Defending Civil liberties and equal rights

• A staunch and early supporter of marriage equality and other LGBTQ+ rights, including transgender equality.
• A leading voice—and sponsor of bills—for increased funding for mental health and developmental disability resources.
• Stalwart supporter of preserving Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body. 
• Advocate of rights and opportunities for Maryland's underserved, from securing increased funding for Baltimore City Public Schools to ensuring laws do not discriminate against minorities and other underserved groups.
• Encouraged stronger state level efforts to prevent and respond to hate crimes and to ban hate symbols.

• One of Maryland’s most effective legislators on campaign finance reform and voter protection.
• A key advocate for accessible polling locations and a thorough, community-minded process for changing polling places.
• Spearheaded the fight for same-day voter registration, increased transparency and accountability for super-PACs and other outside campaign spending, public financing of political campaigns, and defeating voter suppression laws. 
• Former Chairman of the Election Law subcommittee, carrying the charge to protect one of our most sacred civil liberties – the right to vote – and successfully blocking voter suppression efforts across our state, while taking protective measures against election fraud.

Since the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, – the case that overturned Roe v. Wade  – 14 states (and counting) have enacted abortion bans. In Maryland, Delegate Cardin is determined to protect and expand access to this essential healthcare service.

• An advocate for Maryland as a reproductive health “safe haven,” sponsoring legislation that ensures anyone can get abortion care in Maryland regardless of the laws in their home state.
• A leader in efforts to expand abortion access and ensure abortion care is included in state-sponsored medical insurance.