=The Coloradan|last=Coltrain|first=Nick|date=August 11, 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.greeleytribune.com/2019/08/25/tribune-opinion-gardner-would-be-wise-to-listen-to-cardboard-cory-critics/|title=Tribune Opinion: Gardner would be wise to listen to "Cardboard Cory" critics|publisher=Greeley Tribune|date=August 25, 2019}} At a February 2017 public town hall at Denver’s Byers Middle School, Gardner was represented instead by a cardboard cutout, dubbed "Cardboard Cory",{{cite news|url=https://www.5280.com/obit-cardboard-cory-paper-based-political-stand-in-dead-at-3/|title=Obit: Cardboard Cory, Paper-Based Political Stand-in Dead at 3|publisher=5280|last=Monaghan|first=Shane|date=February 1, 2021}} created by Katie Farnan and friends.{{cite web|url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2020-election/q-a-katie-farnan-cardboard-corys-lead-handler/article_fdebcd68-49f9-11eb-9251-fb72dec13982.html|title=Q & A: Katie Farnan Cardboard Cory's lead handler|publisher=Colorado Politics|last=Luning|first=Ernest|date=January 4, 2021}} The concept developed staying power, and become an iconic four year protest campaign, showing up at protests and events around the state.{{cite web|url=https://coloradosun.com/2020/11/25/cardboard-cory-colorado-cory-gardner/|title=How the Cardboard Cory protest in Colorado helped Democrats defeat Gardner in the U.S. Senate race|publisher=Colorado Sun|last=Frank|first=John|date=November 25, 2020}} Liberal groups including ProgressNow and Indivisible Colorado launched a 14-stop, statewide bus tour featuring Cardboard Cory and Coloradan constituents including Laura Packard during summer 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cardboard-cory-gardner-town-hall-colorado_n_5d5d5365e4b0d043dd73c83f|title=A Cardboard Cutout Of Sen. Cory Gardner Just Wrapped Up A Statewide Bus Tour|publisher=HuffPost|last=Grenoble|first=Ryan|date=August 26, 2019}} A short documentary film by Nick Rosen of Sender Films{{cite web|url=https://www.westword.com/arts/cardboard-cory-asks-where-cory-gardner-has-been-11773549|title=A New Documentary Follows a Cardboard Cutout of Cory Gardner|publisher=Westword|last=Harris|first=Kyle|date=August 14, 2020}} about Cardboard Cory's journey sponsored by Indivisible was released July 28, 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hfDc0Vp87E|title=Cardboard Cory - The Documentary|date=July 28, 2020|publisher=YouTube}} One of the Cardboard Cory cutouts was eventually given to Senator John Hickenlooper after his defeat of Gardner.{{cite web|url=https://denverite.com/2021/01/15/senator-john-hickenlooper-was-gifted-a-cardboard-cory-gardner/|title=Senator John Hickenlooper was gifted a "Cardboard Cory" Gardner|publisher=Denverite|last=Beaty|first=Kevin|date=January 15, 2021}} According to The Colorado Sun, Gardner "decisively tied his reelection bid to President Donald Trump." He lost to the Democratic nominee, former governor John Hickenlooper by 301,622 votes.{{cite news |title=Cory Gardner goes all-in with Donald Trump, says the results for Colorado "are simply astounding" |publisher=The Colorado Sun |url=https://coloradosun.com/2020/02/20/cory-gardner-donald-trump-colorado-springs-rally/}}

File:U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Senators Joni Ernst, Daniel Sullivan, John McCain, Tom Cotton, Lindsey Graham, and Cory Gardner attending the 2016 International Institute for Strategic Studies Asia Security Summit in Singapore.jpg and Senators Joni Ernst, Daniel Sullivan, John McCain, Tom Cotton, Lindsey Graham, and Cory Gardner attending the 2016 International Institute for Strategic Studies Asia Security Summit in Singapore]]

• Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
• Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
• Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet
• Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance
• Subcommittee on Science and Space
• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
• Subcommittee on Energy (Chairman)
• Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining
• Subcommittee on Water and Power
• Committee on Foreign Relations
• Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights and Global Women's Issues
• Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation
• Subcommittee on East Asia, The Pacific and International Cybersecurity Policy (Chairman)
• Subcommittee on International Development, Multilateral Institutions and International Economic, Energy and Environmental Policy{{cite web |title=Committee Assignments of the 116th Congress |url=https://www.senate.gov/general/committee_assignments/assignments.htm |website=United States Senate |access-date=25 April 2020}}

• Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://www.ng911institute.org/about-the-congressional-nextgen-9-1-1-caucus|publisher=Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus|access-date=June 14, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142643/http://www.ng911institute.org/about-the-congressional-nextgen-9-1-1-caucus|url-status=dead}}

File:Cory Gardner (52993827272).jpg]]

After leaving the Senate, Gardner was considered a potential candidate for governor of Colorado or in the 2022 Colorado Senate race against his former colleague, Michael Bennet, though he ultimately opted not to run.{{Cite web|url=https://coloradosun.com/2020/11/04/cory-gardners-future-colorado-senate-race/|title = Does Cory Gardner have a future in politics now that he's lost his U.S. Senate seat?|date = November 4, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://coloradosun.com/2021/12/28/colorado-congressional-campaign-money-leftovers/|title = Some failed Colorado congressional candidates still have lots of money in their campaign accounts. Here's why|date = December 28, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://arkvalleyvoice.com/chaffee-republican-lincoln-day-dinner-deemed-a-success/|title = Chaffee Republican Lincoln Day Dinner Deemed a Success - by Ark Valley Voice Staff|date = March 2022}} In February 2021, Gardner became the chair of the National Action Victory Fund, a PAC that raises money for Republican candidates. In June 2021, five months after leaving office, he joined the board of advisers of Michael Best Strategies, a national lobbying firm.{{Cite web|url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/quick-hits/cory-gardner-lands-job-with-top-national-lobbying-firm/article_856d5db8-d43a-11eb-a425-c3795188c2ce.html|title = Cory Gardner lands job with top national lobbying firm| date=June 23, 2021 }} In April 2022, he joined a trade association, the Crypto Council for Innovation as its chief political affairs strategist.{{Cite web | url=https://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/3261371-ex-sen-cory-gardner-joins-crypto-lobbying-group/ | title=Ex-Sen. Cory Gardner joins crypto lobbying group | date=April 7, 2022 }} In February 2023, Gardner was hired to co-chair a super PAC alongside longtime GOP operative Rob Collins by South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, which would later support his run for President in the 2024 United States presidential election.{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/2023/02/10/tim-scott-2024-presidential-election-super-pac/|title = Scoop: Tim Scott raises presidential buzz with super PAC hires|date = February 10, 2023}}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/22/us/politics/tim-scott-2024-campaign-trump.html | title=Tim Scott Begins Presidential Campaign, Adding to List of Trump Challengers | work=The New York Times | date=May 22, 2023 | last1=Weisman | first1=Jonathan | last2=King | first2=Maya }}

