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Ben Cardin

Official portrait, 2024

United States Senator
from Maryland

In office
January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2025

Preceded by

Paul Sarbanes

Succeeded by

Angela Alsobrooks

Senate positions

Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
In office September 27, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Bob Menendez
Succeeded by	Jim Risch
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 (age 81)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Political party

Democratic

Spouse

Myrna Edelman

(m. 1964)

Children

Relatives

Meyer Cardin (father)
Maurice Cardin (uncle)
Jon Cardin (nephew)

Education

University of Pittsburgh (BA)
University of Maryland, Baltimore (JD)

Signature

Benjamin Louis Cardin (born October 5, 1943) is an American lawyer and former politician. He served as a U.S. Senator for Maryland from 2007 until his retirement on January 3, 2025. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Before becoming a senator, he was a U.S. representative for Maryland's 3rd district from 1987 to 2007. Cardin also served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1967 to 1987. He was the Speaker of the House from 1979 to 1987. During his 58 years as an elected official, Ben Cardin never lost an election.

He became Maryland's senior U.S. Senator on January 3, 2017. This happened when Barbara Mikulski retired. Cardin was re-elected in 2012 and 2018. He announced his retirement from politics on May 1, 2023.

Early Life and Education

Benjamin Louis Cardin was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His family name was originally "Kardonsky" before it was changed to "Cardin". His grandparents were Russian Jewish immigrants.

Cardin's maternal grandfather, Benjamin Green, ran a local grocery store. This store later became a wholesale food distribution company. His mother, Dora, was a schoolteacher. His father, Meyer Cardin, also served in the Maryland House of Delegates. He later became a judge in Baltimore.

Cardin attended Baltimore City College and graduated in 1961. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1964. He then earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1967. He graduated first in his class. Cardin became a lawyer in Maryland that same year. He worked in private practice until 1978.

Early Political Career

Serving in the Maryland House of Delegates

While still in law school, Cardin was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in November 1966. He took over the seat previously held by his uncle, Maurice Cardin. His uncle chose not to run again so Ben could seek the position.

Cardin was the chairman of the Ways & Means Committee from 1974 to 1979. After that, he served as the 103rd Speaker of the House. He held this role until he left office in 1987. At 35, he was the youngest Speaker in Maryland's history at that time. As Speaker, he helped reform Maryland's property tax system. He also worked on school funding and ethical rules for elected officials.

U.S. House of Representatives

In 1986, Congresswoman Barbara Mikulski ran for the U.S. Senate. Cardin then ran for her seat in the Maryland's 3rd congressional district. This district included parts of Baltimore and nearby suburbs. Cardin won the Democratic nomination easily. He then won the general election with 79 percent of the vote. He was reelected nine times, always winning with more than 65 percent of the vote.

Cardin was one of the House impeachment managers in 1989. He helped lead the case in the impeachment trial of Judge Walter Nixon.

Representative Cardin speaking in the House in 2006.

In the House, Cardin focused on money matters, retirement plans, and health care. His law to increase how much people could save in their 401k plans and IRAs passed in 2001. He also helped pass a bill to expand Medicare to cover preventive health screenings. These included tests for colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, mammograms, and osteoporosis. He also wrote bills for Medicare prescription drug benefits and emergency services coverage.

Cardin also worked on welfare reform. His bill to help foster children aged 18 to 21 with education and support became law in 1999. He also wrote bills to improve child support and the welfare-to-work program. He also worked to increase the child care tax credit.

Cardin was recognized for his work on financial policy. He received high scores from groups like the League of Conservation Voters and the NAACP. This showed his support for environmental protection and civil rights. Cardin was also one of 133 members of Congress who voted against the 2002 Iraq Resolution. In 2023, he voted with others to end the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Iraq.

Cardin (at podium) with fellow Representatives Roscoe Bartlett and Jo Ann Davis.

House Committee Work

As of May 2006, Cardin served on these House committees:

Member of the Ways and Means Committee.
- He was the top-ranking 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

Senate Elections

2006 Election

On April 26, 2005, Cardin announced he would run for the U.S. Senate seat. This seat was being left by Senator Paul Sarbanes. On September 12, 2006, Cardin won a tough primary election against other Maryland Democrats. He then won the general election on November 7, 2006. He defeated Republican challenger Michael Steele with 54 percent of the vote.

