The Ben & Myrna Cardin Center for Civic Engagement & Civil Discourse at Towson University will host U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, for “Midterm Review - What’s Next for Congress” on Monday, Nov. 16, at StarTUp at the Armory in Towson.

Part of the Cardin Center’s Democracy for the Future series, the program will feature a conversation between Raskin and former U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin examining the results of the 2026 midterm elections, the issues facing the next Congress and the role of civic engagement and civil discourse in American democracy.

Raskin represents Maryland’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and serves as ranking member of the House Committee on the Judiciary in the 119th Congress. Before his election to Congress, he served three terms in the Maryland Senate.

“The Cardin Center was created to bring people together around the consequential questions facing our democracy and to create space for serious, respectful conversation,” said Nora Demleitner, executive director of the Cardin Center. “This conversation offers our students and the broader community an opportunity to hear directly from two Maryland leaders about the election, the work ahead in Congress and the importance of remaining engaged in our civic life.”

Founded in 2025, the Cardin Center serves as a hub for dialogue, community engagement and public service, advancing Towson University’s commitment to civic learning and democratic participation.

Event Details

  • Event | Midterm Review - What’s Next for Congress: A Conversation with The Honorable Jamie Raskin
  • Date | Monday, Nov. 16, 2026
  • Location | StarTUp at the Armory, 307 Washington Ave., Towson, Maryland
  • 5 p.m. | Reception with light refreshments
  • 6 p.m. | Featured conversation with U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin and former U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin
  • Registration | The event is free, but space is limited and advance registration is required. Click this link to RSVP by Nov. 9.

Media Inquiries

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the event. For further event information, logistics and questions, contact Jamie Abell at . 

About the Ben & Myrna Cardin Center for Civic Engagement & Civil Discourse

Founded in 2025, the Ben & Myrna Cardin Center for Civic Engagement & Civil Discourse at Towson University serves as a hub for dialogue, community engagement and public service. The Center advances civic learning and democratic participation by creating opportunities for students and communities to engage consequential issues, listen across differences and participate meaningfully in civic life.

About Towson University

Towson University repeatedly ranks as the #1 public university in Maryland, serving as the state’s university of opportunities. With more than 160 years of experience pushing possibilities, TU is a nationally recognized comprehensive public research university, known as a leader in inclusive excellence, social mobility, scholarship and the creative arts. As the largest university in greater Baltimore, TU’s momentum is always accelerating, with more than 20,000 students and more than 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in business, science, education, fine arts, health professions, humanities, social sciences and applied professional fields. Located in Towson, Maryland, amid one of the country’s cultural and economic epicenters, TU is a powerful engine of opportunity and catalyst in the Mid-Atlantic, partnering with hundreds of businesses and organizations, impacting communities and fueling change for the public good. TU meets the holistic needs of each student to achieve success, a result of a deeply inclusive culture with a focus on equity among all students, faculty, staff and over 200,000 alumni worldwide.