Benjamin L. Cardin
Former senator for Maryland · Democrat; served until January 3, 2025
View:InteractiveSummary Compare with another member · All members from Maryland
Seats held: Senator for MD, 2007–2025 · Representative for MD-3, 1987–2007.
Maryland has about 6.3 million residents, represented by two senators.
Votes compared with what constituents said
- Cooperative Election Study: voted with 59 of 67 surveyed votes where Maryland's estimated majority was clear.
- Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape: voted with 1 of 1 surveyed votes where Maryland's estimated majority was clear.
| Survey question | Vote | How they voted | What constituents said | Compared |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibit government restrictions on access to contraceptives (Right to Contraception Act) | June 5, 2024 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (71.5% support, likely 67.7–75.4%) | With the majority |
| Renew post-9/11 surveillance programs that allow searching electronic data without a warrant (FISA reauthorization) | April 19, 2024 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (36.9% support, likely 32.8–40.9%) | Against the majority |
| Recognize same-sex and interracial marriages (Respect for Marriage Act) | November 29, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (69.5% support, likely 65.3–73.6%) | With the majority |
| Require all federal agencies to recognize same-sex marriages (Respect for Marriage Act) | November 29, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (65.2% support, likely 59.7–70.6%) | With the majority |
| Clean-energy tax credits, lower ACA premiums and Medicare drug price negotiation (Inflation Reduction Act) | August 7, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (72.6% support, likely 68.8–76.4%) | With the majority |
| $52 billion for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and research (CHIPS and Science Act) | July 27, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (66.3% support, likely 62.3–70.3%) | With the majority |
| Increase spending on mental health and school safety, and tighten gun background checks for buyers under 21 (Bipartisan Safer Communities Act) | June 23, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (89.1% support, likely 85.2–93%) | With the majority |
| Prohibit government restrictions on access to abortion services (second wording) | May 11, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (65.5% support, likely 60.1–71%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Prohibit government restrictions on access to abortion services (Women's Health Protection Act) | May 11, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (65.5% support, likely 60–71%) | With the majority |
| Prohibit government restrictions on access to abortion services (Women's Health Protection Act) | May 11, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (63.1% support, likely 59–67.1%) | With the majority |
| Appoint Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court | April 7, 2022 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (60.6% support, likely 56.4–64.8%) | With the majority |
| Spend $150 billion a year for 8 years on roads, bridges, transit, water systems and broadband (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) | August 10, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (85.4% support, likely 81.1–89.7%) | With the majority |
| Spend $150 billion a year for 8 years on roads, bridges, transit, water systems and broadband (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) | August 10, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (83.1% support, likely 79.8–86.4%) | With the majority |
| Spend $150 billion a year for 8 years on roads, bridges, transit, water systems and broadband (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) | August 10, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (81.2% support, likely 76.8–85.5%) | With the majority |
| Increase federal spending on high-tech research and development (U.S. Innovation and Competition Act) | June 8, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (69% support, likely 64.1–73.9%) | With the majority |
| Establish a commission to investigate the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol | May 28, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (66.4% support, likely 61.4–71.4%) | With the majority |
| Authorize up to $1.9 trillion in COVID relief (American Rescue Plan) | March 6, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (64% support, likely 59.9–68.1%) | With the majority |
| Authorize up to $1.9 trillion in COVID relief (American Rescue Plan) | March 6, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (68.3% support, likely 63.3–73.2%) | With the majority |
| Impeach and convict President Trump (January 2021) | February 13, 2021 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (63% support, likely 54.1–71.9%) | With the majority |
| CARES Act ($2 trillion in coronavirus relief, March 2020) | March 25, 2020 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (89.5% support, likely 87.1–91.9%) | With the majority |
| Remove President Trump from office for obstruction of Congress | February 5, 2020 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (58.8% support, likely 54.9–62.6%) | With the majority |
| Remove President Trump from office for abuse of power | February 5, 2020 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (61.4% support, likely 57.6–65.2%) | With the majority |
| Build a wall on the southern border | March 14, 2019 · official record | Yea (against the proposal) | Most oppose (36.6% support, likely 34.9–38.2%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court | October 6, 2018 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (40.8% support, likely 37.1–44.4%) | With the majority |
| Confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court | October 6, 2018 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (40.7% support, likely 35.3–46.2%) | With the majority |
| Appoint Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court | October 6, 2018 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (37.3% support, likely 33.5–41%) | With the majority |
| Repeal only the Affordable Care Act's requirement that everyone have health insurance | December 20, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (38.4% support, likely 34.7–42.1%) | Related bill, not counted |
| The 2017 tax bill (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) | December 20, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (51.2% support, likely 47.4–55.1%) | Too close to call |
| Impose sanctions on countries and firms doing business with North Korea | July 27, 2017 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (72.4% support, likely 69–75.8%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Require the President to get Congress's approval to ease sanctions on Russia | July 27, 2017 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (74.6% support, likely 71.2–77.9%) | With the majority |
| Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea) | July 27, 2017 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (83.5% support, likely 78.6–88.4%) | With the majority |
| Repeal the entire Affordable Care Act | July 26, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (33.6% support, likely 29.9–37.3%) | With the majority |
| Repeal the Affordable Care Act | July 26, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (42.3% support, likely 36.2–48.4%) | With the majority |
| Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 (government funding through September 2017) | May 4, 2017 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (73.9% support, likely 68.2–79.5%) | With the majority |
| Appoint Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court | April 7, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (46% support, likely 42.3–49.8%) | With the majority |
| Confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court | April 7, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (49.9% support, likely 43.7–56%) | Too close to call |
| Confirm Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education | February 7, 2017 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (42.5% support, likely 36.4–48.6%) | With the majority |
| Education reform (Every Student Succeeds Act, replacing No Child Left Behind) | December 9, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (80.9% support, likely 77.8–84%) | With the majority |
