Ben Cardin

Ben Cardin
United States Senator from Maryland
In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Paul Sarbanes
Succeeded by	Angela Alsobrooks
Senate positions Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee In office September 27, 2023 – January 3, 2025 Preceded by Bob Menendez Succeeded by Jim Risch Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee In office February 3, 2021 – September 27, 2023 Preceded by Marco Rubio Succeeded by Jeanne Shaheen Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee In office February 6, 2018 – February 3, 2021 Preceded by Jeanne Shaheen Succeeded by Rand Paul In office January 3, 2015 – April 2, 2015 Preceded by Jim Risch Succeeded by Jeanne Shaheen Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee In office April 2, 2015 – February 6, 2018 Preceded by Bob Menendez Succeeded by Bob Menendez
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 3rd district
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Barbara Mikulski
Succeeded by	John Sarbanes
103rd Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates
In office January 6, 1979 – January 3, 1987
Preceded by	John Hanson Briscoe
Succeeded by	Clayton Mitchell
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from the 42nd district
In office January 6, 1967 – January 3, 1987
Preceded by	Maurice Cardin
Succeeded by	David Shapiro
Personal details
Born	Benjamin Louis Cardin (1943-10-05) October 5, 1943 (age 81) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Myrna Edelman ​ (m. 1964)​
Children	2
Relatives	Meyer Cardin (father) Maurice Cardin (uncle) Jon Cardin (nephew)
Education	University of Pittsburgh (BA) University of Maryland, Baltimore (JD)
Signature
Website	Senate website
Cardin's voice Cardin questions Daniel Werfel, nominee for IRS commissioner. Recorded February 15, 2023

Benjamin Louis Cardin (born October 5, 1943) is an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States senator from Maryland from 2007 until 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the U.S. representative for Maryland's 3rd congressional district from 1987 to 2007. Cardin served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1967 to 1987 and as its speaker from 1979 to 1987. Cardin has never lost an election in his entire political career.^[1]

Cardin was elected as U.S. senator to succeed Paul Sarbanes in 2006, defeating Republican Michael Steele, the lieutenant governor of Maryland. He became Maryland's senior U.S. senator on January 3, 2017, upon Barbara Mikulski's retirement. Cardin won reelection in 2012 and 2018, and retired on January 3, 2025.