Paul Sarbanes

U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski will turn 72 years old on July 20. If -- more like when, as her aides will point out -- she seeks re-election in 2010, she will be 80 years old at the end of that term.

The Third District is the crown-jewel of the Democratic party.

Former United States Sen. Paul SarbanesPaul Sarbanes, the longest serving U.S. Senator in Maryland history, celebrated his 75th birthday today.

Names get tossed around pretty easily when you co-wrote one of the most influential financial laws in history. It's only natural that influential people will influence things that are influential.

Right?

Sen. Charles MathiasOnly four states have gone longer than Maryland without electing a Republican to the United States Senate: West Virginia, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Hawaii; North Dakota has gone as long as Maryland -- 27 years. The last Republican to win a U.S. Senate seat was Charles McC. Mathias in 1980.