Ben Cardin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ben Cardin
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| United States Senator from Maryland |
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| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Paul Sarbanes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Angela Alsobrooks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 3rd district |
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| In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Barbara Mikulski | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | John Sarbanes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 103rd Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office January 6, 1979 – January 3, 1987 |
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| Preceded by | John Hanson Briscoe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Clayton Mitchell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 42nd district |
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| In office January 6, 1967 – January 3, 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Maurice Cardin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | David Shapiro | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born |
Benjamin Louis Cardin
October 5, 1943 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
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| Political party | Democratic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Myrna Edelman
(m. 1964) |
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| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Meyer Cardin (father) Maurice Cardin (uncle) Jon Cardin (nephew) |
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| Education | University of Pittsburgh (BA) University of Maryland, Baltimore (JD) |
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| Signature |  |
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Benjamin Louis Cardin (born October 5, 1943) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as a U.S. Senator for Maryland from 2007 until 2025. Before that, he was a U.S. representative for Maryland from 1987 to 2007.
Cardin is a member of the Democratic Party. He also served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1967 to 1987. He was even the Speaker (leader) of the House from 1979 to 1987. Ben Cardin has never lost an election in his long political career.
He was first elected as a U.S. Senator in 2006, taking over from Paul Sarbanes. He won against Republican Michael Steele. Cardin became Maryland's senior (longest-serving) U.S. Senator in 2017. He was re-elected in 2012 and 2018, and plans to retire on January 3, 2025.
Early Life and Education
Benjamin Louis Cardin was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His family name used to be "Kardonsky" before it was changed to "Cardin". His grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Russia.
Cardin's grandfather, Benjamin Green, owned a local grocery store. His mother, Dora, was a schoolteacher. His father, Meyer Cardin, was also involved in politics. He served in the Maryland House of Delegates and later became a judge.
Ben Cardin went to City College High School. He graduated in 1961. In 1964, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He then earned a Juris Doctor (law degree) from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1967. He graduated at the top of his class.
Early Political Career
Serving in Maryland's House of Delegates
While still in law school, Cardin was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in November 1966. This was the same seat his uncle, Maurice Cardin, had held. His uncle decided not to run again so Ben could try for the seat.
From 1974 to 1979, Cardin was the chairman of the Ways & Means Committee. This committee deals with taxes and money matters. He then became the Speaker of the House until he left office in 1987. At 35, he was the youngest Speaker in Maryland's history at that time. As Speaker, he helped make changes to Maryland's property tax system, how schools were funded, and rules for elected officials.
U.S. House of Representatives
As a U.S. representative, Ben Cardin worked on money issues, retirement plans, and health care. He helped pass a law in 2001 that allowed people to save more money in their retirement accounts.
He also helped expand Medicare to include important health screenings. These include tests for colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and osteoporosis. He also worked on bills to provide Medicare benefits for long-term illnesses and to ensure coverage for emergency services.
Cardin also supported changes to welfare programs. He helped pass a law in 1999 to increase education and support for foster children aged 18 to 21. He also worked on bills to improve child support and child care tax credits.
He has been recognized for his work on money policies. Worth magazine and Treasury and Risk Management praised him for protecting retirement plans and medical care for older people. He also received high scores from groups like the League of Conservation Voters and the NAACP. This shows his support for environmental protection and civil rights. Cardin voted against the 2002 Iraq Resolution, which allowed military action in Iraq. In 2023, he voted to end the authorization for military force in Iraq.
House Committee Work
Before he became a Senator, Cardin was part of these important committees in the House:
- Member of the Ways and Means Committee.
- He was a top member of the Trade Subcommittee.
- He was also a member of the Human Resources Subcommittee.
- Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
U.S. Senate
As a U.S. Senator, Ben Cardin represents the entire state of Maryland.
Senate Elections
In 2005, Cardin announced he would run for the U.S. Senate seat. This seat was being left by long-time Senator Paul Sarbanes. Cardin won the Democratic primary election in 2006. He then won the general election on November 7, 2006, defeating Republican Michael Steele.
Cardin won re-election easily in 2012 against Republican Dan Bongino and others. He was re-elected for his third term in 2018.
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On May 1, 2023, Cardin announced that he would retire and not run for re-election in 2024.
Time in the Senate
Senator Cardin was present at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, when rioters attacked the building. He was on the Senate floor and had to be quickly moved to a safe place. During the attack, he tweeted, saying that President Donald Trump should tell the protestors to stop. After the Capitol was safe, Cardin joined Congress to confirm the election results. He later said that Trump should be held responsible for the attack.
In 2024, Cardin strongly supported the federal government paying to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The bridge collapsed after a ship crashed into it.
Senate Committee Work
Cardin has served on several important Senate committees:
- Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Committee on Finance (deals with taxes and money)
- Committee on Foreign Relations (deals with relationships with other countries)
- Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
In 2015, Cardin became the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He helped the committee agree on a bill about the U.S.'s involvement in talks with Iran about nuclear technology.
Groups He Belongs To
Cardin is a member of several groups in the Senate, including:
- Senate Oceans Caucus (focuses on ocean issues)
- Senate Military Family Caucus (supports military families)
- Congressional Coalition on Adoption (works on adoption issues)
Legislation He Supported
One law Cardin sponsored is the Affordable College Textbook Act. This bill aims to make college textbooks more affordable for students.
International Experience
Since 1993, Cardin has been a Commissioner on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission). This group works on security and human rights in Europe. He has served as co-chair and chair of this commission multiple times. From 2006 to 2014, he was also the vice president of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly.
Honors and Awards
As of 2016, Cardin is on the board of visitors for the University of Maryland School of Law, where he earned his law degree.
He has also received an honor from another country:
Commander of the Order of the Star of Romania, Romania (June 8, 2017). This is a special award from Romania.
