A three-term United States senator will not seek reelection.
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., confirmed the news Monday morning. Pundits expect the vacancy will spark a free-for-all Democratic Party primary in the deep blue state.
The Washington Post reports:
CARDIN, 79, HAS BEEN A FIXTURE IN MARYLAND POLITICS FOR DECADES, BUILDING A REPUTATION AS A SERIOUS, RESERVED LEGISLATOR WHO GRAVITATES TOWARD COMPLEX POLICY ISSUES AND AVOIDS THE KIND OF SHOW-HORSE POLITICKING OF SOME OF HIS PEERS. HIS RETIREMENT IS LIKELY TO CREATE A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY TO REPLACE HIM.
DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO STEM RETIREMENTS OF POPULAR LONGTIME SENATORS AHEAD OF WHAT IS EXPECTED TO BE A TOUGH ELECTORAL MAP FOR SENATE DEMOCRATS IN 2024. MARYLAND REPUBLICANS HAVE NOT WON A SENATE SEAT SINCE THE 1980S. BUT DEMOCRATS AREN’T TAKING ANYTHING FOR GRANTED, WARY OF THE POTENTIAL OF A LARRY HOGAN-ESQUE MODERATE REPUBLICAN EMERGING AS A GOP NOMINEE.
CARDIN, WHO HAS SERVED IN THE SENATE SINCE 2007, HAS COMFORTABLY WON REELECTION IN EVERY RACE SINCE THEN.
HE BEGAN HIS CAREER IN THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE 1960S, RUNNING HIS FIRST CAMPAIGN WHILE HE WAS STILL IN LAW SCHOOL IN 1966, BEFORE CLIMBING THE RANKS TO HOUSE SPEAKER IN 1979. PUBLIC SERVICE RAN IN THE FAMILY. A THIRD-GENERATION MARYLANDER FROM BALTIMORE AND THE GRANDSON OF RUSSIAN-JEWISH IMMIGRANTS, CARDIN FILLED THE SEAT IN THE STATE HOUSE VACATED BY HIS UNCLE AND WAS THE SON OF A STATE LAWMAKER WHO BECAME A JUDGE.
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