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===Maryland House of Delegates=== ===Maryland House of Delegates===
Cardin served in the ] from ] to ]. He was chairman of the Ways & Means Committee from ]-], and after that ] until he retired from that house. As Speaker, he was involved with reform efforts involving Maryland's property tax system, the school financing formula and the ethical standards for elected officials.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Cardin served in the ] from ] to ]. He was chairman of the Ways & Means Committee from ]-], and after that ] until he retired from that house. As Speaker, he was involved with reform efforts involving Maryland's property tax system, the school financing formula and the ethical standards for elected officials.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
⚫ ]


===House of Representatives=== ===House of Representatives===
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In 1986, with then-Congresswoman ] running for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Senator ], Cardin ran for Mikulski’s seat representing the 3rd Congressional District. Cardin won the Democratic nomination with 82% of the vote and became Congressman in the general election with 79% of the vote against a perennial candidate, Republican ]. In 1986, with then-Congresswoman ] running for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Senator ], Cardin ran for Mikulski’s seat representing the 3rd Congressional District. Cardin won the Democratic nomination with 82% of the vote and became Congressman in the general election with 79% of the vote against a perennial candidate, Republican ].


⚫ ]
⚫ ] (center) (R-MD) and ] (left) (R-VA) in calling for a study of ] needs of the National Capital region, including ], ] and the ].]]


Cardin was reelected nine times, rarely facing serious opposition. In the 2000 round of redistricting, his was changed to add significant portions of ], including the state capitol of ], to his ]-based district. His last two opponents hailed from Anne Arundel and nearly carried the district's portion of that county. Cardin was reelected nine times, rarely facing serious opposition. In the 2000 round of redistricting, his was changed to add significant portions of ], including the state capitol of ], to his ]-based district. His last two opponents hailed from Anne Arundel and nearly carried the district's portion of that county.
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Cardin has also advocated, via proposed legislation, welfare reform. His bill to increase education and support services for ] children between ages 18 and 21 was signed into law in 1999.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} He authored bills to expand child support, improve the welfare-to-work program, and increase the child care tax credit.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Cardin has also advocated, via proposed legislation, welfare reform. His bill to increase education and support services for ] children between ages 18 and 21 was signed into law in 1999.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} He authored bills to expand child support, improve the welfare-to-work program, and increase the child care tax credit.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

] subcommittee on Human Resources.]]


In ], Cardin was appointed Chairman of the Special Study Commission on Maryland Public Ethics Law by the ]. In ], he co-chaired the Bipartisan Ethics Task Force in an effort to reform ethics procedures in the House of Representatives. He also held leadership positions on the Organization, Study and Review Committee and the Steering Committee of the Democratic Caucus and served as Senior Democratic Whip. In ], Cardin was appointed Chairman of the Special Study Commission on Maryland Public Ethics Law by the ]. In ], he co-chaired the Bipartisan Ethics Task Force in an effort to reform ethics procedures in the House of Representatives. He also held leadership positions on the Organization, Study and Review Committee and the Steering Committee of the Democratic Caucus and served as Senior Democratic Whip.


⚫ ] (center) (R-MD) and ] (left) (R-VA) in calling for a study of ] needs of the National Capital region, including ], ] and the ].]]
⚫ ====Committee assignments====

⚫ ===Committee assignments===
As of May 2006, Cardin served on the following ]: As of May 2006, Cardin served on the following ]:


Revision as of 20:30, 7 March 2007

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Ben Cardin
United States Senator
from Maryland
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2007Serving with Barbara Mikulski
Preceded byPaul Sarbanes
Succeeded byIncumbent (2013)
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMyrna Edelman Cardin
ProfessionLawyer

Benjamin Louis "Ben" Cardin (born October 5 1943) is a Democratic member of the United States Senate representing the state of Maryland. On November 7, 2006, Cardin was elected to the United States Senate seat being vacated by Paul Sarbanes, having defeated Republican challenger Michael S. Steele.