In March 2019, Gardner was ranked the 5th most bipartisan senator of the 115th United States Congress by The Lugar Center and Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy, and was also ranked the 4th most bipartisan senator of the 116th Congress in May 2021.{{cite news |date=March 19, 2019 |title=The Lugar Center and Georgetown University's McCourt School Unveil Bipartisan Index Rankings for 115th Congress |url=https://www.thelugarcenter.org/newsroom-pressreleases-67.html |access-date=February 29, 2024 |publisher=The Lugar Center |location=Washington, D.C.}}{{cite news |title=The Lugar Center and Georgetown University's McCourt School Unveil Final Bipartisan Index Rankings for the 116th Congress (2019-2020) |url=https://mccourt.georgetown.edu/news/the-lugar-center-and-georgetown-universitys-mccourt-school-unveil-final-bipartisan-index-rankings-for-the-116th-congress-2019-2020/ |access-date=February 29, 2024 |publisher=McCourt School of Public Policy |date=May 3, 2021}} GovTrack noted that of the 157 bills Gardner cosponsored in 2017, 41% were introduced by legislators who were not Republican.{{cite news |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/cory_gardner/412406/report-card/2017|title=Sen. Cory Gardner's 2017 Report Card|publisher=GovTrack|location=Washington, D.C.|date=January 6, 2018 |access-date=July 2, 2018}}

Gardner identifies as pro-life and opposes legal abortions in most circumstances. He has also stated that he believes that abortion laws should be left up to the states.{{cite news |last1=Wingerter |first1=Justin |title=Abortion cost Colorado Democrats in 2014. They're counting on defeating Cory Gardner with it in 2020. |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/05/23/cory-gardner-abortion-2020-democrats/ |access-date=30 July 2020 |publisher=The Denver Post |date=May 23, 2019}} In 2006, Gardner opposed legislation to allow pharmacists to prescribe emergency contraception{{cite magazine|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/06/23/cory_gardner_on_contraception_colorado_senate_candidate_supports_over_the.html|title=Why Is This Anti-Contraception Republican in Favor of Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pills?|last1=Marcotte|first1=Amanda|magazine=Slate|access-date=July 13, 2014}} and proposed an amendment to the Colorado state budget to prohibit the state Medicaid plan from purchasing Plan B emergency contraception.{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DP&p_theme=dp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_dispstring=Cory%20Gardner%20AND%20date%2803/31/2006%20to%2003/31/2006%29&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=03/31/2006%20to%2003/31/2006%29&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=%28%22Cory%20Gardner%22%29&xcal_numdocs=50&p_perpage=25&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no|title=Legislature 2006 House gives OK to budget|last1=Couch|first1=Mark P.|date=March 31, 2006|newspaper=The Denver Post|access-date=July 13, 2014}} In 2007, he voted against a bill requiring hospitals to inform survivors of a sexual assault of the availability of emergency contraception.{{cite web|url=http://kdvr.com/2014/06/19/planned-parenthood-joins-chorus-attacking-gardner-on-personhood|title=Gardner, under fire on personhood, suggests making birth control available over the counter|date=June 19, 2014|publisher=Fox 31 Denver|access-date=July 15, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont/1F793DB59E15039A87257251007C3BA1?Open&file=060_enr.pdf|title=Senate Bill 07-690|access-date=November 24, 2014}}

In 2012, Gardner co-sponsored the controversial so-called "personhood" legislation titled the Life Begins at Conception Act.{{cite web |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/cory-gardner-personhood-colorado-senate-election-2014-104963.html |title=Cory Gardner changes stance on personhood |date=March 24, 2014 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=July 12, 2014}} Gardner later said that he changed his mind on personhood after listening to voters.{{cite web |url=http://kdvr.com/2014/06/17/gop-preempts-new-udall-tv-ad-attacking-gardner-on-personhood |title=Udall hits Gardner on personhood; Gardner, GOP hit back at 'divisive' attacks |date=June 17, 2014 |publisher=Fox 31 Denver |access-date=July 12, 2014}} According to The Denver Post, "Gardner conceded that with his new position on personhood, he might be accused of flip-flopping simply to make himself more palatable to statewide voters."{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_25395470/senate-bombshell-cory-gardner-says-cant-support-personhood|title=Cory Gardner changes position on personhood issue|last1=Bartels|first1=Lynn|newspaper=The Denver Post|access-date=July 12, 2014}} The nonpartisan Factcheck.org said "It would be clearer to say that Gardner supports efforts to ban abortion that could also ban some forms of birth control. As for his change of position, voters in Colorado should know Gardner still supports a federal bill that would prompt the same concerns over birth control as the state measure he says he rejects on the same grounds."Factcheck.org. August 15, 2014. [http://www.factcheck.org/2014/08/a-fight-over-birth-control-in-colorado], Factcheck.org; retrieved October 27, 2014. In 2014, Gardner called for over-the-counter access to oral contraceptives and said the birth control pill would be safer and cheaper if it was available over the counter.{{cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_25995739/women-should-be-able-buy-pill-without-prescription|title=Cory Gardner: Women should be able to buy the pill without a prescription|last1=Gardner|first1=Cory|date=June 19, 2014|access-date=July 11, 2014|newspaper=The Denver Post}}{{cite news |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/05/23/cory-gardner-abortion-2020-democrats/ |title=Abortion cost Colorado Democrats in 2014. They're counting on defeating Cory Gardner with it in 2020. |last=Wingerter |first=Justin |newspaper=The Denver Post |access-date=July 17, 2019}}

