Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, 79, will RETIRE rather than run again in 2024
Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, 79, will RETIRE rather than run again in 2024: Lawmaker who’s been in Congress for 35 years clears way for VERY competitive race in Maryland
- Cardin made the retirement announcement Monday in a video he shared on Twitter
- ‘I am proud of all I have 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 be seeking reelection
Longtime Maryland Senator Ben Cardin will retire at the end of his current term, he announced Monday, setting up what promises to be a fierce primary in the deeply Democratic state.
The Democrat, who has served a total of 35 years in Congress, made the retirement announcement Monday in a video he shared on Twitter.
‘I am proud of all I have done for Maryland. 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. Thank you, 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, later as a member of the House of Representatives, and now as a United States Senator,’ Cardin said Monday.
‘When this term ends, it will be my last year as an elected official. I will not seek re-election,’ he continued.
The Democrat, who has served a total of 35 years in Congress, made the retirement announcement Monday in a video he shared on Twitter
Sen. Cardin made the retirement announcement Monday in a video he shared on Twitter
Cardin’s seat is not expected to flip to Republicans as Maryland is a deeply blue state
The announcement by Cardin, 79, comes the same day that sitting Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington state also announced his retirement.
Inslee was first elected in 2012 and he is 72 years old.
‘Serving the people as governor of Washington state has been my greatest honor. During a decade of dynamic change, we’ve made Washington a beacon for progress for the nation. I’m ready to pass the torch,’ Inslee said in a statement Monday morning.
The retiring Democratic politicians, both in their 70s, comes the week after President Biden, who is 80, announced his reelection ambition.
National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesperson Tate Mitchell told DailyMail.com about Cardin’s retirement news: ‘Democrats are quickly realizing that the Senate won’t be any fun for them when Republicans retake the majority in 2024.’
The seat is not expected to flip to Republicans as Maryland is a deeply blue state.
It will tee up a competitive 2024 Democratic primary, which many Senate hopefuls jumping into the race.
The announcement by Cardin, 79, comes the same day that sitting Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington state, above, also announced his retirement
Cardin and his wife in the video he posted Monday stating that he will not be running for reelection
A Republican has not held a Senate seat representing Maryland since 1980.
Current Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., has been a name floated around as a possible successor to Cardin.
Raskin, who represents the state’s 8th congressional district, recently announced that his cancer, Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma, is in remission. He has been a leading Democrat in the House, including serving as an impeachment manager into former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment.
Former GOP Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is also rumored to have plans to enter the race as the Republican candidate.
Hogan recently announced that he will not seek a bid for president in 2024.