Democratic Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin might want to consider his post-Congress plans, as his recent fundraising totals were less than ideal.
According to the Daily Caller, the elderly senator only managed to raise $15,000 in the first quarter of 2023.
Cardin, 79, is nothing less than a relic as far as years served in Congress, becoming a representative in 1987 and ultimately a senator in 2007.
While the amount of money he raised is minuscule, it might ultimately not matter, as some outlets have reported rumors that he will retire and forgo another run to keep his Senate seat.
👀 Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin raised just $15k in Q1 as a lot of ambitious Dems wait to hear whether he’s running again, via @bridgetbhc https://t.co/umuqAbSUfl
— Scott Bland (@scottmbland) April 14, 2023
The Daily Caller noted:
Cardin does have nearly $1 million on hand, an aide noted in response to the Daily Caller’s request for comment. Maryland has not elected a Republican senator since Charles Mathias won a third term in 1980. Former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan declined to run against Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen in 2022, despite entreaties from GOP leadership.
"We are firmly on retirement watch here #MDSen," Matt Holt tweeted.
NEW FEC F3
CARDIN, BENJAMIN L (DEM-Inc) #MDSENRCPT $15,043
EXPN $38,303
COH $995,028https://t.co/JkZFm15voS pic.twitter.com/3Qm3puKgiB— CATargetBot (@CATargetBot) April 14, 2023
During Cardin's last re-election run, by this time, he raised about $325,000, and had roughly $1.4 million in his political war chest.
He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1943, and grew up in a family that emphasized the importance of public service. His father was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, and his mother was a teacher.
Cardin attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Political Science, and then went on to receive a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. He worked as a lawyer in private practice before entering politics.
Cardin began his political career in the Maryland House of Delegates, where he served for 20 years. He then served in the United States House of Representatives for 20 years before being elected to the Senate in 2006. In the House, he was a member of the Ways and Means Committee and was a strong advocate for health care reform, environmental protection, and workers' rights.
Throughout his career, Cardin has been recognized for his dedication to public service and has received numerous awards and honors.
However, he faces new challenges from his younger colleagues, who seem to be moving to push the old guard out as soon as possible, if they're not progressive enough for their taste.