Ben Cardin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.jpg) Official portrait, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States Senator fromMaryland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Paul Sarbanes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Angela Alsobrooks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMaryland's3rd district | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Barbara Mikulski | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | John Sarbanes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 103rdSpeaker 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 theMaryland 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 (1943-10-05)October 5, 1943 (age 82) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Democratic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 who served as aUnited States senator fromMaryland from 2007 to 2025. A member of theDemocratic Party, he was theU.S. representative forMaryland's 3rd congressional district from 1987 to 2007. Cardin served in theMaryland House of Delegates from 1967 to 1987 and asits speaker from 1979 to 1987. In 58 years as an elected official, Cardin never lost an election.[1]
Cardin was elected as U.S. senator to succeedPaul Sarbanes in2006, defeatingRepublicanMichael Steele, thelieutenant governor of Maryland. He became Maryland's senior U.S. senator on January 3, 2017, uponBarbara Mikulski's retirement. Cardin won reelection in2012 and2018, and retired from politics on January 3, 2025.
Benjamin Louis Cardin was born inBaltimore, Maryland.[2] The family name was originally "Kardonsky", before it was changed to "Cardin". Cardin's grandparents wereRussian Jewish immigrants. His maternal grandfather, Benjamin Green, operated a neighborhoodgrocery store that later turned into awholesalefood distribution company.[3] His mother Dora was a schoolteacher and his father,Meyer Cardin, served in theMaryland House of Delegates (1935–1937) and later sat on the Baltimore City Supreme Bench (1961–1977).[3][4][5]
Cardin and his family attended theModern OrthodoxBeth Tfiloh Congregation near their home, with which the family had been affiliated for three generations. Cardin attendedBaltimore City College, graduating in 1961. In 1964, he earned aBachelor of Arts degreecum laude from theUniversity of Pittsburgh,[2] where he was a member of thePi Lambda Phifraternity. He earned aJuris Doctor from theUniversity of Maryland School of Law in 1967, graduating first in his class.[2] Cardin wasadmitted to the Maryland Bar that same year, and joined the private practice of Rosen and Esterson until 1978.[2]
While still in law school, Cardin was elected to theMaryland House of Delegates in November 1966.[2][3] He held the seat once held by his uncle, Maurice Cardin, who had decided to not run for re-election so that his nephew could instead pursue the seat. He waschairman of theWays & Means Committee from 1974 to 1979, then served as the 103rdSpeaker of the House until he left office.[6] At age 35, he was the youngest Speaker in Maryland history at the time.[2] As Speaker, he was involved with reform efforts involving Maryland's property tax system, school financing formula, and ethical standards for elected officials.[6]
In 1986, with CongresswomanBarbara Mikulski mounting what would be a successful bid for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring SenatorCharles Mathias, Cardin ran for Mikulski's seat in the3rd congressional district, which covered a large slice of inner Baltimore, as well as several close-in suburbs. Cardin won the Democratic nomination with 82 percent of the vote—the real contest in this heavily Democratic district. He won the general election with 79 percent of the vote against aperennial candidate,Republican Ross Z. Pierpont. He would be reelected nine times, dropping below 65 percent of the vote.
