Senator Ben Cardin Announces Retirement, Sparks Speculation for His Replacement in Maryland Senate Race

Maryland Senator Ben Cardin announced on Monday that he will not seek reelection in 2024. Cardin, 79, has spent most of his adult life in politics, and first joined the U.S. Senate in 2007. He has since held senior posts on the Senate Foreign Relations, Finance, and Small Business committees.

Cardin released a statement thanking Marylanders for trusting him as their representative. “I have given my heart and soul to our great state, and I thank Marylanders for trusting me as your representative for all these years. I have run my last election and will not be on the ballot in 2024, but there is still much work to be done.”

The announcement has sparked speculation about who will replace Cardin in the blue state of Maryland. All eyes are on Rep. Jamie Raskin, who gained national attention for his role in the second impeachment of former President Donald Trump. Other potential candidates include former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, former Rep. John Delaney, and former NAACP President Ben Jealous.

The race to replace Cardin is expected to be competitive, as the seat is a rare opportunity in a state that neighbors Washington, D.C. Cardin’s departure will leave a void in the Senate, as he has been a reliable and amiable rank-and-file Democrat.

At this time, no one has announced a bid to replace Cardin. The race will likely heat up in the coming months as potential candidates begin to make their intentions known.