2022-the younger senator was running to get reelected. Incumbency is much harder to beat. This time you don’t know. People will not run unless it’s winnable.
As I said, he had ample opportunity to run, especially with an (allegedly) high popularity rating (amongst White MD Dems). He didn’t want to, because that would’ve meant helping the GOP get the Senate majority back that was stolen. He’s only interested in helping himself and deluding himself into believing he’s viable Presidential material to “stop Trump.” Less than useless. Sadly, the same mindset of countless RINO Governors over the past decades who were clearly content to have their states “represented” by Communist Demonrats in the Senate.