Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), who has served in Congress since 1987, announced on Monday that he will not be seeking re-election to his Senate seat in 2024. Cardin was first elected to the U.S. House in 1986. In 2006, he won the U.S. Senate seat previously held by Paul Sarbanes.

Now serving in his third term as senator, the 79-year-old tweeted the news.

I am proud of all I have done for Maryland. I have given my heart and soul to our great state, and I thank Marylanders for trusting me as your representative for all these years.

Thank you, Maryland.https://t.co/3SVbOSKn86

— Senator Ben Cardin (@SenatorCardin) May 1, 2023

I am proud of all I have done for Maryland. I have given my heart and soul to our great state, and I thank Marylanders for trusting me as your representative for all these years. Thank you, Maryland.

The tweet includes a five-minute YouTube video that begins with Cardin’s wife, Myrna, recalling his first run for the Maryland House of Delegates 56 years ago while in law school. They both reflect on his career, the legislative issues about which he’s been passionate, and the experiences their family has had.

Near the end of the video, as Cardin finishes outlining some of the things he still hopes to accomplish, Myrna says, “But, Ben, I think it’s time.” The Senator agrees:

It is time. It is time and when this term ends, it’ll be my last years as an elected official — I will not seek re-election. Thank you, Marylanders. Thank you for giving me the opportunity of my life — to represent you in the United States Senate. I’ve given my heart and soul, trying to do my best, and I thank you for giving me that opportunity.

While in the Senate, Cardin has served on the Environment and Public Works, Finance, Foreign Relations, and Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committees. Additionally, Cardin was tapped in April by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily serve on the Judiciary Committee during the illness-related absence of Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), however, that attempt was blocked by Senate Republicans.

While age may be a factor in his decision, Cardin is hardly the oldest of those serving in the Senate at present. Feinstein is the eldest at 89, with Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) right on her heels, also at 89, Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at 81, and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) at 80. There may be some foresight as to what the 119th Congress will bring at play as well. In response to Cardin’s announcement, the NRSC remarked on anticipated gains for Republicans in the 2024 election:

“Democrats are quickly realizing that the Senate won’t be any fun for them when Republicans retake the majority in 2024,” National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesperson, Tate Mitchell, told Fox News.

Cardin is not the only member of his family to have served in public office. His father, Meyer, served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1935 to 1937. His nephew, Jon Cardin, has served in the House of Delegates on and off since 2002.