Political career

Maryland House of Delegates

Cardin served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1967 to 1986. He was chairman of the Ways & Means Committee from 1974-1979, and after that Speaker until he retired from that house. As Speaker, he was involved with reform efforts involving Maryland's property tax system, the school financing formula and the ethical standards for elected officials.

House of Representatives

In 1986, with then-Congresswoman Barbara Mikulski running for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Senator Charles Mathias, Jr., Cardin ran for Mikulski’s seat representing the 3rd Congressional District. Cardin won the Democratic nomination with 82% of the vote and became Congressman in the general election with 79% of the vote against a perennial candidate, Republican Ross Z. Pierpont.

On the floor of the House, Rep. Cardin calls for the withdrawal of all troops from Iraq by 2007, June 12, 2006.

Cardin was reelected nine times, rarely facing serious opposition. In the 2000 round of redistricting, his was changed to add significant portions of Anne Arundel County, including the state capitol of Annapolis, to his Baltimore-based district. His last two opponents hailed from Anne Arundel and nearly carried the district's portion of that county.

In the House, Cardin was involved with fiscal issues, pension reform, and health care. His legislation to increase the amount people can store in their 401k plans and IRAs was passed in 2001. His bill to expand Medicare to include preventive benefits such as colorectal, prostate, mammogram, and osteoporosis screening was also enacted. He also authored legislation to provide a Medicare prescription drug benefit for chronic illnesses; fund graduate medical education; and guarantee coverage for emergency services.

Cardin has also advocated, via proposed legislation, welfare reform. His bill to increase education and support services for foster care children between ages 18 and 21 was signed into law in 1999. He authored bills to expand child support, improve the welfare-to-work program, and increase the child care tax credit.

In 1998, Cardin was appointed Chairman of the Special Study Commission on Maryland Public Ethics Law by the Maryland General Assembly. In 1997, he co-chaired the Bipartisan Ethics Task Force in an effort to reform ethics procedures in the House of Representatives. He also held leadership positions on the Organization, Study and Review Committee and the Steering Committee of the Democratic Caucus and served as Senior Democratic Whip.

Rep. Cardin (at podium) joins Reps. Roscoe Bartlett (center) (R-MD) and Jo Ann Davis (left) (R-VA) in calling for a study of homeland security needs of the National Capital region, including Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Committee assignments

As of May 2006, Cardin served on the following House committees:

2006 U.S. Senate election

Main article: Maryland U.S. Senate election, 2006

On April 26, 2005, Cardin announced that he would seek the U.S. Senate seat of current long-standing senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), following the announcement by Sarbanes that he will not be running for re-election in 2006. On September 12, 2006, Cardin faced a challenging primary battle with other Maryland Democrats, including Kweisi Mfume, Josh Rales, Dennis F. Rasmussen, and Allan Lichtman. Cardin won, however, with 44% of the vote, compared to 40% for Mfume, 5% for Rales, and 2% for Rasmussen. He was declared the winner just after 2% of the precincts reporting.

Cardin won election on November 7, 2006, defeating Republican challenger Michael S. Steele 54% to 44%.

Education & honors

Cardin earned his B.A. degree cum laude in 1964 from University of Pittsburgh. In 1967, he graduated first in his class from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Cardin also holds honorary degrees from several institutions, including the University of Baltimore School of Law (1990); University of Maryland, Baltimore (1993); Baltimore Hebrew University (1994); and Goucher College (1996). From 1988-1995, he chaired the Maryland Legal Services Corp.

From 1988-1999, he served on the St. Mary's College of Maryland Board of Trustees, and in 2002, he was appointed to the St. Mary's Advisory Board for the Study of Democracy. In 1999, he was appointed to the Goucher College Board of Trustees.

Policies

-One of the few democrats against Net Neutrality
-Pro-Israel
-Pro-India. As a congressman, Cardin supported civilian-nuclear cooperation with India.

Family

Cardin was raised in a political family, which brought him significant name recognition. The family name was originally “Kardonsky” before it was changed to “Cardin”.