In the 2016 presidential election, Gardner initially endorsed Donald Trump.{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/cory-gardner-donald-trump-colorado-227085|title=Colorado Sen. Gardner backs Trump|last=Lima|first=Cristiano|website=Politico|date=August 16, 2016 |language=en|access-date=December 8, 2019}} In October, however, after the release of the Access Hollywood tape, Gardner said he would not vote for him, whom he called "a candidate whose flaws are beyond mere moral shortcomings and who shows a disgust for American character and a disdain for dignity unbecoming of the Presidency. I cannot and will not support someone who brags about degrading and assaulting women."{{cite web | url = https://www.kktv.com/content/news/Senator-Cory-Gardner-says-Trump-should-step-aside-396411841.html | title = Senator Cory Gardner says Trump should 'step aside' | date = Oct 8, 2016 | website = kktv.com | publisher = KKTV | access-date = 2020-08-14}} Nevertheless, in the 2020 presidential election, Gardner endorsed Trump.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/01/30/cory-gardner-supporting-trump-re-election-bid/|title=U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner tells outlet he's supporting President Donald Trump's re-election in 2020|date=January 31, 2019|website=The Denver Post|language=en-US|access-date=December 8, 2019}} Gardner voted with Trump 89% of the time during Trump's tenure as president. Gardner tied his 2020 reelection bid to the president.{{Cite web|url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/cory-gardner/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627164741/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/cory-gardner/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 27, 2017|title=Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump|last=Bycoffe|first=Aaron|date=January 30, 2017|website=FiveThirtyEight|language=en|access-date=December 8, 2019}} Trump's role was seen as posing a dilemma for Gardner; distancing himself from Trump risked angering some Republican voters and donors, but Trump was very unpopular with Democrats and independents.{{cite web

| url = https://coloradosun.com/2019/12/11/cory-gardner-donald-trump-2020-senate-colorado/

| title = Does Cory Gardner have a breaking point when it comes to Trump? The political climate suggests he better not. | last = Paul | first = Jesse | date = Dec 11, 2019 | website = coloradosun.com | publisher = The Colorado Sun | access-date = 2020-08-14 }}{{cite web

| url = https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cory-gardner-donald-trump-senate-campaign-ad-colorado_n_5f358a9ac5b64cc99fe40abd | title = Cory Gardner Runs Pro-Trump Facebook Ad Being Seen Everywhere — Except In Colorado | last = Terkel | first = Amanda | date = Aug 14, 2020 | website = huffpost.com | publisher = HuffPost | access-date = 2020-08-14}} A Gardner advertisement on Facebook touting his close relationship with Trump did not run in the state.

In 2017, Gardner criticized Trump's response to the Unite the Right rally, writing, "Mr. President—we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism." He also differed with Trump on some trade and foreign policy issues. In January 2018, he signed a letter urging the president to preserve and modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/finance/371492-senate-republicans-call-on-trump-to-preserve-nafta/|title=Senate Republicans call on Trump to preserve NAFTA|date=January 30, 2018|first=Vicki|last=Needham|newspaper=The Hill}} In March 2018, he criticized Trump for imposing a 10% tariff on aluminum imports and a 25% tariff on steel imports, arguing that they would lead to a trade war that would threaten the American economy, particularly agriculture. "I am concerned that a tariff can result in a tax on the very same people that we are trying to help in this economy," he said.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/economy/cory-gardner-asks-trump-to-work-with-congress-on-tariffs-to-avoid-a-trade-war |title=Cory Gardner asks Trump to work with Congress on tariffs to avoid a trade war |last=Feldscher |first=Kyle |date=March 11, 2018 |magazine=The Washington Examiner |access-date=July 17, 2019}} In June 2019 Gardner again expressed concern over Trump's threats to impose tariffs on goods entering the United States from overseas. He argued that such tariffs would result in "a 1.1% tax increase for the lowest 20% of income earners; a 0.3% increase for those in the middle; and a zero net change for the upper middle class." Gardner said that by implementing harsh tariff policies America would be "turning [its] backs on American workers and consumers."{{cite news |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/06/07/cory-gardner-trump-tariffs/ |title=Cory Gardner slams Trump tariffs: "Turning our backs on American workers and consumers" |last=Wingerter |first=Justin |date=June 7, 2019 |newspaper=The Denver Post |access-date=July 17, 2019}}

In January 2019, Gardner was one of 11 Republican senators to vote to advance legislation intended to prevent Trump from lifting sanctions against 3 Russian companies.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/425506-senate-advances-measure-bucking-trump-on-russia-sanctions/|title=Senate advances measure bucking Trump on Russia sanctions|author=Carney, Jordain|date=January 15, 2019|newspaper=The Hill}} In January 2019, following a report that Trump had expressed interest in withdrawing from NATO several times during the previous year, Gardner was one of eight senators to reintroduce legislation to prevent Trump from withdrawing the United States from NATO by imposing a requirement of a two-thirds approval from the Senate for a president to suspend, terminate or withdraw American involvement with it.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/425938-bipartisan-senators-reintroduce-bill-to-prevent-trump-from-withdrawing-from/|title=Bipartisan senators reintroduce bill to prevent Trump from withdrawing from NATO|last=Kheel|first=Rebecca|date=January 17, 2019|newspaper=The Hill}} Gardner criticized Trump for perceived softness in dealing with North Korea. "The president has, I'm afraid, taken pressure off of North Korea. He believes it's a way for him to negotiate with Kim Jong Un. I believe it's a rope-a-dope." In April 2019, Gardner was one of 12 senators to sign a bipartisan letter to top senators on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development advocating that the Energy Department be granted maximum funding for carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), arguing that American job growth could be stimulated by investment in capturing carbon emissions and expressing disagreement with Trump's 2020 budget request to combine the two federal programs that do carbon capture research.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/437618-bipartisan-group-of-senators-request-highest-possible-funding-for/|title=Bipartisan senators want 'highest possible' funding for carbon capture technology|first=Miranda|last=Green|date=April 5, 2019|newspaper=The Hill}}

