By Kyle Stewart and Megan Lebowitz
WASHINGTON — Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., will announce on Thursday that he is not seeking re-election to Congress, a spokesperson for the congressman confirmed to NBC News.
The 86-year-old is among the longest serving members of Congress, having held his seat since he won a special election in 1981. Hoyer plans to make his formal announcement when he speaks on the House floor at 10 a.m.
‘I did not want to be one of those members who clearly stayed, outstayed his or her ability to do the job,’ Hoyer told The Washington Post about his retirement plan.
Politico first reported the news of his retirement.
Hoyer rose through Democratic leadership to eventually serve as majority leader twice under then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and as her deputy when she was minority leader. He stepped down from leadership in 2022 at the same time as Pelosi.
‘I think it’s always good for a party to have new blood and new invigoration, new enthusiasm, and new ideas,’ he said at the time.
Hoyer’s retirement comes amid a wider party conversation about generational change, as younger Democrats push for new representation on the Hill. The debate reignited after then-President Joe Biden’s debate performance led him to ultimately drop out of the 2024 presidential race as voters voiced widespread concerns over his age.
Hoyer’s retirement comes as Democrats hope to regain control of the House in this fall’s midterm elections. His solid blue district stretches southward outside of Washington, D.C., and in 2024, he won re-election with 67.9% of the vote.
Hoyer has previously also served in other Democratic leadership roles as the chair of the House Democratic Caucus and the minority whip.