Maryland Democratic Representative Steny Hoyer will announce his retirement on Thursday after serving in Congress for over 40 years.
At 86 years old, Hoyer told The Washington Post that he decided to leave the House after talking with his family during the holidays.
Hoyer is the third-longest-serving member of the House. He said, “I did not want to be one of those members who clearly stayed too long and lost the ability to do the job.”
The former House majority leader will make his official retirement announcement in a speech on the House floor on Thursday.
Unlike many other members who have left Congress feeling frustrated with the political situation, Hoyer said he still loves the institution.
He noted that his constituents often ask when Congress will work better. He explained, “As long as Americans elect angry, confrontational people, don’t be surprised when Congress is angry and confrontational too.”
Hoyer expressed concern about the decline of American politics over the years. He blamed much of it on former President Donald Trump, especially regarding Trump’s pardons for people involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
He said, “His greatest strength is that he has no shame, and his supporters seem indifferent to his actions, including pardoning 1,600 people who committed treason. It’s astounding that he gets away with it.”
About Hoyer Career
Steny Hoyer spent over a decade in the Maryland state Senate before moving to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected to Congress in 1981 through a special election. During his time in Congress, he held key roles such as House Democratic Whip, Deputy Majority Whip, and Chair of the Democratic Caucus.
Hoyer had a talent for passing important laws through divided groups, including the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990.
In 2023, Hoyer stepped back from leadership roles, along with Nancy Pelosi and Jim Clyburn, who also left their positions as House Speaker and Majority Whip. This change marked a generational shift for the Democratic Party in the House.
Hoyer told CNN’s Dana Bash, “I think all of us have been around for some time and have a good sense of the timing of decisions. We all felt this was the right time.”
In an interview with the Washington Post, Hoyer praised Pelosi, who announced she would not run for reelection after nearly 40 years in Washington. He described her as “tough as nails” and said she was the best of the ten speakers he worked with during his time in Congress.
“Sure, I would have loved to have been Speaker. Who wouldn’t want to be Speaker? But I don’t have deep regrets,” he told the paper.
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