Gardner signed the Americans for Tax Reform's Taxpayer Protection Pledge.{{cite web|url=http://s3.amazonaws.com/atrfiles/files/files/091411-federalpledgesigners.pdf|title=The Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers 112th Congressional List|publisher=Americans for Tax Reform|access-date=November 30, 2011}} He supports legislation to require that the United States Federal Reserve be audited.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fed-politics-idUSKBN0FF0C420140710|title=Fed independence questioned as Republicans ramp up pressure|date=July 10, 2014|work=Reuters|access-date=July 14, 2014}} In July 2014, Gardner introduced legislation to reform the Earned Income Tax Credit program. The legislation seeks to reduce fraud in the program and dedicate the savings to increasing the credit for working families.{{cite web|url=http://krai.com/gardner-bill-improve-eitc-program/#more-21324|title=Gardner Bill Would Improve EITC Program|date=July 11, 2014|publisher=KRAI|access-date=July 14, 2014}}

In February 2019, Gardner was one of 20 senators to sponsor the Employer Participation in Repayment Act, enabling employers to contribute up to $5,250 to the student loans of their employees.{{cite news|url=https://wtkr.com/2019/02/13/warner-thune-introduce-legislation-to-address-student-debt-crisis/|title=Warner, Thune introduce legislation to address student debt crisis|first=Julia|last=Varnier|date=February 13, 2019|publisher=wtkr.com}}

Gardner has acknowledged the existence of climate change while downplaying the contribution of human activity. He has repeatedly voted against measures to reduce or regulate greenhouse gas emissions, including the Clean Power Plan,{{cite web |last1=Salzman |first1=Jason |title=In Election Year Shift, Cory Gardner Calls Himself a "National Leader" on Climate Change |url=https://coloradotimesrecorder.com/2020/03/gardner-now-calls-himself-a-national-leader-on-climate/21647/ |website=Colorado Times Recorder |date=5 March 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Fahys |first1=Judy |title=Senate 2020: In Colorado, Where Climate Matters, Hickenlooper is Favored to Unseat Gardner |url=https://insideclimatenews.org/news/18092020/senate-2020-colorado-climate-wildfire-cory-gardner-john-hickenlooper |website=InsideClimate News |date=20 September 2020}} and has received over $1 million in donations from the oil and gas industry.{{cite web |last1=Paul |first1=Jesse |title=Cory Gardner's science award led some to cry foul over climate change. Here's why that's notable for 2020. |url=https://coloradosun.com/2018/12/12/cory-gardner-climate-change-stance/ |website=The Colorado Sun |date=December 12, 2018}}{{cite web |title=Sen. Cory Gardner - Campaign Finance Summary |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/summary?cid=N00030780&cycle=CAREER&type=I |website=OpenSecrets |language=en}} He holds an 11% lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters.{{cite web |title=Cory Gardner Scorecard |url=https://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/cory-gardner |website=League of Conservation Voters |access-date=20 September 2020}} Gardner supports construction of the Keystone Pipeline and is pro-fracking.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/colorado-energys-continental-divide-106541.html|title=Keystone and the Udall-Gardner race|last1=Restuccia|first1=Andrew|access-date=September 5, 2014|publisher=Politico}}{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/10/colorado-2014-election-mark-udall-cory-gardner-debate-111636 |title=High drama in Colorado debate |last=Hohmann |first=James |date=October 6, 2014 |publisher=Politico|access-date=July 17, 2019}}

Shortly after taking office in the House of Representatives, Gardner passed legislation to speed up clean-air permits for companies engaged in offshore drilling in Alaska, saying it would create jobs and reduce dependence on foreign oil.{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/morning_call/2011/06/house-passes-gardner-bill-on-offshore.html |title=House passes Gardner bill on offshore drilling |date=June 23, 2011 |newspaper=Denver Business Journal |access-date=January 10, 2012}}{{cite news |url=http://gardner.house.gov/press-release/rep-gardner%E2%80%99s-jobs-and-permitting-act-passes-house |title=Rep. Gardner's Jobs and Permitting Act Passes House |date=June 22, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111226074750/http://gardner.house.gov/press-release/rep-gardner%E2%80%99s-jobs-and-permitting-act-passes-house |archive-date=December 26, 2011 |url-status=dead}} In 2013, he introduced a bill to allow the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review solid waste regulations at its discretion, rather than automatically every 3 years.{{cite news|url=http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/303959-bills-boosting-states-environmental-oversight-pass-first-hurdle|title=Bills boosting states' environmental oversight pass first hurdle|last=Hattem|first=Julian|date=June 6, 2013|newspaper=The Hill|access-date=January 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107195951/http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/303959-bills-boosting-states-environmental-oversight-pass-first-hurdle|archive-date=January 7, 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/194190-house-to-start-2014-with-bill-reining-in-epa/|title=House to start 2014 with bill curbing EPA|last=Kasperowicz|first=Pete|date=December 31, 2013|newspaper=The Hill|access-date=January 7, 2014}} It would also grant precedence to state requirements for solid waste disposal when creating new federal requirements.

