Rocky Mountain Values attacks Cory Gardner on health care in TV ad
Sen. Cory Gardner is taking TV hits from a left-leaning group called Rocky Mountain Values, as the incumbent Republican picks up more operatives against him in an already tough race next year.
In the ad buy on major Colorado networks – the organization cited time on Denver TV stations KCNC-CBS4, KMGH-Denver7, KUSA-9News and KDVR-Fox31 – Rocky Mountain Values alleges Gardner represented the interests of health insurers and drug companies instead of Colorado families when he supported the failed repeal of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
The ad features Shelby Yanker of Westminster and her 12-year-old son, Joseph, who has asthma.
You can watch the ad by clicking here.
“Families in Colorado continue to struggle with health care costs,” Alvina Vasquez, the executive director of Rocky Mountain Values, said in a statement. “Meanwhile, Senator Gardner is influenced by big donations from corporate special interests. He isn’t listening to us; regardless of our needs, he continues to make votes that hurt Colorado families. We are raising up the voices of these Colorado families in the hopes that Senator Gardner listens to them, and votes to protect people with pre-existing conditions and access to health care.”
Gardner’s campaign, contacted about the ad push, passed on commenting.
Rocky Mountain Values is an outside political group that’s not required by federal campaign finance laws to disclose its donors. It’s one of handful of liberal issue groups working to replace Gardner with a Democrat, as the party aspires to take the majority in the U.S. Senate next year.
Vasquez is a Democratic operative who last year worked for the election of Gov. Jared Polis.
Several Democrats are running to face Gardner in next year’s election, including former Gov. John Hickenlooper.
In June, Gardner was named a Champion for Children’s Health by the Children’s Hospital Association. His office at the time cited his work on care for children with complex medical conditions, called the ACE Kids Act. The bill was married with a House version and signed into law by President Trump.
“It’s critical that children in Colorado and around the nation have access to quality health care,” Gardner said at the time. “…Whether it’s across state lines or just down the street, every child should be able to receive the medical care that is right for them.”