Cardin served as one of theHouse impeachment managers that successfully prosecuted the case in the 1989impeachment trial of JudgeWalter Nixon.[7]
In the House, Cardin was involved with fiscal issues, pension reform, and health care. His legislation to increase the amount individuals can store in their401k plans andIRAs was passed in 2001. His bill to expandMedicare to include preventive benefits such ascolorectal,prostate,mammogram, andosteoporosis screening was also enacted. He also authored legislation to provide a Medicare prescription drug benefit for chronic illnesses; fund graduate medical education; and guarantee coverage for emergency services.[6]
Cardin has also advocated, via proposed legislation,welfare reform. His bill to increase education and support services forfoster children between ages 18 and 21 was signed into law in 1999.[6] He authored bills to expand child support, improve thewelfare-to-work program, and increase the child care tax credit.[6]
Cardin has been commended for his work with fiscal policy. He has been honored byWorth magazine and byTreasury and Risk Management for his work protectingretirement plans and government-supported medical care for the elderly. He has also received scores of 100 percent from theLeague of Conservation Voters and theNAACP, indicating stances that are in favor of environmental protection andcivil rights. Cardin was also one of 133 members of Congress to vote against the 2002Iraq Resolution.[8] In 2023, Cardin voted with a bipartisan majority to repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Iraq.[9]
As of May 2006[update], Cardin served on the followingHouse committees:
On April 26, 2005, Cardin announced that he would seek theU.S. Senate seat of long-standing senatorPaul Sarbanes (D-MD), following the announcement by Sarbanes that he would not be running for re-election in 2006. On September 12, 2006, Cardin faced a challenging primary battle with other Maryland Democrats, includingAllan Lichtman,Josh Rales,Dennis F. Rasmussen, and his former House colleagueKweisi Mfume. Cardin won, however, with 44 percent of the vote, compared to 40 percent for Mfume, five percent for Rales, and two percent for Rasmussen.[10]
Cardin won election on November 7, 2006, defeating Republican challengerMichael Steele 54 percent to 44 percent.[11]
In the general election, he faced RepublicanDan Bongino, a formerUnited States Secret Service agent, IndependentRob Sobhani, an economist and businessman, and LibertarianImad-ad-Dean Ahmad, President of theMinaret of Freedom Institute. Cardin easily won the election, taking 56% of the vote to Bongino's 26.3%, Sobhani's 16.4% and Ahmad's 1%.[12]
Cardin was re-elected for a third term in 2018.
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On May 1, 2023, Cardin announced that he would retire and not seek re-election in2024.[13]
Cardin was participating in the certification of the2021 United States Electoral College vote count when theJanuary 6 United States Capitol attack happened. Cardin was on the Senate chamber floor when the rioters breached the Capitol. He was "ushered quickly — and I do mean quickly — away from the Capitol" after Vice PresidentMike Pence was removed from the chambers.[14] During the attack, while Cardin hid with other senators in a safe location, he tweeted, blaming PresidentDonald Trump for encouraging the rioters. He called for Trump to stop the protestors so the event would end "peacefully."[15] Cardin also compared the police involvement during the attack to that seen duringBlack Lives Matter protests, calling it a "stark contrast."[16] After the Capitol was secure, Cardin joined Congress to certify the count. After, he said that Trump should be held accountable for the insurrection and called for Republican leaders to tell Trump that he needs to resign.[17] Two days later, on January 8, Cardin called for the invocation of theTwenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution or impeachment to remove Trump.[18]
In 2024, Cardin advocated for the federal government to fund the reconstruction of theFrancis Scott Key Bridge inBaltimore after it collapsed when a ship crashed into it.[19]
Source:[20]
Cardin was selected by Majority LeaderChuck Schumer to fill in forDianne Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee until she returned.[21]
In 2015, Cardin became theranking Democratic member on theSenate Foreign Relations Committee after the departure ofSenator Robert Menendez as ranking Democrat and chairman.[22] Two weeks after Menendez departure, Cardin was credited with facilitating achievement of a unanimous committee vote in favor of themarkup for the bill on the USA's involvement in thenegotiations withIran on nuclear technology.[22]
