U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, said he hopes to decide before July 4 whether he’ll run to fill the seat of outgoing U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin.
Raskin, who represents Montgomery County, expressed interest in the seat last month when Cardin, also a Democrat, announced that he would not seek reelection. Raskin is serving a fourth term in the House.
“These Senate seats only open up every 25 to 30 years. A lot of people are encouraging me to check it out because there are certain constitutional functions that the Senate has that the House doesn’t have, like [advise] and consent, Supreme Court nominations, judicial nominations, a lot of things that I’m interested in,” Raskin told Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
“And that’s why I’m seriously considering it,” he said. Raskin, 60, said he hopes to decide before July 4. The primary election is in May 2024.
The Democratic congressman was diagnosed with cancer last year and finished chemotherapy last month. He appeared on CNN wearing a head scarf, having lost hair during his chemotherapy treatment for diffuse large B cell lymphoma, a serious but curable form of cancer.
Several Democrats have declared their candidacy after Cardin’s announcement. The 79-year-old’s term ends in January 2025.
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If he does enter the race, Raskin would be the third figure to do so from Montgomery County. County Councilman Will Jawando and activist Jerome Segal have already announced their intention to seek Cardin’s seat.
U.S. Rep. David Trone, who represents Frederick County and Western Maryland, and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks have also expressed their plans to succeed Cardin.
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. declined to run and instead endorsed Alsobrooks.