 He was elected to one four-year term as a member of the New York State Senate representing the 1st District of Suffolk County from 1824 to 1828.Gardiner was a supporter of John Quincy Adams, member of the People's Party, which was opposed to the emerging Democratic Party, led by Andrew Jackson.He later lived at 430 Lafayette Street in Manhanttan, "when that sections was one of the social centres of the city".