Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin, 79, to retire rather than run again in 2024: Legislator who has been in Congress for 35 years paves the way for a VERY competitive race in Maryland
- Cardin announced the retirement on Monday in a video he shared on Twitter
- “I’m proud of everything I’ve done for Maryland,” Cardin, who was first elected to the Senate in 2006, shared on Twitter
- Washington Gov. Jay Inslee also announced Monday that he will not seek re-election
Longtime Maryland Senator Ben Cardin will retire at the end of his current term, he announced Monday, setting up a fierce primary in the deeply Democratic state.
The Democrat, who served in Congress for a total of 35 years, announced his retirement on Monday in a video he shared on Twitter.
“I’m proud of everything I’ve done for Maryland. I have given my heart and soul to our great state and I thank Marylanders for trusting me as your representative all these years. Thanks, Maryland,” Cardin, who was elected to the Senate in 2006, wrote in a Tweet.
“You know, Myrna, it’s been the honor of my life to represent the people of Maryland, first in the Maryland General Assembly, then as Speaker of the House, then as a member of the House of Representatives, and now as a Senator from the United States. ,” Cardin said Monday.
“When this term ends, it will be my last year as an elected official. I will not be running for re-election,” he continued.
The Democrat, who has served in Congress for a total of 35 years, announced his retirement on Monday in a video he shared on Twitter
Senator Cardin announced the retirement Monday in a video he shared on Twitter
Cardin’s seat is not expected to go to the Republicans, as Maryland is a deep blue state
The announcement by Cardin, 79, comes on the same day that incumbent Democratic Governor Jay Inslee of Washington State also announced his retirement.
Inslee was first elected in 2012 and he is 72 years old.
“It has been my greatest honor to serve the people as Governor of Washington State. Throughout a decade of dynamic change, we have made Washington a beacon of progress for the nation. I am ready to pass the torch,” Inslee said in a statement Monday morning.
The outgoing Democratic politicians, both in their 70s, come the week after President Biden, who is 80, announced his re-election aspirations.
Senate National Committee spokesman Tate Mitchell told DailyMail.com of Cardin’s retirement news, “Democrats are quickly realizing that the Senate won’t be fun for them if the Republicans regain the majority in 2024.”
The seat is not expected to go to Republicans as Maryland is a deep blue state.
It will produce a competitive 2024 Democratic primary, with many Senate hopefuls jumping into the race.
The announcement by Cardin, 79, comes on the same day that incumbent Democratic Governor Jay Inslee of Washington State, above, also announced his retirement
Cardin and his wife in video he posted Monday saying he will not run for re-election
No Republican has held a Senate seat in Maryland since 1980.
Current Rep Jamie Raskin, D-Md., is a name that has been floating around as a possible successor to Cardin.
Raskin, who represents the state’s 8th congressional district, recently announced that his cancer, diffuse large B-lymphoma, is in remission. He has been a leading Democrat in the House, including as impeachment manager in former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial.
There are also rumors that former GOP Governor of Maryland Larry Hogan has plans to enter the race as a Republican nominee.
Hogan recently announced that he will not be running for president in 2024.