Longtime Senator Ben Cardin Not Running for Reelection

Longtime Senator Ben Cardin Announces Retirement

After 58 years of public service, Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) has announced that he will not run for a fourth Senate term in 2024. In an interview with The Baltimore Sun, Cardin stated, “It’s time. I always knew this election cycle would be the one I would be thinking about not running again, so it’s not something that hit me by surprise. I enjoy life. There are other things I can do.”

TIME first reported the development on May 1.

Cardin’s Accomplishments

• Served on the Foreign Relations Committee
• Served on the Environment and Public Works Committee
• Served on the Finance Committee
• Served as chairman of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

Prior to his time in the Senate, Cardin served for 20 years in the House of Representatives and in the Maryland House of Delegates for around 20 years, including being the chamber’s speaker.

Who Will Run for Cardin’s Seat?

Possible Democrat candidates include:

• Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who made a name for himself as the lead impeachment manager in Trump’s second impeachment
• Rep. David Trone (D-Md.)
• Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr.
• Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks
• Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.), whose late father, Paul Sarbanes, was a 30-year senator

Possible Republican candidates include:

• Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.)
• Former Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich
• Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who declined a 2022 Senate run

The Epoch Times has reached out to ask whether they plan to run for Cardin’s seat or are at least considering doing so.

In a statement, Raskin expressed appreciation for Cardin’s service, but he did not say whether he would run to succeed him.

“After 58 years of integrity-filled public service, where he showed his prodigious work ethic from Annapolis…