2012 Election

In 2012, Cardin ran for re-election. He faced Republican Dan Bongino and Independent Rob Sobhani. Cardin won the election easily. He received 56% of the votes.

2018 Election

Cardin was re-elected for his third term in 2018.

Cardin with Maryland governor Wes Moore in May 2023.

2024 Retirement

On May 1, 2023, Cardin announced he would retire. He did not seek re-election in 2024. His term ended on January 3, 2025.

Time in the Senate

Cardin was part of the group certifying the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count when the January 6 United States Capitol attack happened. He was on the Senate floor when rioters entered the Capitol. He was quickly moved to a safe place. During the attack, Cardin tweeted that President Donald Trump was encouraging the rioters. He asked Trump to stop them. Cardin also noted the difference in police response compared to Black Lives Matter protests. After the Capitol was secure, Cardin helped certify the vote count. He later said Trump should be held responsible for the attack.

In 2024, Cardin supported federal funding to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The bridge collapsed after a ship hit it.

Senate Committee Work

Cardin served on several important Senate committees:

Committee on Environment and Public Works
Committee on Finance
Committee on Foreign Relations (he was the chair of this committee from September 2023 to January 2025)
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

In 2015, Cardin became the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He helped the committee vote unanimously on a bill about the U.S. involvement in talks with Iran on nuclear technology.

Caucus Memberships

Cardin was a member of several groups in the Senate, including:

Senate Oceans Caucus
Senate Military Family Caucus
Congressional Coalition on Adoption

International Experience

Cardin was a Commissioner on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) since 1993. He served as co-chair and chair 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

Cardin testifying before a U.S. House subcommittee.

As of 2016, Cardin was on the board of visitors for the University of Maryland School of Law. This is where he earned his law degree.

Ben Cardin received an Honorary Degree from the University of Maryland, College Park in May 2025.

He also received an honor from Romania:

Commander of the Order of the Star of Romania, Romania (June 8, 2017)

Political Views

Cardin was known for supporting President Barack Obama's plans. In 2013, he was rated as one of the most liberal senators. The American Conservative Union gave him a low conservative rating in 2020.

Agriculture

In June 2019, Cardin and other senators asked the USDA to investigate issues. They were concerned about possible retaliation and political decisions within the department.

Death Penalty

Senator Cardin supported the death penalty. However, he believed it should only be used for the "worst of the worst" crimes.

Economy

In March 2019, Cardin signed a letter to the Federal Trade Commission. He asked them to stop companies from using "non-compete clauses." These clauses can make it hard for workers to find new jobs.

Education

In 2007, Cardin supported a law to create a United States Public Service Academy. This academy would offer free education to students. In return, students would agree to five years of public service after graduating.

Environment

Cardin was praised for his work on clean water. He worked to restore important waterways like the Chesapeake Bay.

In November 2018, Cardin supported a resolution about climate change. It affirmed senators' acceptance of climate reports and their support for action.

In March 2019, Cardin sponsored the Climate Security Act of 2019. This law would create a new group in the State Department. This group would use climate science to help national security. It would also bring back the special envoy for the Arctic.

Elections

Cardin with Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

In October 2018, Cardin helped create a bill called the Protect Our Elections Act. This bill would stop foreign enemies from owning companies that run U.S. elections. It would also make these companies reveal foreign owners.

Equal Rights Amendment

Cardin supported laws that aimed to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.

Gun Control

Cardin received an "F" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund. This shows he generally supported stricter gun laws.

In 2013, he supported a ban on large-capacity ammunition devices. After the Orlando nightclub shooting, Cardin questioned why military-style assault weapons were needed. He stated they are "meant to kill people."

Cardin opposed selling assault rifles to the police in the Philippines in 2016. His opposition led the U.S. State Department to stop the sale. After the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, Cardin called for changes to gun laws. He sponsored a proposal to ban "bump stocks," which were used in the shooting.

Journalism

In July 2019, Cardin and Senator Rob Portman introduced the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act. This bill would create a memorial in Washington, D.C. to honor journalists who died while working.

Healthcare

In 2019, Cardin and other senators asked for data from the Trump administration. They wanted to understand the effects if the Affordable Care Act (ACA) lawsuit succeeded. They warned that changes to the healthcare system would harm people and state budgets.

In October 2019, Cardin supported the CHIME Act. This act would continue funding for Community Health Centers. He warned that without funding, many centers would close. This would affect millions of Americans' healthcare.

