Senator Cory Gardner is focused on empowering people to live better lives through innovation and creativity in public policy, diplomacy, and the economy. Serving as the U.S. Senator from Colorado from 2015-2021, he is among the most respected voices in matters related to energy, technology, cybersecurity, government, geopolitics, and economics.

Believing in common sense solutions and making governmental and economic institutions more accountable to the American people, Sen. Gardner tackles today’s top issues at home and abroad. In speeches, he shares his expertise on pressing topics surrounding American politics and ideals, as well as outlines practical action steps for overcoming a wide range of global challenges, such as strengthening the U.S.’s foreign partnerships and navigating conflicts with China and North Korea. 

A principled leader who is not afraid to work across the aisle for solutions to move this country forward, Sen. Gardner began serving in the Colorado House of Representatives in 2005, where he served as the Minority Whip and was widely recognized for his expertise in natural resources, energy, and agriculture policy. He was a champion of common-sense fiscal policy and creative transportation solutions. Sen. Garnder was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010, serving as a member of the Majority Whip Team, House Energy Action Team, and House Transition team. He also served as a member of the Speaker’s group. His legislative efforts focused on renewable and traditional energy, technology and cybersecurity, government reform and accountability, and protecting our nation’s resources. 

After two successful terms in the House, Sen. Gardner ran for the United States Senate in 2014, where he served until 2021. During his time in the Senate, Sen. Gardner served on the Foreign Relations Committee, the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (serving as Chair of the Water subcommittee for two years), and Chaired the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity. He also served on the Small Business and Budget Committees. During his tenure as Chairman of the Asia Subcommittee, Sen. Gardner became the Senate’s leading voice in our great power competition between with China, and U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific. His legislation, the landmark Asia Reassurance Initiative Act, created a generational framework for the U.S. approach to a free and open Indo-Pacific and has already delivered $5 billion in our effort to develop economic opportunities, strengthen defense, and promote democracy in Asia. Sen. Gardner led the effort to impose the first ever mandatory sanctions against North Korea, as the regime continues to be a leading abuser of human rights and its reckless advancement of nuclear weapons threatens our national security.

As the author of the Great American Outdoors Act, Sen. Gardner secured passage of “the holy grail” of conservation legislation. This bill will permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a goal first established by President John F. Kennedy, and provide billions of dollars in funding to our National Parks. The Great American Outdoors act is the most significant conservation bill to pass Congress in over 50 years.

Sen. Gardner was consistently ranked the most effective member of the Colorado delegation and was perennially in the top five most-bipartisan Senators for his efforts to build consensus, elevate the tenor of debate, practice civility, and advance legislation on pressing issues.

During his tenure in the Senate, Sen. Gardner had more legislation signed into law than the entire Colorado delegation combined. In addition to his notable work in foreign policy and technology, Sen. Gardner is a national leader on energy efficiency initiatives and founded a bipartisan energy efficiency caucus in the House.

Sen. Gardner has a record of getting things done for Colorado. He played a major role in securing funding to finish the Aurora VA hospital and worked with his colleagues to secure over $300 million dollars for Colorado transportation projects. Believing that leadership closest to the people makes the biggest difference, Sen. Gardner was the architect behind the move of the Bureau of Land Management to western United States which is home to over 99 percent of our nation’s BLM lands.

He currently serves as a member of the Strategic Advisory Group to United Launch Alliance (ULA) and is Chairman of the National Victory Action Fund. 

Sen. Gardner graduated summa cum laude from Colorado State University and received his law degree from the University of Colorado Boulder. Prior to public office, he worked at his family's implement business and the National Corn Growers Association. He later took a position as a Legislative Assistant for Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) and quickly advanced to the role of General Counsel and Legislative Director.

Sen. Gardner is a fifth-generation Coloradan, born and raised in Yuma, a tiny town on the Eastern Plains of Colorado where his family owned a farm implement dealership for over 106 years. He lives in the same prairie house his great-grandparents lived in and that his grandfather called home with his wife Jaime and their three children: Alyson, Thatcher, and Caitlyn.

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