The following is an incomplete list of legislation that Cardin has sponsored:
Cardin has been a Commissioner on theCommission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the U.S. Helsinki Commission) since 1993, serving as Ranking Member from 2003 to 2006.[24] He subsequently served two terms as co-chair of the commission, from 2007 to 2008, and 2011 to 2012; and also two terms as chair, from 2009 to 2010, and 2013 to 2014.[2] From 2015 to 2016 he was again ranking member.[25] In 2006 he was elected vice president of theOrganization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, and served through 2014.[2]
As of 2016[update] Cardin sits on the board of visitors of theUniversity of Maryland School of Law, his law school alma mater.[26]
Ben Cardin has also earned an Honorary Degree fromUniversity of Maryland, College Park in the Class of 2025 graduation ceremony held on May 22, 2025.[disambiguation needed]
Cardin has been awarded the following foreign honor:
Commander of theOrder of the Star of Romania, Romania (June 8, 2017)[27][28]On a list byCongressional Quarterly of the members of Congress who were most supportive of PresidentBarack Obama's legislative agenda in 2009, Cardin was tied for fifth most supportive senator with five other senators.[29] In 2013,National Journal rated him as tied with six other Democratic senators for fifth most liberal senator.[30] TheAmerican Conservative Union gave him a 4% lifetime conservative rating in 2020.[31][32]
In June 2019, Cardin and 18 other Democratic senators sent a letter toUSDAInspector General (IG)Phyllis Fong with the request that the IG investigate USDA instances of retaliation and political decision-making and asserted that not conducting an investigation would mean these "actions could be perceived as a part of this administration's broader pattern of not only discounting the value of federal employees, but suppressing, undermining, discounting, and wholesale ignoring scientific data produced by their own qualified scientists."[33]
Senator Cardin is a supporter of thedeath penalty but says it should only be applied to the "worst of the worst".[34]
In March 2019, Cardin was one of six senators to sign a letter to theFederal Trade Commission (FTC) requesting it "use its rulemaking authority, along with other tools, in order to combat the scourge of non-compete clauses rigging our economy against workers" and espousing the view that such provisions "harm employees by limiting their ability to find alternate work, which leaves them with little leverage to bargain for better wages or working conditions with their immediate employer." The senators furthered that the FTC had the responsibility of protecting both consumers and workers and needed to "act decisively" to address their concerns over "serious anti-competitive harms from the proliferation of non-competes in the economy."[35]
Cardin was an architect of the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses during the pandemic.[36]
In 2007, Cardin supported theUnited States Public Service Academy Act. The Act would serve to create "an undergraduate institution devoted to developing civilian leaders." Like the Military Academies, this would give students 4 years of tuition-free education in exchange for 5 years of public service upon graduation.[37]
Liberal environmentalists criticized Cardin for compromising too much while working with conservative James Inhofe on an amendment to Cardin's Chesapeake Bay legislation.[38] Josh Saks, senior legislative representative for water resources campaigns with the National Wildlife Federation, praised Cardin as "the lead voice for clean water and the restoration of America's great waters in Congress."[38]
In November 2018, Cardin was one of 25 Democratic senators to cosponsor a resolution specifying key findings of the Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change report and National Climate Assessment. The resolution affirmed the senators' acceptance of the findings and their support for bold action towardaddressing climate change.[39]
In March 2019, Cardin was one of 11 senators to sponsor the Climate Security Act of 2019, legislation forming a new group within the State Department that would have the responsibility for developing strategies to integrate climate science and data into operations of national security as well as restoring the post of special envoy for the Arctic, which had been dismantled by President Trump in 2017. The proposed envoy would advise the president and the administration on the potential effects of climate on national security and be responsible for facilitating all interagency communication between federal science and security agencies.[40]
