Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who once served as House Majority Leader, House Minority Whip, and Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, will be retiring from Congress at the end of his current term. He has been in Congress longer than any other Democrat.
“I have decided not seek to another term in the people’s House,” he said on Thursday on the House floor. “I make this decision with sadness, for I love this House, an institution the framers designed to reflect the will of the American people and to serve as the guardian of their liberty and their democracy.”
Hoyer is 86 years old, and he took office in 1981. He’s been a statewide figure in Maryland politics since 1967, when he first joined the Maryland Senate.
There was an outpouring of messages from some of the biggest voices in Washington following his announcement.
“Steny Hoyer is a model public servant, always keeping the American people front and center,” House Minority Whip Katherine Clark posted amid the news. “[House Democrats] are so grateful for his leadership and wish him and Elaine all the best in their next chapter.”
“Steny Hoyer’s departure is truly the end of an era in House Democratic politics. Steny always chose the more civil path, which is why he earned the mutual respect of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle—as a fair dealer, a respected leader, and an institution within the institution he most loved,” former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy posted.
Hoyer joins Rep. Nancy Pelosi in not seeking re-election. The two worked together for many years when Pelosi was House Speaker.
“Steny has been a steady presence for our Caucus in Democratic Leadership and a valued colleague. His deep knowledge of the institution, respect for its traditions and commitment to public service have earned him the admiration of colleagues on both sides of the aisle,” Pelosi wrote on X. “Personally, Steny has been not only a trusted partner in leadership, but a dear friend. As he concludes his extraordinary service in Congress, we celebrate Steny’s legacy of decency and devotion to country. Our gratitude to him and his family is boundless, and we wish them every happiness in the years ahead.”
Pelosi is 85 years old, and both of their departures will likely create highly competitive Democratic primaries in their deep blue districts. Age is becoming a major factor in the Democratic Party’s discussions on how to move forward in the Trump era, especially after former President Joe Biden decided to exit the 2024 election last summer.
However, some Republicans said his departure is another indicator of the Democratic Party shifting further to the Left, especially in the wake of Democratic socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s election in New York City.
“Democrat Dinosaur Steny Hoyer is the latest domino to fall in the radical socialist takeover of the Democrat Party, just months after he drew a primary challenger from the left,” the National Republican Campaign Committee posted. “The far-left is pushing out Democrat Dinosaurs to make room for Mamdani’s socialist minions!”
Hoyer is one of 45 representatives who will be leaving the chamber in 2026, according to Ballotpedia.