Ben Cardin’s father, Meyer M. Cardin, was elected a Delegate representing District 2 of Baltimore City at the age of 27. He served from 1935 to 1937. The family lived at 1730 E. Baltimore Street. In 1967, Meyer was appointed as a Judge on the Baltimore City Circuit Court and served a 10-year term. Meyer died in 2005.

On November 24, 1964, Cardin married Myrna Edelman, a teacher. They have a daughter, Deborah. Their son Michael committed suicide in 1998 at age 30.

Ben’s uncle, Maurice A. Cardin, formerly known as Morris Kardonsky, served as a Delegate representing District 5 of Baltimore City from 1951 to 1966. Maurice would play a big part in jump-starting young Ben’s political career. Meyer and Maurice were lawyers with the family law firm of Cardin & Cardin; the other partner was Jacob L. Cardin. Shoshana S. Cardin was appointed a delegate from Baltimore County District 2 to the 1967-68 Constitutional Convention, which was rejected by voters of Maryland on May 14, 1968.

In 1966, Maurice decided to not run for the District 5 seat so that his 22-year-old law student nephew Ben could run. The Cardin name proved unstoppable and Ben won, becoming a Delegate in 1967. Ben graduated from law school later that year. Ben subsequently served as Delegate representing District 42 after redistricting. Ben went on to serve as chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee at the age of 31 and as Speaker at the age of 36.

In 2002, Ben’s 32-year-old nephew, Jon S. Cardin, having similarly just graduated from University of Maryland law school in 2001, ran for election as a Delegate representing District 11 of western Baltimore County. With state legislative District 11 overlapping Congressional District 3, there were two Cardins on the ticket in this area in 2002. Present at Jon’s swearing in was the oldest living former member of the House of Delegates at 95 years of age, Meyer Cardin, Jon’s grandfather and Ben’s father. Also in attendance was Ben himself, who stated, "The next generation's taking over." After Ben announced that he would vacate his Congressional seat to run for the U.S. Senate, Jon Cardin stated that he was exploring a campaign for his uncle's Congressional seat.

Election history

Year Office Election Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes %
1986 Congress, 3rd district General Benjamin Cardin Democratic 100,161 79.11% Ross Pierpont Republican 26,452 20.89%
1988 Congress, 3rd district General Benjamin Cardin Democratic 133,779 72.9% Ross Pierpont Republican 49,733 27.1%
1990 Congress, 3rd district General Benjamin Cardin Democratic 82,545 69.73% Harwood Nichols Republican 35,841 30.27%
1992 Congress, 3rd district General Benjamin Cardin Democratic 163,354 99.98% Unopposed
1994 Congress, 3rd district General Benjamin Cardin Democratic 117,269 70.97% Robert Tousey Republican 47,966 29.03%
1996 Congress, 3rd district General Benjamin Cardin Democratic 130,204 67.31% Patrick McDonough Republican 63,229 32.69%
1998 Congress, 3rd district General Benjamin Cardin Democratic 137,501 77.61% Colin Harby Republican 39,667 22.39%
2000 Congress, 3rd district General Benjamin Cardin Democratic 169,347 75.66% Colin Harby Republican 53,827 24.05%
2002 Congress, 3rd district General Benjamin Cardin Democratic 145,589 65.72% Scott Conwell Republican 75,721 34.18%
2004 Congress, 3rd district General Benjamin Cardin Democratic 182,066 63.39% Bob Duckworth Republican 97,008 33.77% Patsy Allen Green 4,224 2.75%
2006 MD Senator, Class 1 General Benjamin Cardin Democratic 965,567 54.20% Michael S. Steele Republican 787,352 44.20% Kevin Zeese Green 27,570 1.55%

References

  1. "For Md.'s Cardin, the Delight Is in the Details", The Washington Post, September 3, 2006.
  2. Two famous-name freshmen begin to carve own niche in Md. House - Balitmore Sun, March 18, 2003

External links


Political offices

Template:USRepSuccession box Template:Incumbent U.S. Senator box

Maryland's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Representatives
(ordered by district)
Current United States senators
President: ▌ Kamala Harris (D) ‧ President pro tempore: ▌ Chuck Grassley (R)
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