Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin not seeking reelection, triggering competitive primary in 2024

Sen. Ben Cardin said Monday he will not seek reelection at the end of his third term, likely triggering a competitive primary to replace the Maryland Democrat in 2024.

“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,” Cardin said in a statement.

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Cardin, a longtime Maryland lawmaker, was first elected to the Senate in 2006, replacing retiring Democrat Paul Sarbanes. Before that, the 79-year-old represented Maryland’s third congressional district – including a large part of Baltimore and several surrounding suburbs – in the House of Representatives from 1987 to 2006.

“I salute my friend and our state’s senior Senator Ben Cardin on his extraordinary public service to Maryland and our country,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said in a statement Monday. “It is a privilege to serve alongside him and in partnership every day for the people of our great state.”

Throughout his Senate career, Cardin has been a leader in issues of health care, retirement security, the environment and the economy as well as a leading advocate for clean water and the Chesapeake Bay – the U.S.’s largest estuary.

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Cardin, the chairman of the Senate’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, also helped write the Paycheck Protection Program, which helped small businesses in his home state and those nationwide face the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I have run my last election and will not be on the ballot in 2024, but there is still much work to be done,” Cardin said. “During the next two years, I will continue to travel around the state, listening to Marylanders and responding to their needs.”

Cardin also highlighted his top priorities during the remainder of his term, including continuing his work with the Chesapeake Bay, addressing the needs of people in Baltimore City and the permanent expansion of telehealth, mental and behavioral health opportunities.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sen. Ben Cardin is not running in 2024, leaving Senate seat open