| Repeal the Affordable Care Act | December 3, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (52.6% support, likely 48.8–56.5%) | Too close to call |
| Highway and transportation funding (FAST Act) | December 3, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (87.1% support, likely 84.4–89.7%) | With the majority |
| Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement | June 24, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (57.1% support, likely 53.3–60.9%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement | June 24, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (62.8% support, likely 56.6–69%) | Related bill, not counted |
| USA Freedom Act (end bulk collection of phone records) | June 2, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (76.7% support, likely 70.5–82.8%) | With the majority |
| USA Freedom Act (end bulk collection of phone records) | June 2, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (57.2% support, likely 49.6–64.7%) | Too close to call |
| Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (change how Medicare pays doctors) | April 14, 2015 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (65.5% support, likely 61.8–69.1%) | With the majority |
| Approve the Keystone XL pipeline | January 29, 2015 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (54.9% support, likely 48.5–61.4%) | Too close to call |
| Raise the debt ceiling | February 12, 2014 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (53.1% support, likely 49.2–57.1%) | Too close to call |
| Agriculture bill (farm programs and food stamps, 2014 Farm Bill) | February 4, 2014 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (63.9% support, likely 60.1–67.7%) | With the majority |
| Let states collect sales tax on online purchases from out-of-state sellers (Marketplace Fairness Act) | May 6, 2013 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (43.6% support, likely 37.8–49.4%) | Against the majority |
| Renew the Violence Against Women Act | February 12, 2013 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (87.9% support, likely 83.7–92.2%) | With the majority |
| Renew the Violence Against Women Act | February 12, 2013 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (93.9% support, likely 90.2–97.5%) | With the majority |
| Middle Class Tax Cut Act (extend the Bush-era income tax cuts for incomes under $250,000) | July 25, 2012 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (60.4% support, likely 56.5–64.2%) | With the majority |
| Middle Class Tax Cut Act (extend the Bush-era income tax cuts for incomes under $250,000) | July 25, 2012 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (49.7% support, likely 45.8–53.7%) | Too close to call |
| Ryan budget plan (House budget resolution for 2013) | May 16, 2012 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (17.3% support, likely 14.3–20.3%) | With the majority |
| Approve the Keystone XL pipeline | March 8, 2012 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (70.8% support, likely 67–74.5%) | Against the majority |
| Let employers and insurers refuse to cover birth control for religious or moral reasons (Blunt amendment) | March 1, 2012 · official record | Yea (against the proposal) | Most oppose (32.1% support, likely 28.5–35.8%) | With the majority |
| U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement | October 12, 2011 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (53.5% support, likely 49.6–57.4%) | Too close to call |
| End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) | December 18, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (68.9% support, likely 63.6–74.2%) | With the majority |
| End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) | December 18, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (71.9% support, likely 68.3–75.5%) | With the majority |
| Confirm Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court | August 5, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (56.3% support, likely 52–60.6%) | With the majority |
| Financial reform (Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) | July 15, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (76.3% support, likely 72.6–80.1%) | With the majority |
| Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) | December 24, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (57.6% support, likely 52–63.3%) | With the majority |
| Affordable Care Act of 2010 | December 24, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (68.6% support, likely 64.9–72.4%) | With the majority |
| Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) | December 24, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (58.8% support, likely 54.4–63.1%) | With the majority |
| Confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court | August 6, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (58.9% support, likely 52.6–65.2%) | With the majority |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (55.9% support, likely 49.6–62.2%) | Too close to call |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (59% support, likely 53.4–64.6%) | With the majority |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (58.7% support, likely 54.4–62.9%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | January 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (78.8% support, likely 73.3–84.4%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | January 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (75.8% support, likely 69.2–82.4%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | January 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (77.4% support, likely 73.7–81.1%) | With the majority |
| Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (more time to sue over pay discrimination) | January 22, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (68% support, likely 61.9–74%) | With the majority |
| The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) | October 1, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (29.6% support, likely 22.1–37.1%) | Against the majority |
| The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) | October 1, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (31.2% support, likely 23.6–38.9%) | Against the majority |
| The $700 billion bank bailout (Emergency Economic Stabilization Act) | October 1, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (34.5% support, likely 29.8–39.2%) | Against the majority |
| Federal help for homeowners facing foreclosure (Housing and Economic Recovery Act) | July 26, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (60.3% support, likely 55.3–65.2%) | With the majority |
| Allow eavesdropping on overseas terrorist suspects without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) | July 9, 2008 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (70.6% support, likely 65.2–75.9%) | Against the majority |
| Allow eavesdropping on overseas communications without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) | July 9, 2008 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (62.6% support, likely 57.9–67.3%) | Against the majority |
| Extend NAFTA-style free trade to Peru (U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement) | December 4, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (54.9% support, likely 49.6–60.1%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) | September 27, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (80.3% support, likely 76.5–84.2%) | With the majority |
| Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) | April 11, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (66.2% support, likely 60.7–71.6%) | With the majority |
| Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) | April 11, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (69.6% support, likely 65.5–73.6%) | With the majority |
| Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) | April 11, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (69.5% support, likely 64.9–74.1%) | With the majority |
| Raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour (Fair Minimum Wage Act) | February 1, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (84.3% support, likely 80.8–87.8%) | With the majority |
Attendance
In the 118th Congress, Benjamin L. Cardin missed 18 of 691 Senate votes (2.6%). On votes where most of their party voted one way, they voted with their party 98.5% of the time.