Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) is calling it a career.
The Maryland Democrat announced he will not seek reelection in 2026 and will retire from Congress. He is 86 years old and first won election to Congress in 1981, replacing Rep. Gladys Spellman, who had fallen into a coma before the 1980 election and never regained consciousness. Serving over 44 years in Congress, Hoyer has served as House Majority Leader on two separate occasions: from 2007 to 2011 and from 2019 to 2023, both times while Rep. Nancy Pelosi was Speaker of the House.
Only two active congressional representatives have served in Congress longer: Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), both of whom also began their congressional careers in 1981.
Hoyer spoke about potentially retiring earlier this year, telling the media that he didn’t want to stay in his position to the point where he was no longer effective.
“I did not want to be one of those members who clearly stayed, outstayed his or her ability to do the job,” Hoyer previously said.
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Hoyer posted a message on his social media accounts stating that he will deliver a speech on the House floor tomorrow at 10 a.m. It is expected he will officially announce he is not seeking reelection at that time.
Hoyer joins other longtime congressional Democrats, such as Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), in not seeking reelection in 2026.