 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  from 1987 to 2007. he also served in the maryland house of delegates from 1967 to 1987, serving as speaker from 1979 to 1987. 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. ==early life and career== cardin was born in baltimore, maryland, the son of dora (nÃ©e green) and meyer m. cardin (1907â2005).genealogy of ben cardin 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 l
1943_births American_Orthodox_Jews American_people_of_Russian-Jewish_descent Baltimore_City_College_alumni Democratic_Party_United_States_Senators Democratic_Party_members_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives Jewish_United_States_Senators Jewish_members_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives Living_people Maryland_Democrats Members_of_the_Maryland_House_of_Delegates Members_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives_from_Maryland Politicians_from_Baltimore,_Maryland Speakers_of_the_Maryland_House_of_Delegates St._Mary\'s_College_of_Maryland United_States_Senators_from_Maryland University_of_Maryland_School_of_Law_alumni University_of_Pittsburgh_alumni