Ben Cardin

Ben Cardin
United States Senator from Maryland
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2007 Serving with Barbara Mikulski
Preceded by	Paul Sarbanes
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
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 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Myrna Edelman
Children	Deborah Michael
Residence	Baltimore, Maryland
Alma mater	University of Pittsburgh (B.A.) University of Maryland (J.D.)
Religion	Judaism
Website	Senate website

Benjamin Louis "Ben" Cardin (born October 5, 1943) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party who serves as the junior United States Senator from Maryland, in office since 2007. Before his election to the Senate, Cardin, who has never lost an election, was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Maryland's 3rd congressional district (1987-2007). He also served in the Maryland House of Delegates (1967-87), serving as Speaker (1979-87). He was the youngest Speaker in Maryland history.

Cardin was elected to succeed Paul Sarbanes in the 2006 U.S. Senate election, defeating Republican Michael Steele, the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, by a margin of 54% to 44%. He was re-elected in 2012 with 55% of the vote. He will become the senior Senator upon the forthcoming and announced retirement of Barbara Mikulski.

Early life and career

Cardin was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Dora (née Green) and Meyer M. Cardin (1907–2005). The family name was originally Kardonsky before it was changed to Cardin. Cardin's grandparents were Russian Jewish immigrants. His grandfather operated a neighborhood grocery store that later turned into a wholesale food distribution company. His father, Meyer Cardin, served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1935 to 1937, and later sat on the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City from 1961 to 1977.

Cardin and his family attend the Modern Orthodox Beth Tfiloh Congregation near their home, with which the family has been affiliated for three generations. He graduated from Baltimore City College in 1961 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in 1964 from the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a member of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity. He earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1967, graduating first in his class. Cardin was admitted to the Maryland Bar that same year, and entered a private practice.

Political career

Maryland House of Delegates

Cardin served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1967 to 1986. First elected while still attending law school, he served in the seat once held by his uncle, Maurice Cardin, who had decided to not run for reelection so that his nephew could instead pursue the seat. He was chairman of the Ways & Means Committee from 1974 to 1979, then Speaker of the House until he left office. At age 35, he was one of the youngest Speakers in Maryland history. As Speaker, he was involved with reform efforts involving Maryland's property tax system, school financing formula, and ethical standards for elected officials.

U.S. House of Representatives

In 1986, with then-Congresswoman Barbara Mikulski running for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Senator Charles Mathias, Cardin ran for Mikulski’s seat representing the 3rd Congressional District. Cardin won the Democratic nomination with 82 percent of the vote, and became Congressman in the general election with 79 percent 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 and even running unopposed in 1992. In the 2000 round of redistricting, his district was altered to add significant portions of Anne Arundel County, including the state capital 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 individuals 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 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 House Democratic Caucus, and served as Senior Democratic Whip.

Cardin has been commended for his work with fiscal policy. He has been honored by Worth magazine and by Treasury and Risk Management for his work protecting retirement plans and government-supported medical care for the elderly. He has also received scores of 100% percent from the League of Conservation Voters and the NAACP, indicating stances that are in favor of environmental protection and civil rights. Cardin was also one of 133 members of Congress to vote against the 2002 Iraq Resolution.

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:

• Member of the Ways and Means Committee.
  • Ranking member of the Trade Subcommittee.
  • Member of the Human Resources Subcommittee.
• Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

U.S. Senate

2006 election

Main article: United States Senate election in Maryland, 2006

On April 26, 2005, Cardin announced that he would seek the U.S. Senate seat of long-standing senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), following the announcement by Sarbanes that he would 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 percent of the vote, compared to 40 percent for Mfume, five percent for Rales, and two percent for Rasmussen. He was declared the winner after just two percent of the precincts had reported.

Cardin won election on November 7, 2006, defeating Republican challenger Michael Steele 54 percent to 44 percent. Cardin became the third consecutive Representative from Maryland's 3rd Congressional District to be elected Senator (following Sarbanes and Mikulski).

2012 election

Main article: United States Senate election in Maryland, 2012

Cardin ran for re-election to a second term in 2012. He turned back a primary challenged from State Senator C. Anthony Muse, defeating him 74% to 16%, with seven other candidates taking the remaining 10%.

In the general election, he faced Republican Dan Bongino, a former United States Secret Service agent, Independent Rob Sobhani, an economist and businessman and Libertarian Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, President of the Minaret of Freedom Institute. Cardin easily won the election, taking 55% of the vote to Bongino's 27%, Sobhani's 17% and Ahmad's 1%.

Committee assignments

Cardin currently serves on the following Senate Committees in the 114th United States Congress:

• Committee on Finance
  • United States Senate Finance Committee Subcommittee on Health Care
  • United States Senate Finance Committee Subcommittee on Taxation & IRS Oversight
• Committee on Environment and Public Works
  • Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety
  • Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife
• Committee on Foreign Relations (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Near East and South and Central Asian Affairs
  • Subcommittee on European Affairs
  • Subcommittee on African Affairs
• Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
• Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Co-Chairman)

Caucus membership

• Senate Oceans Caucus
• Senate Military Family Caucus
• Senate Ukraine Caucus

Accolades

2015

• Cardin was credited in April 2015 with facilitating, as the new Ranking Member, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 19-0 vote on the markup for the bill on the USA's involvement in the negotiations with Iran on nuclear technology. He had become ranking member only two weeks before, upon the departure of Senator Robert Menendez.

International experience

Cardin has been a Commissioner on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the U.S. Helsinki Commission) since 1993, serving as Ranking Member from 2003 to 2006. In the 110th Congress, he was appointed co-chairman of the Commission, and is currently Vice President of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly.