In 2018, Gardner and Senator Michael Bennet introduced bills requiring the U.S. Energy Department to identify vulnerabilities to cyberattacks in the nation's electrical power grid and assigning $90 million to be distributed to states to develop energy security plans.{{Cite web|url=https://the-journal.com/articles/119329|title=Senators' bills aim to protect power grid from cyberattacks|date=December 3, 2018|website=The Journal|language=en|access-date=December 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228035515/https://the-journal.com/articles/119329|archive-date=December 28, 2018|url-status=dead}} In 2020, Gardner introduced the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act, which passed with 58 co-sponsors,{{Cite news|last=Hulse|first=Carl|date=2020-06-08|title=Senate Moves Toward Preserving Public Lands, and Political Careers|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/08/us/politics/senate-public-lands.html|access-date=2020-06-10|issn=0362-4331}} providing full and permanent funding of $900 million a year for the Land and Water Conservation Fund to aid national parks and public lands.{{cite news|url=https://www.havredailynews.com/story/2019/09/19/local/tester-daines-push-for-full-funding-of-conservation-fund/525475.html|title=Tester, Daines push for full funding of conservation fund|date=September 19, 2019|publisher=Havre Daily News}}

In September 2016, Gardner was one of 34 senators to sign a letter to United States Secretary of State John Kerry advocating that the United States clearly enforce "a legally binding Security Council Resolution" by using "all available tools to dissuade Russia from continuing its airstrikes in Syria that are clearly not in our interest".{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/296603-gop-pressures-kerry-on-russias-use-of-iranian-airbase/|title=GOP pressures Kerry on Russia's use of Iranian airbase|last=Kheel|first=Rebecca|date=September 19, 2016|newspaper=The Hill}} In September 2017, Gardner co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S.270), which made it a federal crime, punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment,{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/07/senate-bill-would-make-it-a-federal-crime-to-boycott-israel.html|title=43 Senators Want to Make It a Federal Crime to Boycott Israeli Settlements|last=Levitz|first=Eric|date=July 19, 2017|website=New York Intelligencer|language=en}} for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories if protesting actions by the Israeli government.{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/720/cosponsors|title=Cosponsors - S.720 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Israel Anti-Boycott Act|date=March 23, 2017|website=www.congress.gov}} In April 2018, Gardner was one of eight Republican senators to sign a letter to United States Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin and acting Secretary of State John Sullivan expressing "deep concern" over a United Nations report that exposed "North Korean sanctions evasion involving Russia and China", saying that the findings "demonstrate an elaborate and alarming military-venture between rogue, tyrannical states to avoid United States and international sanctions and inflict terror and death upon thousands of innocent people", and calling it "imperative that the United States provides a swift and appropriate response to the continued use of chemical weapons used by President Assad and his forces, and works to address the shortcomings in sanctions enforcement."{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/defense/383085-key-senators-warn-trump-of-north-korea-effort-on-syria/|title=Key senators warn Trump of North Korea effort on Syria|author=Mitchell, Ellen|date=April 13, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}}

In September 2018, Gardner was one of five senators to sign a letter to United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging him to employ more multifactor authentication measures to secure the State Department's information systems and seeking answers on how the department would boost its security following the Office of Management and Budget's designation of the department's cyber-readiness as "high risk", what the department would do to address the lack of multifactor authentication required by law, and statistics on the department's cyber incidents over the last 3 years.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/406254-bipartisan-senators-urge-state-department-to-employ-basic-cybersecurity/ |title=Bipartisan group of senators urge State to employ basic cybersecurity measures |author=Bevears, Olivia |date=September 12, 2018 |newspaper=The Hill}} In December 2018, Gardner voted against ending U.S. military support to the Saudi Arabian-led coalition in the Yemen war.{{cite news|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/12/13/cory-gardner-vote-saudi-arabia/|title=Cory Gardner votes against ending U.S. backing for Saudi war, but for condemning crown prince|author=Staver, Anna|date=December 13, 2015|work=The Denver Post}} He said that Saudi Arabia "is a country in a critical part of the region that has played a key role in our work protecting Israel."{{cite news|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/12/07/cory-gardner-jamal-khashoggi-saudi-prince/|title=Cory Gardner believes Saudi prince had Jamal Khashoggi killed but he's against ending military aid|author=Staver, Anna|date=December 7, 2018|work=The Denver Post}} In March 2019, Gardner voted against the resolution again, saying it would have empowered Iran.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/03/13/gardner-bennet-yemen-saudi-arabia/|title=Cory Gardner votes to keep helping Saudi Arabia in Yemen; Michael Bennet votes to stop|author=Wingerter, Justin|date=March 13, 2019|website=The Denver Post|language=en-US|access-date=March 15, 2019}} In January 2019, Gardner joined Rubio, Jim Risch, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in introducing legislation to impose sanctions on the government of President of Syria Bashar al-Assad and bolster American cooperation with Israel and Jordan.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/defense/423898-senate-poised-to-rebut-trump-on-syria/|title=Senate poised to rebut Trump on Syria|last=Carney|first=Jordain|date=January 4, 2019|newspaper=The Hill}}

Gardner has said that he opposes gun control and that action to prevent gun violence cannot violate constitutional protections.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/08/politics/cory-gardner-gun-control-senate-race/index.html|title=Coloradans push Gardner on gun control ahead of marquee Senate race|first=Clare |last=Foran |others=Photographs by Rachel Woolf |website=CNN|date=September 8, 2019|access-date=April 17, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.aspentimes.com/news/local/at-aspen-event-sen-cory-gardner-condemns-white-supremacy-in-aftermath-of-killings/|title=At Aspen event, Sen. Cory Gardner condemns white supremacy in aftermath of killings|last=Carroll|first=Rick|website=www.aspentimes.com|date=August 6, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=April 17, 2020}} In 2016, Gardner voted against the Feinstein Amendment, which sought to ban gun sales to anyone who had been placed on the terrorist watch list for the last five years. He also opposed an amendment making it necessary for background checks to take place for guns bought at gun shows and online.{{cite web|url=http://www.cpr.org/news/story/4-gun-control-measures-fail-how-colorados-senators-voted|title=4 Gun Control Measures Fail: How Colorado's Senators Voted|last1=Verlee|first1=Megan|website=Colorado Public Radio|language=en|access-date=October 4, 2017}}

