Ben Cardin
Benjamin Louis Cardin (born Benjamin Louis Kardonsky October 5, 1943), is an American lawyer and politician serving as the senior United States senator from Maryland, a seat he has held since 2007. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the U.S. representative for Maryland's 3rd congressional district from 1987 to 2007. Cardin served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1967 to 1987 and as its speaker from 1979 to 1987, the youngest person to ever hold the position. In his half-century career as an elected official, he has never lost an election.
Ben Cardin | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2015 | |
| United States Senator from Maryland | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Sarbanes |
| Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee | |
| Assumed office September 27, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Menendez |
| Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee | |
| In office February 3, 2021 – September 27, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Marco Rubio |
| Succeeded by | Jeanne Shaheen |
| Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee | |
| In office February 6, 2018 – February 3, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Jeanne Shaheen |
| Succeeded by | Rand Paul |
| In office January 3, 2015 – April 2, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Risch |
| Succeeded by | Jeanne Shaheen |
| Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee | |
| In office April 2, 2015 – February 6, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Menendez |
| Succeeded by | Bob Menendez |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 3rd district | |
| In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Barbara Mikulski |
| Succeeded by | John Sarbanes |
| 103rd Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates | |
| In office January 6, 1979 – January 3, 1987 | |
| Preceded by | John Hanson Briscoe |
| Succeeded by | Clayton Mitchell |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 42nd district | |
| In office January 6, 1967 – January 3, 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Maurice Cardin |
| Succeeded by | David Shapiro |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Benjamin Louis Cardin October 5, 1943 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Myrna Edelman (m. 1964) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Meyer Cardin (father) |
| Education | University of Pittsburgh (BA) University of Maryland, Baltimore (JD) |
| Signature | |
| Website | Senate website |
Cardin was elected as U.S. Senator to succeed Paul Sarbanes in 2006, defeating Republican Michael Steele, the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, by a margin of 54% to 44%. He was reelected in 2012 taking 56% of the vote. He became Maryland's senior U.S. senator on January 3, 2017, upon Barbara Mikulski's retirement. Cardin won reelection to a third term in 2018, taking 65% of the vote. Cardin will retire rather than run for reelection in 2024.