Honors

Cardin testifying before the U.S. House Ways and Means subcommittee on Human Resources.

Cardin holds honorary degrees from several institutions, including the University of Baltimore School of Law (1990); University of Maryland, Baltimore (1993); Baltimore Hebrew University (1994); Goucher College (1996); and Villa Julie College (2007).

Cardin currently sits on the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland School of Law, his law school alma mater.

From 1988 to 1995, he chaired the Maryland Legal Services Corp. Through much of his political career, he has continued to work with law policy.

From 1988 to 1999, Cardin 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

On a list by Congressional Quarterly of the members of Congress who were most supportive of President Barack Obama's legislative agenda in 2009, Cardin was tied for fifth most supportive Senator with five other Senators. In 2013, National Journal rated him as the fifth most-liberal Democrat in the Senate.

Cardin supports Net Neutrality, as shown by his vote during the 109th Congress in favor of the Markey Amendment to H.R. 5252 which would add Net Neutrality provisions to the federal telecommunications code. Cardin also supports Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act, which gives DOJ the tools to target those site owners who are engaged in illegal digital piracy.

In 2007, Cardin supported the United States Public Service Academy Act. The Act would serve to create "an undergraduate institution devoted to developing civilian leaders." Like the Military Academies, this would give students 4 years of tuition-free education in exchange for 5 years of public service upon graduation.

Cardin is also pro-Israel and pro-India. He supported civilian nuclear cooperation with India.

In November 2011, Cardin's intended update of the 1917 Espionage Act upset some public disclosure advocates. They complained that it "would make it harder for federal employees to expose government fraud and abuse."

Cardin is opposed to eliminating the tax loophole for charitable deductions and supports raising taxes on higher income earners. During a December 20, 2012, interview with Maria Bartiromo on CNBC, Cardin stated, "We're now a few days away from Christmas. The easiest way to get the revenues is to get the rates from the higher income, uh, taxpayers." In response to the question, "Are you prepared to vote to limit the loophole of charitable deductions?" Cardin responded, "No."

Liberal environmentalists criticized Cardin for compromising too much while working with conservative James Inhofe on an amendment to Cardin's Chesapeake Bay legislation. Josh Saks, senior legislative representative for water resources campaigns with the National Wildlife Federation, praised Cardin as "the lead voice for clean water and the restoration of America's great waters in Congress."

In the 111th Congress, Cardin helped secure dental benefits in the State Children's Health Insurance Plan.

Family

Cardin married high school sweetheart Myrna Edelman, a teacher, on November 24, 1964. They have a daughter, Deborah. Their son Michael committed suicide on March 24, 1998 at age 30. He has two granddaughters.

In 2002, Ben’s 32-year-old nephew, Jon S. Cardin, who 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, though he ultimately decided to seek reelection to the House of Delegates.

Volunteer service

For many years Cardin served on the Board of Trustees for St. Mary's College of Maryland. He was very active on the board and also played key roles in the establishment of the Center for the Study of Democracy at the college, where he also served on the advisory board.

Election history

Year	Office	Election		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
1986	Congress, MD-3	General		Benjamin Cardin	Democratic	100,161	79.11%		Ross Pierpont	Republican	26,452	20.89%
1988	Congress, MD-3	General		Benjamin Cardin	Democratic	133,779	72.9%		Ross Pierpont	Republican	49,733	27.1%
1990	Congress, MD-3	General		Benjamin Cardin	Democratic	82,545	69.73%		Harwood Nichols	Republican	35,841	30.27%
1992	Congress, MD-3	General		Benjamin Cardin	Democratic	163,354	99.98%		Unopposed
1994	Congress, MD-3	General		Benjamin Cardin	Democratic	117,269	70.97%		Robert Tousey	Republican	47,966	29.03%
1996	Congress, MD-3	General		Benjamin Cardin	Democratic	130,204	67.31%		Patrick McDonough	Republican	63,229	32.69%
1998	Congress, MD-3	General		Benjamin Cardin	Democratic	137,501	77.61%		Colin Harby	Republican	39,667	22.39%
2000	Congress, MD-3	General		Benjamin Cardin	Democratic	169,347	75.66%		Colin Harby	Republican	53,827	24.05%		Joseph Pomykala	Libertarian	238
2002	Congress, MD-3	General		Benjamin Cardin	Democratic	145,589	65.72%		Scott Conwell	Republican	75,721	34.18%
2004	Congress, MD-3	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%
2012	MD Senator, Class 1	General		Benjamin Cardin	Democratic	1,474,028	56.0%		Dan Bongino	Republican	693,291	26.3%		S. Rob Sobhani	Independent	430,934	16.4%

Footnotes

• Ben Cardin at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Congressional Quarterly Voting and Elections Collection

Further reading

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress

External links

• Senator Ben Cardin official U.S. Senate site
• Ben Cardin for Senate
• Ben Cardin at DMOZ
• Appearances on C-SPAN

Political offices
Preceded by John Hanson Briscoe	Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates 1979–1987	Succeeded by Clayton Mitchell
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Barbara Mikulski	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 3rd congressional district 1987–2007	Succeeded by John Sarbanes
Party political offices
Preceded by Paul Sarbanes	Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Maryland (Class 1) 2006, 2012	Most recent
United States Senate
Preceded by Paul Sarbanes	U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Maryland 2007–present Served alongside: Barbara Mikulski	Incumbent
Preceded by Alcee Hastings	Chairman of the Joint Helsinki Commission 2009–2011	Succeeded by Chris Smith
Preceded by Chris Smith	Chairman of the Joint Helsinki Commission 2013–2015
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Bob Menendez	United States Senators by seniority 36th	Succeeded by Bernie Sanders