Colorado: Gardner Upped To "Young Gun"

The National Republican Congressional Committee is promoting Colorado state Rep. Cory Gardner to the highest level of its “Young Guns” candidate recruitment and training program, a sign of the confidence party officials have in his bid to unseat Rep. Betsy Markey (D).

The NRCC will announce Monday that Gardner, who is seeking the competitive 4th district in the northern and eastern Colorado, has reached “Young Gun” status, the top echelon in its three-tier program. Gardner is the 24th Republican candidate this cycle to reach Young Gun status.

“Cory Gardner has proven that he is ready to put this seat back in the Republican column,” NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas) said in a statement.

The NRCC is making the announcement on the heels of Gardner effectively winning the Republican nomination Saturday, when he dominated the delegate vote at a 4th district assembly.

Markey, who is one of the best fundraisers among first-term House Democrats, said Saturday at the state Democratic assembly, “If my opponents want to fight me on my record, I say, bring it on.”

CQ Politics presently rates the Colorado 4 race as a tossup.

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