Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) announced on Monday he would not seek another term in the Senate, setting the stage for what is likely to be a competitive primary to replace the three-term incumbent in 2024.
Just one day after Cardin’s announcement, the primary field has already begun to take shape after Montgomery County Councilman Will Jawando announced he would be running for the seat, making him the first Democratic challenger to enter the fray. However, he is likely to face tough competition from high-profile Democrats in the Old Line State, including those who have garnered national recognition for their work in the House.
THE RACE IS ON: LOCAL LAWMAKER IS FIRST TO ANNOUNCE CANDIDACY TO REPLACE CARDIN
Here’s a breakdown of who’s likely to enter the race and who’s already making moves:
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
Among those at the top of the list is Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who is considered to be a top contender for the seat.
Raskin indicated he would be open to running for the seat, telling reporters in February he would leave the option open. However, the House Democrat kept his cards close to his chest on Monday when he congratulated Cardin on his 16-year tenure but stopped short of saying whether he’d vie for his seat.
“Senator Ben Cardin has assembled a remarkable record of advancing the needs and priorities of Maryland,” Raskin wrote. “I salute him and have congratulated him on a truly amazing and inspiring career devoted to service of our people and the old-fashioned public values of honesty and decency. I want to thank him, his beloved wife Myrna and their whole family for their outstanding and continuing contributions to our state.”
Raskin represents Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, where he was first elected in 2017.
Rep. David Trone (D-MD)
Another House lawmaker who has attracted attention for a bid is Rep. David Trone (D-MD), who has been hiring several staff members in the weeks leading up to Cardin’s retirement announcement.
Trone similarly left no hints as to what he will do in the next campaign cycle, releasing a statement on Monday that praised Cardin for his work in the Senate while not mentioning his plans.
“I join my colleagues and the people of Maryland in celebrating the distinguished career and outstanding contributions of Senator Cardin. Across five remarkable decades of public service, Senator Cardin has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the people of Maryland,” he said in a tweet. “Ben gets things done for people — things that lifted up families, here in Maryland and across our nation. For years, Ben has been a champion for working people, bringing jobs to Maryland, especially underserved communities whose voices don’t often reach the halls of power.”
Should he choose to run, Trone would be a force to reckon with because the congressman’s personal wealth is formidable enough to give a boost to a campaign. Trone has spent millions of dollars of his own money on previous congressional campaigns, touting a net worth of somewhere between $12 million and $33 million, according to OpenSecrets.
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks
Also in the running is Angela Alsobrooks, the county executive for Prince George’s County. The local Democrat has also been stacking up her staff lately, raising eyebrows that she may be considering a run.
Most notably, Alsobrooks has reportedly hired Dave Chase, who managed the campaign for Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan’s unsuccessful Senate bid in 2022, to manage her campaign decisions.
Alsobrooks has previously suggested she’d be interested in running for the Senate, telling reporters in February that it would be “an amazing opportunity to represent the state.” However, she did not hint at whether she’d launch a bid in her congratulatory message to Cardin on Monday.
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“I would like to personally thank Senator Ben Cardin for his decades of service to Prince Georgians and Marylanders,” Alsobrooks wrote. “I know our friend Ben will continue to work tirelessly through the remainder of his term, and I’m grateful for the example he has set and the legacy he has established.”
The other side
Meanwhile, a handful of Republicans is also rumored to be considering a Senate run, with many looking to former Gov. Larry Hogan to announce a bid. GOP leaders sought to convince Hogan to run for Senate during the midterm elections, but Hogan declined. Some GOP sources have also suggested they may be pushing for Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken to join the race, according to Axios.