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In October 2018, Cardin, along with SenatorsChris Van Hollen andSusan Collins, cosponsored a bipartisan bill that if passed would block "any persons from foreign adversaries from owning or having control over vendors administering U.S. elections." The Protect Our Elections Act would make companies involved in administering elections reveal foreign owners, and informing local, state and federal authorities if said ownership changes. Companies failing to comply would face fines of $100,000.[41][42]
Cardin has sponsored legislation in support of theEqual Rights Amendment.[43]
Cardin has an "F" grade from theNRAPolitical Victory Fund (NRA-PVF).[44][45]
In 2013, he co-sponsored the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act in an effort to ban large-capacity ammunition.[46]
In response to theOrlando nightclub shooting, Cardin questioned the legality of military style assault weapons stating that "in my observations in Maryland, I don't know too many people who need to have that type of weapon in order to do hunting in my state or to keep themselves safe."[47]
Cardin opposed the 2016 sale of approximately 26,000 assault rifles to the national police of the Philippines. His opposition led to the U.S. State Department halting the sale.[48]
In the wake of the2017 Las Vegas shooting, Cardin stated thatthoughts and prayers were not going to save more people from dying in mass shootings.[49] He also made a call for action to change gun laws, stating onTwitter that "Automatic weapons aren't needed to hunt deer or ducks; they're meant to kill people."[50] In response to the shooting, Cardin sponsoredDianne Feinstein's proposal to banbump stocks, which were used by the shooter to kill 58 individuals and injure over 500.[51]
In July 2019, Cardin andRob Portman introduced the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act, a bill that would create a new memorial that would be privately funded and constructed on federal lands within Washington, D.C. in order to honor journalists, photographers, and broadcasters that have died in the line of duty.[52]
In the111th Congress, Cardin helped secure dental benefits in the State Children's Health Insurance Plan.[53]
In August 2019, Cardin was one of 19 senators to sign a letter toTreasury SecretarySteve Mnuchin andHealth and Human Services SecretaryAlex Azar requesting data from the Trump administration in order to aid in the comprehension of states and Congress on potential consequences in the event that the Texas v. United States Affordable Care Act (ACA) lawsuit prevailed in courts, citing that an overhaul of the present health care system would form "an enormous hole in the pocketbooks of the people we serve as well as wreck state budgets".[54]
In October 2019, Cardin was one of 27 senators to sign a letter to Senate Majority LeaderMitch McConnell and Senate Minority LeaderChuck Schumer advocating for the passage of the Community Health Investment, Modernization, and Excellence (CHIME) Act, which was set to expire the following month. The senators warned that if the funding for the Community Health Center Fund (CHCF) was allowed to expire, it "would cause an estimated 2,400 site closures, 47,000 lost jobs, and threaten the health care of approximately 9 million Americans."[55]
In April 2019, Cardin was one of 41 senators to sign a bipartisan letter to the housing subcommittee praising theUnited States Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 4 Capacity Building program as authorizing "HUD to partner with national nonprofit community development organizations to provide education, training, and financial support to local community development corporations (CDCs) across the country" and expressing disappointment that President Trump's budget "has slated this program for elimination after decades of successful economic and community development." The senators wrote of their hope that the subcommittee would support continued funding for Section 4 in Fiscal Year 2020.[56]
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On October 31, 2011, Cardin endorsed the proposal for theUnited Nations Parliamentary Assembly (UNPA). He is one of only six persons who served as members of the United States Congress ever to do so and is the only one who did so while in office.[57]
Cardin has often supported positions that aim to strengthen America's relationship withIsrael.[58] In 2017, Cardin sponsored a bill, the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S. 720), that would penalize commercial businesses that wanted to aid International NGOs and/or organizations in boycotting Israel.[59][60] Cardin has argued that Israel's human rights record should not be considered in regard to sending U.S. military aid to Israel.[61]