Gardner opposes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and has voted to repeal it.{{Cite web|url=https://politi.co/2V5bFmz|title=The silver-tongued GOP star in danger of losing his job|last=Everett|first=Burgess|website=Politico|date=April 30, 2019 |language=en|access-date=May 7, 2019}} Gardner was part of the group of 13 Republican senators drafting the Senate version of the American Health Care Act, which would have repealed and replaced the Affordable Care Act.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/05/politics/senate-republican-health-care-men/index.html |title=GOP defends having no women in health care group|last1=Bash|first1=Dana|last2=Fox|first2=Lauren|date=May 9, 2017|website=CNN|access-date=June 14, 2017 |last3=Barrett|first3=Ted}} He voted in favor of all variations of AHCA that came up for a vote in the Senate.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/25/us/politics/senate-votes-repeal-obamacare.html |title=How Each Senator Voted on Obamacare Repeal Proposals|last1=Parlapiano|first1=Alicia|date=July 25, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 23, 2017|last2=Andrews|first2=Wilson |language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|last3=Lee|first3=Jasmine C.|last4=Shorey|first4=Rachel}} The New York Times reported that in September 2017, when the GOP made another attempt to pass legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Gardner warned Republican legislators at a closed luncheon that failure to pass any repeal legislation would lead to a backlash by big donors to Republicans, as well as the grassroots.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/us/politics/republican-donors-obamacare-repeal.html |title=Behind New Obamacare Repeal Vote: 'Furious' G.O.P. Donors |last=Hulse|first=Carl |date=September 22, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 23, 2017|language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} In January 2019, Gardner was one of six senators to cosponsor the Health Insurance Tax Relief Act, delaying the Health Insurance Tax for 2 years.{{cite news|url=https://www.mychamplainvalley.com/news/local-news/shaheen-introduces-bill-that-would-delay-health-insurance-tax/1713236203|title=Shaheen introduces bill that would delay health insurance tax|date=January 21, 2019|publisher=mychamplainvalley.com}} In 2011, Gardner voted for the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, which states that "nothing in the Affordable Care Act shall be construed to authorize a health plan to require a provider to provide, participate in, or refer for a specific item or service contrary to the provider's religious beliefs or moral convictions."{{cite web|url=http://kdvr.com/2014/06/19/planned-parenthood-joins-chorus-attacking-gardner-on-personhood|title=Gardner, under fire on personhood, suggests making birth control available over the counter|date=June 19, 2014|publisher=Fox 31 Denver|access-date=July 12, 2014}}

Gardner voted for the 2012 Ryan budget plan which would have begun the process of privatizing Medicare.{{cite news |title=House Vote 277 – Passes Ryan Budget Bill |newspaper=The New York Times |url=http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/112/house/1/277 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714020137/http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/112/house/1/277 |archive-date=July 14, 2012}}{{cite news |last1=Marcos |first1=Cristina |date=April 10, 2014 |title=Dems target House GOP Senate hopefuls after Ryan vote |newspaper=The Hill |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/203217-dems-target-house-gop-senate-hopefuls-after-ryan-vote/ |access-date=September 5, 2014}} In October 2019, Gardner was one of 27 senators to sign a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer advocating the passage of the Community Health Investment, Modernization, and Excellence (CHIME) Act, which was set to expire the following month. The senators warned that if the funding for the Community Health Center Fund (CHCF) was allowed to expire, it "would cause an estimated 2,400 site closures, 47,000 lost jobs, and threaten the health care of approximately 9 million Americans."{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-working-to-extend-long-term-funding-for-community-health-centers/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Working to Extend Long Term Funding for Community Health Centers|date=October 23, 2019|publisher=Urban Milwaukee}} In 2013, Gardner announced that he would introduce a bill to prohibit executives of state healthcare exchanges from getting bonuses.Martin, Aaron. [http://riponadvance.com/news/gardner-bill-curb-aca-compensation/5840 "Gardner bill would curb ACA compensation"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20140214223103/http://riponadvance.com/news/gardner-bill-curb-aca-compensation/5840 |date=February 14, 2014 }}, RiponAdvance.com; retrieved February 14, 2014.

In 2019, Gardner was described by Politico as "reliably conservative on most issues other than immigration." Gardner is typically moderate on immigration policy; in 2019 the National Immigration Forum, an immigrant advocacy group, honored him and Democratic U.S. Senator Dick Durbin for their bipartisan immigration work.{{Cite web|url=https://www.coloradoindependent.com/2019/11/07/cory-gardner-immigration-dream-act-border/|title=Gardner talks immigration reform, but stays mum on Trump policies|last=Bravender|first=Robin|date=November 7, 2019|website=The Colorado Independent|language=en-US|access-date=April 17, 2020}} In August 2014, Gardner voted against a bill that would have dismantled the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/01/house-bill-daca_n_5643287.html|title=House Votes To Strip Deportation Relief From Dreamers|last1=Foley|first1=Elise|date=August 1, 2014|access-date=September 4, 2014|work=HuffPost}} He has said that he supports immigration reform in the form of a guest worker program and increased border security.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/08/28/343900791/colo-democrats-bet-on-immigration-to-boost-udalls-re-election-bid|title=Colo. Democrats Bet On Immigration To Boost Udall's Re-Election Bid|last1=Siegler|first1=Kirk|access-date=September 4, 2014|publisher=NPR}} Gardner criticized Trump's 2017 executive order to impose a ban on travel to the U.S. by citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, saying: "While I am supportive of strengthening our screening processes and securing our borders, a blanket travel ban goes too far. I also believe that lawful residents of the United States should be permitted to enter the country. I urge the Administration to take the appropriate steps to fix this overly broad executive order."{{cite web|last1=Blake|first1=Aaron|title=Whip Count: Here's where Republicans stand on Trump's controversial travel ban |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/29/heres-where-republicans-stand-on-president-trumps-controversial-travel-ban|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 31, 2017}}

