Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer retiring after 50 years in Congress

Rep. Steny Hoyer, a Democrat from Maryland and a prominent figure in the U.S. House of Representatives, has decided not to run for reelection next year, according to an insider privy to his plans. This move will bring to a close a congressional career that began in the early 1980s and saw Hoyer serving in Democratic leadership for several decades.

The source disclosed that Hoyer is scheduled to formally relay his retirement plans in an address on the House floor on Thursday morning. The Maryland Democrat previously urged followers to “tune in” in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday evening.

An interview with The Washington Post had Hoyer confirming his impending retirement. In his own words, he did not wish to become “one of those members who clearly stayed, overstayed his or her ability to do the job.”

Hoyer, 86, has been Maryland’s representative in the House since 1981, serving a district that ranges from the eastern suburbs of Washington, D.C. to southern Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay.

His role in the House Democratic caucus saw him acting as the second-in-command for 20 years, with his superior being former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California. Hoyer’s leadership spanned eight years as House majority leader, inclusive of the initial two years of the Obama and Biden administrations when he helped push key legislation through the lower chamber. This included impactful laws such as the Obama-era Affordable Care Act and the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act.

His voice was also prominently heard during the first impeachment of President Trump in 2019.

Following the 2022 midterm elections, both Hoyer and Pelosi stepped back from Democratic leadership, with Pelosi indicating her intention to make room for a “new generation”. Pelosi announced her retirement in November of the previous year.

Hoyer humorously explained his decision to step back from leadership in a CNN interview, quipping, “Have you heard I was 83?”

Since winning a seat in the Maryland state Senate in 1966 at the age of 27, Hoyer has been a steadfast force in politics. He was elected to the U.S. House 15 years after his initial political win and began undertaking leadership roles within the Democratic party in the late 1980s.

There were moments when both Pelosi and Hoyer were perceived as competitors for the speakership — a position ultimately secured by Pelosi. However, in recent years, the two have praised one another publicly.