Housing

In April 2019, Cardin signed a letter supporting the Section 4 Capacity Building program. This program helps local community development groups. He expressed disappointment that President Trump's budget planned to eliminate it.

International Policy

Cardin with UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron in December 2023.

On October 31, 2011, Cardin supported the idea of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA). He was one of only six U.S. Congress members to do so while in office.

Cardin often supported strengthening America's relationship with Israel. In 2017, he sponsored a bill to penalize businesses that boycotted Israel. He believed Israel's human rights record should not affect U.S. military aid to Israel.

He supported nuclear cooperation with India.

After the 2014 Hong Kong protests, Cardin helped introduce the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. This act aimed to support Hong Kong's freedom and democracy. Cardin said, "Civil society and democratic freedoms are under attack around the world and Hong Kong is on the front lines."

In July 2017, Cardin voted for the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. This act placed sanctions on Iran, Russia, and North Korea.

Cardin with Mark Warner in May 2017.

In October 2017, Cardin spoke out against the genocide of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar. He called for a stronger response.

In August 2018, Cardin urged the Trump administration to punish Chinese officials. These officials were responsible for human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim minority in China.

Cardin also criticized President Erdoğan's actions in Turkey. Erdoğan had cracked down on people who disagreed with him after a failed coup in 2016.

In April 2019, Cardin signed a letter to President Trump. He encouraged Trump to continue foreign aid to Central American countries. He argued that this aid helped reduce migration to the U.S. by improving conditions in those countries.

In 2023, Senator Cardin became the chair of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Ben Cardin (far left) with other senators, US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and PM of Japan Fumio Kishida in 2022.

LGBTQ+ Rights

In 2022, Cardin voted for the Respect for Marriage Act. This law aimed to protect same-sex marriage rights under federal law.

Online Privacy

Cardin supported Net Neutrality. This means he believed internet service providers should treat all data equally. He also supported the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act. This law helps the government fight illegal digital piracy.

Taxes

Cardin was against removing tax deductions for charitable donations. He supported raising taxes for people with higher incomes. He believed this was the easiest way to increase government revenue.

Cardin also proposed a "Progressive Consumption Tax." This is a different type of tax system.

After the Pandora Papers were revealed in 2021, Cardin spoke out. These papers showed how wealthy people hide money. Cardin said it was a "wake-up call" for democracies to fight corruption.

Whistleblowers

In November 2011, Cardin's proposed update to the 1917 Espionage Act caused some concern. Some people worried it would make it harder for federal employees to report government fraud.

Israel

Cardin with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, October 22, 2023.

Cardin supported a Senate resolution that opposed a UN Security Council Resolution. This UN resolution condemned Israeli settlement building in Palestinian territories. Cardin said Congress would act against efforts to target Israel.

Cardin supported President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. He stated that Jerusalem is Israel's capital, and the U.S. Embassy should be there.

In late 2018, Cardin and Senator Rob Portman proposed the Israel Anti-Boycott Act. This bill would make it illegal for companies to boycott Israel.

In January 2024, Cardin rejected a resolution that would have required a report on possible human rights violations by Israel in Gaza. In May 2024, Cardin stated that "Israel has not violated International Humanitarian Law." He believed military aid to Israel should continue.

Personal Life

Cardin married his high school sweetheart, Myrna Edelman, in 1964. Myrna was a teacher. They have a daughter named Deborah. Their son Michael passed away at age 30 in 1998.

In 2002, Cardin's nephew, Jon S. Cardin, was elected as a Delegate. He represented the 11th district of western Baltimore County. This meant two Cardins were on the ballot in that area in 2002. Ben Cardin's father, Meyer Cardin, who was 95, was present at Jon's swearing-in. Ben Cardin remarked, "The next generation's taking over."

Images for kids

Official portrait, 2024
Ben Cardin's signature
Representative Cardin speaking in the House in 2006.
Cardin (at podium) with fellow Representatives Roscoe Bartlett and Jo Ann Davis.
Cardin with Maryland governor Wes Moore in May 2023.
Cardin with Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Cardin testifying before a U.S. House subcommittee.
Cardin with UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron in December 2023.
Cardin with Mark Warner in May 2017.
Ben Cardin (far left) with other senators, US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and PM of Japan Fumio Kishida in 2022.
Cardin with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, October 22, 2023.