In June 2018, Gardner was one of 13 Republican senators to sign a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions requesting a moratorium on the Trump administration family separation policy while Congress drafted legislation.{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/393108-dozen-gop-senators-ask-administration-to-pause-separation-of/|title=13 GOP senators ask administration to pause separation of immigrant families|author=Carney, Jordain|date=June 19, 2018|newspaper=The Hill}} In March 2019, Gardner voted for Trump's national emergency declaration on the creation of a southern border wall (which allows Trump to take funding from other government functions in order to spend them on a border wall). Majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate (where 12 Republican senators joined with Democrats) voted to overturn Trump's national emergency declaration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/03/14/cory-gardner-trump-border-wall-immigration/|title=Cory Gardner votes to uphold Trump's border emergency declaration; Michael Bennet votes to block it|author=Wingerter, Justin|date=March 14, 2019|website=The Denver Post|language=en-US|access-date=March 14, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/politics/sen-cory-gardner-votes-against-overturning-trumps-emergency-border-declaration|title=Sen. Gardner votes against overturning Trump declaration|date=March 14, 2019|website=KMGH|language=en|access-date=March 14, 2019}} The Denver Post rescinded its 2014 endorsement of Gardner, citing his vote on Trump's national emergency declaration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2019/03/14/cory-gardner-endorsement-mistake/|title=Editorial: Our endorsement of Cory Gardner was a mistake|date=March 15, 2019|website=The Denver Post|language=en-US|access-date=March 15, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/434185-denver-post-editorial-board-says-gardner-endorsement-was-mistake/|title=Denver Post editorial board says Gardner endorsement was 'mistake'|last=Axelrod|first=Tal|date=March 14, 2019|website=The Hill|language=en|access-date=May 7, 2019}}

Gardner opposes net neutrality, calling the regulations "brazen abuse of power and overreach."{{cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/12/14/colorado-congress-net-neutrality/|title=Where Colorado's 9 members of Congress stand on net neutrality|last1=Chuang|first1=Tamara|date=December 14, 2017|website=The Denver Post|access-date=May 16, 2018}} On May 16, 2018, he voted against The Congressional Review Act, a bill to reinstate net neutrality.{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/387985-senate-votes-to-save-net-neutrality-rules/|title=Senate votes to save net neutrality rules|last1=Lejeune|first1=Tristan|date=May 16, 2018|website=The Hill|language=en|access-date=May 16, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2018/05/16/senate-net-neutrality-vote-would-overturn-fccs-lighter-touch-plan/615801002/|title=Senate votes for net neutrality return, but major hurdles remain|last1=Snider|first1=Mike|website=USA Today|access-date=May 16, 2018}} In March 2017, Gardner voted for the Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal, which repealed the FCC's internet privacy rules and allowed internet service providers to sell customers' browsing history without their permission.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timescall.com/ci_30889064/how-will-congressional-votes-internet-privacy-affect-boulder|title=How will the congressional votes on internet privacy affect Boulder, Longmont residents?|author=Antonacci, Karen|date=2017-03-29|website=Longmont Times-Call|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=115&session=1&vote=00094|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 115th Congress - 1st Session|website=www.senate.gov|access-date=2020-04-26}} In May 2020, Gardner voted for an amendment co-sponsored by Senators Steve Daines and Ron Wyden that would have required federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies to obtain federal court warrants when collecting web search engine data from American citizens, nationals, or residents under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).{{Cite web|url=https://theintercept.com/2018/01/20/surveillance-bill-fisa-section-702-donald-trump/|title=Senate Democrats Defend Voting In Line with Donald Trump on NSA Surveillance Bill |website=www.theintercept.com|date=January 20, 2018 |access-date=2020-10-09}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=2&vote=00089|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 116th Congress - 2nd Session|website=www.senate.gov|access-date=2020-10-09}}

Gardner opposes same-sex marriage. In response to the June 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision enshrining a constitutional right to marriage, Gardner reaffirmed his position that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, but conceded "this issue is in the hands of the courts and we must honor their legal decisions."Stokols, Eli. [http://kdvr.com/2014/10/07/gardner-my-views-on-marriage-have-long-been-clear Gardner: 'My views on marriage have long been clear'], kdvr.com; retrieved October 7, 2014. In 2007, then a state representative, Gardner voted against legislation to allow Colorado gay and lesbian couples to adopt children.{{Cite web|title=Cory Gardner's Anti-LGBTQ Record Doesn't Stop Him From Fundraising As A "Pro-LGBTQ Republican"|url=https://coloradotimesrecorder.com/2019/05/cory-gardners-anti-lgbtq-record-doesnt-stop-him-from-fundraising-as-a-pro-lgbtq-republican/15713/|last=Maulbetsch|first=Erik|date=2019-05-16|website=Colorado Times Recorder|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://denver.cbslocal.com/2014/05/23/shifting-views-on-gay-marriage-now-favor-democrats/|title=Shifting Views On Gay Marriage Now Favor Democrats|date=May 23, 2014|language=en-US|access-date=April 17, 2020}} In 2012, Gardner voted to renew the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA), which reauthorized the bill and expanded protections for Native Americans, immigrants, and gays and lesbians.{{cite news|last1=Bartels|first1=Lynn|title=Rep. Cory Gardner is praised by Planned Parenthood?|newspaper=The Denver Post|url=http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2014/03/28/cory-gardner-plannedparenthood/107325/|access-date=July 15, 2014}} In 2015, Gardner voted against giving same-sex partners access to the Social Security and veterans benefits earned by their spouses.

After the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September 2020, Gardner said he would vote to confirm a "qualified" nominee to replace her.{{cite news |last1=Paul |first1=Jesse |title=Cory Gardner says he will vote to confirm a "qualified" replacement for Ruth Bader Ginsburg |url=https://coloradosun.com/2020/09/21/cory-gardern-ruth-bader-ginsburg-replacement/ |access-date=7 October 2020 |work=The Colorado Sun |date=September 21, 2020}} He did not say whether he supported holding a confirmation vote before the November presidential election. In 2016, after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, Gardner said the Senate should delay confirming justices so close to a presidential election.{{cite news |last1=Desjardins |first1=Lisa |title=What every Republican senator has said about filling a Supreme Court vacancy in an election year |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/what-every-republican-senator-has-said-about-filling-a-supreme-court-vacancy-in-an-election-year |access-date=September 27, 2020 |work=PBS NewsHour |date=September 22, 2020}}

