Benjamin Cardin
Benjamin Cardin is an American politician who has represented Maryland in the U.S. Senate since 2006. Prior to his Senate career, he served nearly two decades in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he held significant influence on legislation related to retirement savings and public ethics. Cardin's political journey began in the Maryland House of Delegates, where he was a prominent figure for twenty years, including a tenure as speaker. Born on October 5, 1943, in Baltimore to Russian Jewish immigrant parents, Cardin has a strong educational background, having graduated first in his class from the University of Maryland School of Law.
As a senator, Cardin has focused on various issues, including healthcare reform, gun control, and climate change. He has authored significant legislation, such as the Medicare Preventive Services Coverage Act of 2007, aimed at expanding preventive healthcare coverage. Cardin has been re-elected multiple times, most recently in 2018, and currently chairs the Senate Small Business Committee. His personal life includes his marriage to Myrna since 1964 and raising a daughter, while navigating the loss of their son in 1998. Cardin's positions reflect his Democratic values, advocating for women's healthcare rights and expressing concerns about immigration policies under the Trump administration.
Benjamin Cardin.
Benjamin Cardin was elected to represent Maryland in the United States Senate in 2006. Before he became senator, Cardin served in the US House of Representatives for almost twenty years, representing Maryland's third congressional district. While serving in the House, Cardin was responsible for legislation that increased the amount of money Americans could put into their IRAs and 401(k) savings accounts. Prior to serving in the House, Cardin spent twenty years in the Maryland House of Delegates.
Early Life
Benjamin Louis Cardin was born on October 5, 1943, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Meyer and Dora Cardin. Cardin's paternal grandparents were Russian Jewish immigrants who changed their last name from Kardonsky to Cardin after arriving in the US. Benjamin's father was active in politics and served in the Maryland House of Delegates as well as on the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City.
Cardin graduated from Baltimore City College in 1961. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Pittsburgh in 1964, where he was a member of the fraternity Pi Lamba Phi. In 1967, he graduated first in his class at the University of Maryland School of Law, earning his Juris doctorate. He began working at a private law practice after passing the Maryland bar examination that same year.
Political Career
Cardin served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1967 through 1986. From 1979 through 1986, he served as speaker of the house. During his tenure as speaker, Cardin worked on a wide range of issues, including property tax reform and school financing.
In 1986, Cardin ran as a Democrat for a congressional seat against Republican Ross Z. Pierpont. Cardin earned 79 percent of the vote to become the representative of Maryland's third congressional district, a position he was re-elected to nine times. He never faced serious opposition for his seat. While in the House, Cardin served on a variety of committees, including the Ethics Committee, the Select Committee on Homeland Security, and the Judiciary Committee. He worked on health care, welfare, and pension reform and served as chairman of the Special Study Commission on Maryland Public Ethics Law.
In 2002, Cardin was among the 133 members of the House of Representatives to vote against the Iraq Resolution, which ultimately passed authorizing the Iraq War.
Cardin announced in 2005 that he would run for the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Paul Sarbanes. He raised $1.6 million and won the competitive Democratic primary. In November, he faced Republican Party challenger Michael S. Steele in the general election. It was an aggressive campaign, during which Cardin ran television ads that highlighted Steele's allegiance to US President George W. Bush, who at the time had low approval ratings nationwide. In turn, Steele ran television ads that accused Cardin of hacking into his online credit report and of stealing his social security number in order to do so.
Cardin won the senatorial election in November of 2006 by roughly 54 percent.
In his first years as a senator, Cardin authored the Medicare Preventive Services Coverage Act of 2007, which expanded coverage for preventative medical procedures (such as mammograms). He supported the 2009 economic stimulus package and was an advocate for issues including energy independence, health care reform, and the environment.
In 2012, Cardin was reelected to the Senate, defeating Republican Dan Bongino. In 2018, Cardin was once again reelected, this time for his third term in the U.S. Senate, defeating Republican challenger Tony Campbell. In 2021, Cardin became the Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee. In his third term, he served on the Committees on Environment and Public Works; Finance; Foreign Relations; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Issues
Cardin is firmly pro-choice, arguing that access to safe abortions should be standard healthcare for women in the United States.
Cardin is a supporter of gun reform and regulations that might help stop the wave of mass shootings and violent crime the United States is experiencing in the twenty-first century.
Cardin is pro-death penalty, arguing in extreme cases, it is warranted.
Cardin supports a scientific basis to climate change and agrees with the main findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Cardin was critical of President Trump’s controversial immigration policies.
Personal Life
Cardin and his wife, Myrna, married in 1964. The couple has one daughter, Deborah. Their son Michael died in 1998.
Bibliography
"About." Senator Ben Cardin, 2023, www.cardin.senate.gov/about/. Accessed 3 Apr. 2023.
"Issues." Senator Ben Cardin, 2023, www.cardin.senate.gov/issues/. Accessed 3 Apr. 2023.
By Elizabeth Adams