Benjamin Louis "Ben" Cardin (born October 5, 1943) is a Democratic member of the United States Senate representing the state of Maryland. On November 7, 2006, Cardin was elected to the United States Senate seat being vacated by Paul Sarbanes, having defeated Republican challenger Lt. Governor Michael S. Steele.

Political career
Cardin served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1967 to 1986. He was chairman of the Ways & Means Committee from 1974 to 1979, and after that Speaker until he retired from that house. As Speaker, he was involved with reform efforts involving Maryland's property tax system, the school financing formula and the ethical standards for elected officials.

House of Representatives
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.
  Ranking member of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Committee assignments
  
  
  Main article: Maryland U.S. Senate election, 2006 2006 U.S. Senate election
  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.[3]
  
  International experience
  Cardin earned his B.A. degree cum laude in 1964 from University of Pittsburgh. In 1967, he graduated first in his class from the University of Maryland School of Law. Cardin also holds honorary degrees from several institutions, including the University of Baltimore School of Law (1990); University of Maryland, Baltimore (1993); Baltimore Hebrew University (1994); and Goucher College (1996). From 1988 to 1995, he chaired the Maryland Legal Services Corp.
  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.
  
  Education & honors
  
  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. [4]
  Pro-Israel.[5]
  Pro-India. As a congressman, Cardin supported civilian nuclear cooperation with India.[6] Policies
  Cardin was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Dora Green and Meyer M. Cardin. 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.
  
  Election history
  
  Ben Cardin at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
  Congressional Quarterly Voting and Elections Collection