- In full:
- Benjamin Louis Cardin
- Born:
- October 5, 1943, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. (age 83)
- Political Affiliation:
- Democratic Party
Ben Cardin
-
Who is Ben Cardin?
Ben Cardin (born in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 5, 1943) is an American politician. He represented Maryland as a Democrat in the U.S. Senate from 2007 to 2025 after serving in the U.S. House of Representatives between 1987 and 2007. In 2024, Cardin chose not to run for reelection, bringing to an end a political career of over five decades.
Throughout his time in Congress, Cardin became known as a liberal. He is particularly interested in environmental issues, having introduced legislation aimed at protecting the Chesapeake Bay and strengthening clean water regulations. He also took an active role in foreign policy, and he opposed the Iraq War.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What state does Ben Cardin represent in the U.S. Senate?
Ben Cardin, a Democratic politician, represented Maryland in the U.S. Senate from 2007 to 2025. Before serving in the Senate, Cardin spent 10 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (1987–2007). While in Congress, Cardin became known for his work in social services, including health care and other entitlement programs. He declined to run for reelection in 2024, bringing to a close a political career that had spanned more than five decades.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What political party does Ben Cardin belong to?
Ben Cardin, born on October 5, 1943, is an American politician who represented Maryland in the U.S. Senate from 2007 to 2025. He is a member of the Democratic party. Before serving in the Senate, Cardin spent 10 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (1987–2007).
Throughout his career, Cardin established himself as a liberal, focusing on environmental issues, foreign policy, and social services. He introduced legislation to protect the Chesapeake Bay and opposed the Iraq War. In 2024, Cardin announced his retirement, concluding a political career of over five decades.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some important issues Ben Cardin focuses on as a senator?
As a senator, Ben Cardin focused on several key issues, establishing a reputation as a liberal. He showed a strong interest in the environment, introducing legislation to protect the Chesapeake Bay and strengthen regulations for clean water.
He was also active in foreign policy, opposing the Iraq War. Cardin coauthored the Magnitsky Acts, which aimed to punish corrupt practices and human rights abuses by foreign officials. As a member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, he helped create legislation that aided small businesses and their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What roles or committees has Ben Cardin served on in the Senate?
Ben Cardin, a Democratic Senator representing Maryland from 2007 to 2025, has had a prominent career in the U.S. Congress. He is known for his interest in environmental issues, introducing legislation to protect the Chesapeake Bay and strengthen clean water regulations. As a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, he was active in foreign policy and opposed the Iraq War. Cardin also co-authored the Magnitsky Acts with Sen. John McCain, which aimed to punish corruption and human rights abuses by foreign officials. Additionally, he played a crucial role on the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, aiding small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How has Ben Cardin’s work impacted his state and the country?
Ben Cardin, a Democratic politician, has had a significant impact on Maryland and the U.S. through his work. During his time in the House of Representatives (1987-2007), he focused on social services, particularly child welfare, supporting legislation to expand child support and medical benefits for children, and increase tax credits for child care. As a Senator, Cardin was deeply involved in environmental issues, advocating for the protection of the Chesapeake Bay and stronger clean water regulations. He also co-authored the Magnitsky Acts, which address human rights abuses and corruption committed by foreign officials. Additionally, he helped create legislation to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Ben Cardin (born October 5, 1943, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.) is an American politician who represented Maryland as a Democrat to the U.S. Senate (2007–25). He previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1987–2007). Cardin declined to run for reelection in 2024, and his seat was won by Democrat Angela Alsobrooks.
Cardin was born into a political family. His father, Meyer Cardin, was a lawyer and judge who served a term in Maryland’s House of Delegates and was active in Baltimore politics. An uncle and later a nephew were also members of the state legislature. After graduating from Baltimore City College in 1961, Ben attended the University of Pittsburgh (B.A., 1964) and then studied law at the University of Maryland (Juris Doctor degree, 1967), graduating first in his class. During that time he married (1964) Myrna Edelman, and the couple later had two children.
Cardin entered electoral politics while still in law school, serving in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1967 to 1986. In 1986, when U.S. Rep. Barbara Mikulski announced that she would run for the Senate, Cardin entered the race for her seat in the House of Representatives and won by a decisive margin. He served for 10 terms (1987–2007), during which time he became known for his work in social services, including health care and other entitlement programs. He notably was involved with legislation having to do with child welfare, and he supported bills to expand child support, extend medical benefits to children, and increase tax credits for child care. In 2005, following the announcement that U.S. Sen. Paul Sarbanes was retiring from office, Cardin entered the race to fill the post. The following year he won a sharply contested Democratic primary and then decisively defeated Republican challenger Michael S. Steele, then the state’s lieutenant governor. Cardin assumed office in 2007.
While in Congress, Cardin established a reputation as a liberal. Strongly interested in the environment, he introduced legislation to protect the Chesapeake Bay and sought to strengthen regulations for clean water. He was also active in foreign policy, and in 2007 he became a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Cardin notably opposed the Iraq War (2003–11). Fiscally, he supported a progressive consumption tax. Cardin easily won reelection in 2012 and 2018, and he coauthored (with Sen. John McCain) the Magnitsky Acts, a pair of laws that punished corrupt practices and humans rights abuses by foreign officials. As a member of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Cardin was instrumental in creating legislation that aided small businesses and their employees through the economic turmoil that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024 he announced that he would not seek reelection, bringing to a close a political career that had spanned more than five decades.