Benjamin Louis Cardin
Democrat senior Senator of Maryland
Representative
Maryland, district 3
January 6, 1987 - January 3, 1989
Representative
Maryland, district 3
January 3, 1989 - January 3, 1991
Representative
Maryland, district 3
January 3, 1991 - January 3, 1993
Representative
Maryland, district 3
January 5, 1993 - January 3, 1995
Representative
Maryland, district 3
January 4, 1995 - January 3, 1997
Representative
Maryland, district 3
January 7, 1997 - January 3, 1999
Representative
Maryland, district 3
January 6, 1999 - January 3, 2001
Representative
Maryland, district 3
January 3, 2001 - January 3, 2003
Representative
Maryland, district 3
January 7, 2003 - January 3, 2005
Representative
Maryland, district 3
January 4, 2005 - January 3, 2007
Senator
Maryland
January 4, 2007 - January 3, 2013
Senator
Maryland
January 3, 2013 - January 3, 2019
Senator
Maryland
January 3, 2019 - January 3, 2025
19
Congresses Served
10
House Terms
3
Senate Terms
January 1, 1943 (81 years old)
Birthday
- American lawyer and politician with a career spanning over half a century in elected office, never losing an election
- Served in the Maryland House of Delegates, including as its youngest speaker
- Represented Maryland’s 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives
- Elected as a U.S. Senator in 2006 and reelected in 2012 and 2018
- Announced retirement and will not seek reelection in 2024
- Born in Baltimore, Maryland, to a family with Russian Jewish immigrant grandparents
- Attended the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Maryland School of Law, graduating first in his class
- Involved in reform efforts related to Maryland’s property tax system, school financing formula, and ethical standards for elected officials
- Advocated for fiscal issues, pension reform, health care, welfare reform, and environmental protection in Congress
- Played a significant role in legislation related to Medicare benefits, retirement plans, and child support
- Has been a Commissioner on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe since 1993
- Holds honorary degrees from several institutions and has served on various boards and committees related to law, education, and public policy
- Supported President Barack Obama’s legislative agenda and has been rated as one of the most liberal senators
- Advocated for investigations into USDA’s actions, supports the death penalty for the “worst of the worst,” and has pushed for economic reforms to benefit workers
- Supported education initiatives, environmental protection efforts, and legislation to address climate change
- Advocated for gun control measures, healthcare reforms, and housing programs
- Engaged in international policy, supporting strong relations with Israel and addressing human rights issues globally
- Supports Net Neutrality and has proposed tax reforms to benefit middle and lower-income Americans
- Has been involved in efforts to protect whistleblowers and uphold journalistic integrity