Maryland Democrat John Sarbanes to forgo reelection

Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) announced Thursday that he is not seeking reelection for what would have been his 10th term.

Sarbanes will finish his term in 2024 after 18 years in the House. His late father, Paul, at one point held the record for the longest-serving senator for Maryland. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), who replaced him in 2006, is also not seeking reelection in 2024, which left many to speculate that the junior Sarbanes would take his place.

JAMAAL BOWMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO PULLING FIRE ALARM AND AGREES TO PAY FINE

“I believe in public service. My siblings and I grew up with the teaching that there are many ways to serve. Being in Congress is one of them — a truly humbling opportunity to make a difference,” Sarbanes wrote in a statement. “But before coming to Congress, I also found great reward in working with nonprofits, volunteering and otherwise contributing to my community. That too is a powerful form of public service. For some time now, I have found myself drawn back to that kind of work — wanting to explore the many opportunities to serve that exist outside of elected office.”

There is one Democratic candidate for Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District: nurse Kristin Lyman Nabors. It is anticipated to be won by a Democratic candidate again, as Sarbanes won his last election by 20%, but there is a single Republican candidate thus far: Bernard Flowers. This is Flowers’s second congressional bid after he ran in 2022 for the state’s 2nd District.

“Looking back on my nine terms in Congress, I feel an enormous sense of gratitude and accomplishment. These have been among the most rewarding years of my professional life, working with dedicated staff and amazing colleagues — especially the outstanding Maryland delegation — on the most pressing issues of our time,” Sarbanes went on. “I’m excited about starting a new chapter, but for now, there’s still much to do in the remaining fourteen months of the 118th Congress, and that’s where all my energy and attention will be.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

This announcement comes almost three years after Sarbanes’s father died at 87. Sarbanes is 61 years old.

Democratic representatives in the House do not hold the majority. The Republican Party has a slim majority of nine members.