In 2012, Gardner opposed Colorado Amendment 64, which legalized recreational marijuana.{{Cite web|title=Will Colorado's 2020 Senate Chase Include A Cannabis Industry Endorsement?|url=https://www.cpr.org/2019/10/04/will-colorados-2020-senate-chase-include-a-cannabis-industry-endorsement/|last=Birkeland|first=Bente|website=Colorado Public Radio|language=en|access-date=2020-04-23}} Since that time, he has come to support legalizing marijuana. In 2019, Playboy called him "the potential cannabis power broker in this Congress."{{cite news|last1=Laslo|first1=Matt|date=November 1, 2019|title=How a Republican Senator Became the Biggest Cannabis Power Broker in Congress|publisher=Playboy|url=https://www.playboy.com/read/cory-gardner-cannabis|access-date=27 May 2020}} In January 2018, Gardner criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions for announcing a crackdown on marijuana dispensaries around the country, which he said was contrary to what Sessions had told him during his confirmation hearing. In response, Gardner placed a temporary hold on some of Trump's judicial nominees.{{cite news|last1=Tumulty|first1=Karen|last2=Sullivan|first2=Sean|date=January 5, 2018|title='That's the model': Republican Cory Gardner stands up to President Trump|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/thats-the-model-cory-gardner-stands-up-to-president-trump/2018/01/05/b3b9b2b6-f17b-11e7-b3bf-ab90a706e175_story.html|access-date=July 17, 2019}} In 2020, Politico described Gardner as "a champion of the cannabis industry" and "the GOP's most ardent promoter of cannabis in Congress." He has sponsored a bill that would increase the marijuana industry's access to banking and capital and another that would codify federal protections for states that have legalized marijuana.{{cite news|last1=Fertig|first1=Natalie|date=May 23, 2020|title=Cory Gardner's marijuana problem|publisher=Politico|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/23/cory-gardners-marijuana-problem-275029|access-date=27 May 2020}}

In 2019, Gardner introduced the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act, which creates a new nationwide three-digit phone number (988) to connect to a suicide prevention hotline. In addition to funding the new number, the bill requires a strategy report for suicide prevention services for LGBTQ youth, minorities, and rural individuals, among other high-risk groups. The bill unanimously passed the U.S. Senate and was signed into law by Trump in October 2020.{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Caitlyn |title=An 'Astounding Victory' For Suicide Prevention Crafted By Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner |url=https://www.cpr.org/2020/10/17/an-astounding-victory-for-suicide-prevention-crafted-by-colorado-sen-cory-gardner/ |access-date=19 October 2020 |work=Colorado Public Radio |date=October 17, 2020 |language=en}}

{{Election box begin|title=Colorado District 63 election, 2006{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=302126|title=CO State House District 63 Race|date=November 7, 2006|publisher=Our Campaigns|access-date=June 14, 2011}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Cory Gardner|votes=15,736|percentage=73%|change=-1%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Democratic Party (US)|candidate=Pauline Artery|votes=5,732|percentage=27%|change=+1%}}{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=Colorado District 63 election, 2008{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=464175|title=CO State House 063 Race|publisher=Our Campaigns|access-date=June 14, 2011}}}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Cory Gardner (incumbent)|votes=22,847|percentage=100%|change=+27%}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Colorado's 4th congressional district election, 2010

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Cory Gardner

|votes = 138,634

|percentage = 52.48

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Betsy Markey (incumbent)

|votes = 109,249

|percentage = 41.35

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Constitution Party (United States)

|candidate = Doug Aden

|votes = 12,312

|percentage = 4.66

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Independent (politician)

|candidate = Ken Waskiewicz

|votes = 3,986

|percentage = 1.51

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 264,181

|percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box gain with party link without swing

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

|loser = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

|title = Colorado's 4th congressional district, 2012

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Cory Gardner (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 200,006

| percentage = 58.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Brandon Shaffer

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| votes = 125,800

| percentage = 36.8

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Josh Gilliland

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| votes = 10,682

| percentage = 3.1

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Doug Aden

| party = Constitution Party (United States)

| votes = 5,848

| percentage = 1.7

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 342,336

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no change

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=United States Senate election in Colorado, 2014{{cite web | url=http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/53335/148826/Web01/en/summary.html | title=Official Results November 4, 2014 General Election | publisher=Colorado Secretary of State | access-date=December 5, 2014}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Cory Gardner

| votes = 983,891

| percentage = 48.21%

| change = +5.72%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Mark Udall (incumbent)

| votes = 944,203

| percentage = 46.26%

| change = -6.54%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = Gaylon Kent

| votes = 52,876

| percentage = 2.59%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Independent (United States)

| candidate = Steve Shogan

| votes = 29,472

| percentage = 1.44%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Independent (United States)

| candidate = Raúl Acosta

| votes = 24,151

| percentage = 1.18%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Unity Party of America

| candidate = Bill Hammons

| votes = 6,427

| percentage = 0.32%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 2,041,020

| percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

| loser = Democratic Party (United States)

| swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title=United States Senate election in Colorado, 2020{{cite web |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/vote/generalBallotOrder.html |work=Colorado Secretary of State |access-date=August 19, 2020 |date=July 13, 2020 |title=2020 General Election Candidate Ballot Order}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = John Hickenlooper

| votes = 1,730,722

| percentage = 53.5%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Cory Gardner (incumbent)

| votes = 1,429,085

| percentage = 44.2%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Libertarian Party (United States)

| candidate = Raymon Doane

| votes = 56,219

| percentage = 1.7%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Approval Voting Party

| candidate = Daniel Doyle

| votes = 9,817

| percentage = 0.3%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Unity Party of America

| candidate = Stephen Evans

| votes = 8,965

| percentage = 0.3%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 0

| percentage = 0.0%

| change =

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 3,234,808

| percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

|loser = Republican Party (United States)

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

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{{commons category}}

• [http://corygardner.com Campaign website]
• {{C-SPAN|623308}}

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{{s-par|us-co-hs}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
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{{s-aft|after=Jon Becker}}

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{{s-par|us-hs}}

{{s-bef|before=Betsy Markey}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
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{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Colorado}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States|years=}}

{{s-aft|after=Heidi Heitkamp|as=Former US Senator}}

{{s-end}}

{{United States senators from Colorado}}

{{USCongRep-start|congresses=112th–116th United States Congresses |state=Colorado}}

{{USCongRep/CO/112}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gardner, Cory}}

Category:1974 births

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Category:American people of Austrian descent

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Category:Colorado State University alumni

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