He supported civilian nuclear cooperation withIndia.[62]
Weeks after the2014 Hong Kong class boycott campaign andUmbrella Movement broke out which demandsgenuine universal suffrage among other goals, Cardin among bipartisan colleagues joined U.S. SenatorSherrod Brown and RepresentativeChris Smith's effort to introduceHong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act which would update theUnited States–Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 and U.S. commitment toHong Kong's freedom and democracy. "Civil society anddemocratic freedoms are under attack around the world andHong Kong is on the front lines. The United States has a responsibility to protecthuman rights and defend againstthese threats," Cardin, chairman of theSenate Foreign Relations East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee said.[63][64][65][66][67][68]
In July 2017, Cardin voted in favor of theCountering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act that placedsanctions on Iran together withRussia andNorth Korea.[69] On October 11, 2017, in a joint statement, Cardin and SenatorJohn McCain questioned the Trump administration's commitment to the sanctions bill.[70]
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In October 2017, Cardin condemned thegenocide of theRohingya Muslim minority inMyanmar and called for a stronger response to the crisis.[71]
In August 2018, Cardin and 16 other lawmakers urged the Trump administration to impose sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act against Chinese officials who are responsible forhuman rights abuses against theUyghurMuslim minority in western China'sXinjiang region.[72] They wrote: "The detention of as many as a million or more Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in 'political reeducation' centers or camps requires a tough, targeted, and global response."[73]
Cardin condemned PresidentErdoğan's wide-rangingcrackdown on dissent following a failed July 2016 coup in America's NATO allyTurkey.[74]
In April 2019, Cardin was one of 34 senators to sign a letter to President Trump encouraging him "to listen to members of your own Administration and reverse a decision that will damage our national security and aggravate conditions inside Central America", asserting that Trump had "consistently expressed a flawed understanding of U.S. foreign assistance" since becoming president and that he was "personally undermining efforts to promote U.S. national security and economic prosperity" through preventing the use of Fiscal Year 2018 national security funding. The senators argued that foreign assistance to Central American countries created less migration to the U.S., citing the funding's helping to improve conditions in those countries.[75]
In 2023, Senator Cardin became the chair of theSenate Foreign Relations Committee.[76] According toJewish Insider, Cardin's office communicated to some activists that it does not have a plan to move theMahsa Amini Human rights and Security Accountability Act (MAHSA Act) forward through the committee, likely killing the bipartisan Iran sanctions bill.[77]
In 2022, Cardin voted for theRespect for Marriage Act, legislation intended to codifysame-sex marriage rights into federal law.[78]
Cardin supportsNet Neutrality, as shown by his vote during the109th Congress in favor of the Markey Amendment to H.R. 5252 which would add Net Neutrality provisions to the federal telecommunications code.[79] Cardin also supportsCombating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act, which gives DOJ the tools to target those site owners who are engaged in illegal digital piracy.[80]
Cardin is opposed to eliminating the tax deduction for charitable donations and supports raising taxes on higher-income earners.[81] During a December 20, 2012, interview withMaria Bartiromo onCNBC, Cardin stated, "We're now a few days away from Christmas. The easiest way to get the revenues is to get the rates from the higher income, uh, taxpayers."[81] In response to the question, "Are you prepared to vote to limit the loophole of charitable deductions?" Cardin responded, "No."[81]
Cardin has, on multiple occasions, introduced a bill to adopt a "Progressive Consumption Tax", which is a variation of Michael J. Graetz'sCompetitive Tax Plan.[82]
Cardin spoke out after thePandora Papers were revealed in 2021. Cardin said, "The Pandora Papers are a wake-up call to all who care about the future of democracy. Thirty years after the end of the Cold War, it is time for democracies to band together and demand an end to the unprecedented corruption that has come to be the defining feature of the global order. We must purge the dirty money from our systems and deny kleptocrats safe haven."[83]
