CNN
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Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin announced Friday that he will not run for the Senate in 2024, instead opting to seek re-election in the House.
Raskin previously said he was weighing a possible Senate run to fill the seat vacated by Sen. Ben Cardin, who is retiring in 2025 after serving three terms.
“I am deeply grateful not only to those who have encouraged me on this exciting journey, but also to those across Maryland who have strongly encouraged me to run for the United States Senate seat that Senator Ben Cardin has left vacant,” Raskin said. a long statement.
“If these were normal times, I’m pretty sure that’s what I’d be announcing right now,” he continued. “But these are not normal times, and we are still in the fight of our lives for democratic institutions, freedom and basic social progress in America, as well as human rights and opportunities for people around the world.” .
The four-term congressman noted that he believes “the best way for (him) to make the biggest difference in American politics in 2024 and beyond is this: run for re-election to the House of Representatives in “Maryland’s extraordinary 8th district.”
Raskin admitted that the possibility of running for the US Senate “remained attractive” but pointed to “a different and more urgent call at this time”, citing his advocacy of pro-democracy reforms in the US and the foreigner
“I cannot move away from the center of this struggle in the People’s House and in the country,” he said. “We are still in the fight of our lives, the fight for democracy and freedom and for the survival of humanity.”
Raskin said he would do “whatever it takes” to help elect a Democrat to fill Cardin’s seat and thanked friends, family and advisers, who he said made “compelling arguments” as he contemplated his decision
This story is breaking and will be updated.
