Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the longest serving House Democrat, will not seek re-election in 2026 and retire after serving more than 44 years in Congress.
“I did not want to be one of those members who clearly stayed, outstayed his or her ability to do the job,” Hoyer said in an interview Wednesday with the Washington Post.
Hoyer, 86, plans to formally announce his retirement plans Thursday on the House floor.
The Maryland Democrat is one of more than 40 House members who have opted to depart the lower chamber by the start of 2027.
Hoyer’s district, southeastern Maryland’s 5th Congressional District, is considered a solid Democratic seat, according to the Cook Political Report.
The congressman, who has served in the lower chamber since 1981 and rose to become the second-ranking House Democrat for a nearly 20-year stretch between 2003 and 2023, received praise on social media as news of his retirement spread.
“Steny Hoyer has spent a lifetime serving with decency, seriousness, and heart,” Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) wrote on X.
“I’ve been grateful to work alongside him over the years — except maybe those times when we found ourselves on opposite sides of the Maryland vs. Virginia line, because no matter what, he was always a ferocious fighter for his state,” Warner added. “Will be wishing him all the best in retirement.”
Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore said his state is better because of Hoyer’s “legacy of service.”
“When I was a paratrooper and officer in the United States Army, my unit received an American flag and a Maryland flag from Leader Hoyer,” Moore wrote on X. “Those flags were a reminder that we were not forgotten. We were being thought about, that we were being prayed over.”
“Steny, your leadership meant the world to me then and as I stepped into public service myself. And it means the world to us now.”
Moore went on to praise the outgoing congressman for “securing critical federal investments and championing our federal workers,” as well as being “a critical voice in fighting for health care and state investments.”
“We’re forever indebted to you for your exemplary statesmanship and your legacy of delivering for Marylanders. Congrats on your well-earned retirement,” the governor said.
Jaime Harrison, the former chairman of the Democratic Party, said Hoyer “stood out for his intellect, his charisma, and — most of all — the deep respect he showed every member.”
“He has been a party stalwart- serving in House Dem leadership from 1989 to 2023 and as the Parliamentarian for every DNC Convention since 2000! Tremendous gratitude for his friendship and all he has done for our party and our country,” Harrison wrote on X.