Political Views
Ben Cardin is known for his liberal political views. In 2009, he was one of the senators who most supported President Barack Obama's plans. In 2013, he was rated as one of the most liberal senators. The American Conservative Union gave him a very low score for conservative views.
Agriculture
In 2019, Cardin and other senators asked for an investigation into how the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) was making decisions. They were concerned that the department might be ignoring scientific information.
Death Penalty
Senator Cardin supports the death penalty.
Economy
In 2019, Cardin asked the Federal Trade Commission to look into "non-compete clauses." These are rules that can stop workers from finding new jobs easily. He believes these clauses can hurt workers by limiting their ability to get better pay or working conditions.
Education
In 2007, Cardin supported a plan to create a United States Public Service Academy. This would be like military academies, but for students who want to work in public service. Students would get free education in exchange for working for the government for five years after graduating.
Environment
Cardin has been praised for his work on clean water and restoring important waterways like the Chesapeake Bay.
In 2018, Cardin and other senators supported a resolution about addressing climate change. They agreed with scientific findings and called for strong action.
In 2019, Cardin helped introduce a bill called the Climate Security Act. This bill would create a new group in the State Department to use climate science for national security. It would also bring back a special envoy (representative) for the Arctic region.
Elections
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In 2018, Cardin helped create a bill called the Protect Our Elections Act. This bill would stop foreign countries from owning or controlling companies that run U.S. elections. It would also make these companies tell the government if their foreign ownership changes.
Equal Rights Amendment
Cardin has supported laws that back the Equal Rights Amendment. This amendment aims to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex.
Gun Control
Cardin has an "F" rating from the National Rifle Association, meaning he generally supports stricter gun laws.
In 2013, he supported a ban on large-capacity ammunition devices. After the Orlando nightclub shooting, he questioned why military-style assault weapons were needed by civilians. He also opposed selling assault rifles to the police in the Philippines in 2016.
After the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, Cardin said that "thoughts and prayers" were not enough. He called for changes to gun laws, stating that "Automatic weapons aren't needed to hunt deer or ducks; they're meant to kill people." He also supported banning "bump stocks," which were used in the Las Vegas shooting.
Journalism
In 2019, Cardin helped introduce the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act. This bill would create a memorial in Washington, D.C., to honor journalists, photographers, and broadcasters who have died while doing their jobs.
Healthcare
In 2009, Cardin helped add dental benefits to the State Children's Health Insurance Plan.
In 2019, Cardin and other senators asked for information from the Trump administration about a lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act (ACA). They were concerned that if the ACA was overturned, it would cause big problems for people's health care and state budgets.
He also supported the Community Health Investment, Modernization, and Excellence (CHIME) Act. This act provides funding for community health centers, which are very important for many Americans.
Housing
In 2019, Cardin supported the Section 4 Capacity Building program. This program helps non-profit groups build and improve communities across the country. He was disappointed when President Trump's budget planned to cut this program.
International Policy
In 2011, Cardin supported the idea of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA). This would be a group of elected representatives from around the world to work with the United Nations.
Cardin has often supported strengthening America's relationship with Israel. In 2017, he supported a bill that would penalize businesses that try to boycott Israel. He also supported civilian nuclear cooperation with India.
After protests in Hong Kong in 2014, Cardin helped introduce the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. This act aimed to support Hong Kong's freedom and democracy. He said that the U.S. has a duty to protect human rights.
In 2017, Cardin voted for the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. This law placed sanctions (penalties) on Iran, Russia, and North Korea. He later questioned if the Trump administration was committed to these sanctions.
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In 2017, Cardin spoke out against the violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar. He called for a stronger response to the crisis.
In 2018, Cardin urged the Trump administration to punish Chinese officials for human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim minority in western China. He said that the detention of many Uyghurs in "reeducation" camps needed a strong global response.
Cardin also criticized President Erdoğan's actions in Turkey after a failed coup attempt in 2016.
In 2019, Cardin encouraged President Trump to continue providing foreign aid to Central American countries. He argued that this aid helps improve conditions in those countries, which can reduce migration to the U.S.
Online Privacy
Cardin supports Net Neutrality. This means that internet service providers should treat all data on the internet equally. He also supports laws to fight illegal digital piracy.
Taxes
Cardin is against removing the tax deduction for charitable donations. He supports raising taxes for people who earn higher incomes. He believes this is a way to get more money for the government.
He has also suggested a "Progressive Consumption Tax." This would get rid of income tax for many Americans and replace it with a 10% sales tax on goods and services.
After the "Pandora Papers" were revealed in 2021, showing how some wealthy people hide money, Cardin said it was a "wake-up call." He called for democracies to work together to stop corruption.
Whistleblowers
In 2011, Cardin's plan to update the 1917 Espionage Act caused some concern. Some people worried it would make it harder for government employees to report fraud or abuse.
Israel
Cardin has often supported positions that aim to strengthen America's relationship with Israel. He objected to a UN Security Council resolution that criticized Israeli settlement building. He said that Congress would act against efforts that target Israel.
Cardin supported President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. He said that the U.S. Embassy should be in Jerusalem to reflect this fact.
In 2018, Cardin and Senator Rob Portman proposed the Israel Anti-Boycott Act. This bill would make it illegal for companies to join boycotts against Israel.
Personal Life
Cardin married his high school sweetheart, Myrna Edelman, in 1964. Myrna was a teacher. They have a daughter named Deborah.
In 2002, Cardin's nephew, Jon S. Cardin, was elected as a Delegate to the Maryland House of Delegates. This meant two Cardins were on the ballot in that area. Ben Cardin noted that "The next generation's taking over."
Images for kids
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Ben Cardin's official portrait.
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Ben Cardin's signature.
See also
- List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