In November 2011, Cardin's intended update of the 1917 Espionage Act upset some public disclosure advocates. They complained that it "would make it harder for federal employees to expose government fraud and abuse."[84]
Cardin is a co-sponsor of a Senate resolution expressing objection to theUN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemnedIsraeli settlement building in the occupiedPalestinian territories as a violation of international law. Cardin said that "Congress will take action against efforts at the UN, or beyond, that use Resolution 2334 to target Israel."[85]
Cardin supported PresidentDonald Trump's decision torecognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. He stated: "Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel and the location of the US Embassy should reflect this fact."[86]
Cardin and SenatorRob Portman (R-Ohio) proposed theIsrael Anti-Boycott Act in late 2018 which would make it illegal for companies to engage in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in theIsraeli-occupied territories.[87] The bill would expand theExport Administration Act (EAA) to foreign boycotts imposed by international organizations like theEuropean Union,Arab League and theUnited Nations. Cardin and Portman were strongly in promotion of the bill, and worked to integrate it into larger spending legislation to be signed by then-President Trump.[88]
In January 2024, Cardin rejectedBernie Sanders' resolution that would have required the State Department to report to Congress on any evidence ofhuman rights violations by Israel inGaza.[89] In May 2024, Cardin stated that "Israel has not violated International Humanitarian Law" and "military assistance to support Israel's security remains in the U.S. interest and should continue."[90]
Cardin married high school sweetheart Myrna Edelman, a teacher,[91] on November 24, 1964. They have a daughter, Deborah. Their son Michael (born 1967 or 1968) died ofsuicide on March 24, 1998,[92] at age 30.[93][94]
In 2002, Cardin's 32-year-old nephew,Jon S. Cardin, was elected as a Delegate representing the 11th district of western Baltimore County. With the 11th legislative district overlapping the 3rd congressional district, there were two Cardins on the ticket in this area in 2002. Present at Jon's swearing in was the oldest living former member of the House of Delegates at 95 years of age, Meyer Cardin, Jon's grandfather and Ben's father. Also in attendance was Cardin, who remarked, "The next generation's taking over."[95]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin | 100,161 | 79.11 | |
| Republican | Ross Z. Pierpont | 26,452 | 20.89 | |
| Total votes | 126,613 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin (Incumbent) | 133,779 | 72.90 | |
| Republican | Ross Z. Pierpont | 49,733 | 27.10 | |
| Total votes | 183,512 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin (Incumbent) | 82,545 | 69.73 | |
| Republican | Harwood Nichols | 35,841 | 30.27 | |
| Total votes | 118,386 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin (Incumbent) | 163,354 | 73.50 | |
| Republican | William Bricker | 58,869 | 26.49 | |
| Independent | James G. Fitzgerald | 29 | 0.00 | |
| Independent | Eric Ashelman | 3 | 0.00 | |
| Total votes | 222,255 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin (Incumbent) | 117,269 | 70.98 | |
| Republican | Robert Ryan Tousey | 47,966 | 29.02 | |
| Total votes | 165,235 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin (Incumbent) | 130,204 | 67.31 | |
| Republican | Patrick L. McDonough | 63,229 | 22.69 | |
| Total votes | 193,433 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin (Incumbent) | 137,501 | 77.61 | |
| Republican | Colin Felix Harby | 39,667 | 22.39 | |
| Total votes | 177,168 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin (Incumbent) | 169,347 | 75.66 | |
| Republican | Scott Conwell | 53,827 | 24.05 | |
| Libertarian | Joe Pomykala | 238 | 0.11 | |
| Write-ins | 406 | 0.18 | ||
| Total votes | 223,818 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin (Incumbent) | 145,589 | 65.79 | |
| Republican | Scott Conwell | 75,721 | 34.21 | |
| Total votes | 221,310 | 100.00 | ||
| Democratichold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin (Incumbent) | 182,066 | 63.44% | −2.35 | |
| Republican | Robert P. Duckworth | 97,008 | 33.80% | −0.41 | |
| Green | Patsy Allen | 7,895 | 2.75% | +2.75 | |
| Total votes | 286,969 | 100.00 | |||
| Democratichold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin | 257,545 | 43.67 | |
| Democratic | Kweisi Mfume | 238,957 | 40.52 | |
| Democratic | Josh Rales | 30,737 | 5.21 | |
| Democratic | Dennis F. Rasmussen | 10,997 | 1.86 | |
| Democratic | Mike Schaefer | 7,773 | 1.32 | |
