Senator Ben Cardin announced Monday that he will not seek re-election in 2024.
“I am proud of all I have done for Maryland. I have given my heart and soul to our great state, and I thank Marylanders for trusting me as your representative for all these years.” - Sen. Ben Cardin
This opens up a Maryland Senate seat to a potentially heated Democratic primary next spring.
Cardin was first elected to the Senate in 2006, joining the chamber in January 2007. Prior to the Senate, he represented Maryland's 3rd Congressional district from 1987 until 2007.
Before his election to Congress, Cardin spent nearly two decades in the Maryland House of Delegates including seven years as Speaker of the House.
His Maryland colleague, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, who was just re-elected to his seat last November, released a statement thanking Cardin for his service.
“I salute my friend and our state’s senior Senator Ben Cardin on his extraordinary public service to Maryland and our country. It is a privilege to serve alongside him and in partnership every day for the people of our great state. Senator Cardin is driven by an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of Marylanders, advancing social justice, protecting our environment, and promoting human rights at home and abroad." - Senator Chris Van Hollen
The 79-year-old Senator, who plans to serve out his term until January of 2025, will have spent nearly six decades serving Marylanders when he retires .
Representative Jamie Raskin released the following statement following the announcement.
“After 58 years of integrity-filled public service, where he showed his prodigious work ethic from Annapolis to Washington, Senator Ben Cardin has assembled a remarkable record of advancing the needs and priorities of Maryland. I salute him and have congratulated him on a truly amazing and inspiring career devoted to service of our people and the old-fashioned public values of honesty and decency. I want to thank him, his beloved wife Myrna and their whole family for their outstanding and continuing contributions to our state.” - Rep. Jamie Raskin