| Democratic | Allan Lichtman | 6,919 | 1.17 | |
| Democratic | Theresa C. Scaldaferri | 5,081 | 0.86 | |
| Democratic | James H. Hutchinson | 4,949 | 0.84 | |
| Democratic | David Dickerson | 3,950 | 0.67 | |
| Democratic | A. Robert Kaufman | 3,908 | 0.66 | |
| Democratic | Anthony Jaworski | 3,486 | 0.59 | |
| Democratic | Thomas McCaskill | 3,459 | 0.59 | |
| Democratic | George T. English | 2,305 | 0.39 | |
| Democratic | Bob Robinson | 2,208 | 0.37 | |
| Democratic | Lih Young | 2,039 | 0.35 | |
| Democratic | Blaine Taylor | 1,848 | 0.31 | |
| Democratic | Joseph Werner | 1,832 | 0.31 | |
| Democratic | Charles Ulysses Smith | 1,702 | 0.29 | |
| Total votes | 589,695 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin | 965,477 | 54.21 | −9.0 | |
| Republican | Michael Steele | 787,182 | 44.19 | +7.5 | |
| Green | Kevin Zeese | 27,564 | 1.55 | n/a | |
| Write-ins | 916 | 0.05 | 0 | ||
| Majority | 178,295 | 100.00 | |||
| Turnout | 1,781,139 | ||||
| Democratichold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin (incumbent) | 240,704 | 74.2 | |
| Democratic | C. Anthony Muse | 50,807 | 15.7 | |
| Democratic | Chris Garner | 9,274 | 2.9 | |
| Democratic | Raymond Levi Blagmon | 5,909 | 1.8 | |
| Democratic | J. P. Cusick | 4,778 | 1.5 | |
| Democratic | Blaine Taylor | 4,376 | 1.3 | |
| Democratic | Lih Young | 3,993 | 1.2 | |
| Democratic | Ralph Jaffe | 3,313 | 1.0 | |
| Democratic | Ed Tinus | 1,064 | 0.3 | |
| Total votes | 324,218 | 100 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin (incumbent) | 1,474,028 | 55.98% | +1.77% | |
| Republican | Dan Bongino | 693,291 | 26.33% | −17.86% | |
| Independent | Rob Sobhani | 430,934 | 16.37% | N/A | |
| Libertarian | Dean Ahmad | 32,252 | 1.22% | N/A | |
| n/a | Write-ins | 2,729 | 0.10% | +0.05% | |
| Total votes | 2,633,234 | 100.0% | N/A | ||
| Democratichold | |||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin (incumbent) | 447,441 | 79.24% | |
| Democratic | Chelsea Manning | 34,611 | 6.13% | |
| Democratic | Jerome Segal | 20,027 | 3.55% | |
| Democratic | Debbie Wilson | 18,953 | 3.36% | |
| Democratic | Marcia H. Morgan | 16,047 | 2.84% | |
| Democratic | Lih Young | 9,874 | 1.75% | |
| Democratic | Richard Vaughn | 9,480 | 1.68% | |
| Democratic | Erik Jetmir | 8,259 | 1.46% | |
| Total votes | 564,692 | 100% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ben Cardin (incumbent) | 1,491,614 | 64.86% | +8.88% | |
| Republican | Tony Campbell | 697,017 | 30.31% | +3.98% | |
| Independent | Neal Simon | 85,964 | 3.74% | N/A | |
| Libertarian | Arvin Vohra | 22,943 | 1.00% | −0.22% | |
| Write-in | 2,351 | 0.10% | N/A | ||
| Total votes | 2,299,889 | 100% | N/A | ||
| Democratichold | |||||
In 2002, as a member of the House, he voted against giving the President the authority to go to war in Iraq.
Campbell's opponent, Senator Ben Cardin, has received an "F" rating from the NRA.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates 1979–1987 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMaryland's 3rd congressional district 1987–2007 | Succeeded by |
| New office | Chair of the House Ethics Reform Task Force 1997 Served alongside:Bob Livingston | Position abolished |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forU.S. Senator fromMaryland (Class 1) 2006,2012,2018 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by Paul Sarbanes | U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Maryland 2007–2025 Served alongside:Barbara Mikulski,Chris Van Hollen | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theJoint Helsinki Commission 2009–2011 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Chris Smith | Chair of theJoint Helsinki Commission 2013–2015 | |
| Preceded by | Ranking Member of theSenate Small Business Committee 2015 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Ranking Member of theSenate Foreign Relations Committee 2015–2018 | Succeeded by Bob Menendez |
| Preceded by | Ranking Member of theSenate Small Business Committee 2018–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Marco Rubio | Chair of theSenate Small Business Committee 2021–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theJoint Helsinki Commission 2021–2023 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theSenate Foreign Relations Committee 2023–2025 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Senator | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Senator | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Senator |
| Select Committee (1950–1981) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Full Committee (1981–) | ||
| Class 1 | | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 3 | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
