Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) won’t seek reelection in 2026.
The 86-year-old has been in Congress since 1981. That’s 44 years.
Hoyer served as House Majority Leader twice: from 2007 to 2011 and from 2019 to 2023.
“At this young age, it’s probably premature,” Hoyer told The Washington Post.
“I did not want to be one of those members who clearly stayed, outstayed his or her ability to do the job,” added Hoyer.
Hoyer announced his plans on the House floor this morning.
“Mr. Speaker, I have decided not to seek another term in the People’s House,” said Hoyer. “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 noted the differences in Congress when he joined in 1981, obviously alluding to the divide that haunts DC today.
I have so many problems with this portion (emphasis mine):
Most Republicans and Democrats worked together in a collegial, productive way. The leaders of the House, Tip O’Neill and Bob Michael, fostered that environment. It was, of course, not a Congress without conflict. In the year to come, I will have much more to say about the issues we have grappled with and the ways this House has changed during my time.At the outset, I said that I spoke with reluctant conviction. That reluctance is because I am deeply concerned that this house is not living up to the founders’ goals. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to examine their conscience, renew their courage, and carry out the responsibilities that the first article of the Constitution demands. Only in that way can we ensure that our 250 years will be a preface to a stronger, brighter beacon in a free and principled democracy, a nation of laws, not of men, a nation respected around the world for its strength, certainly, but even more for the ideals it represents and the justice with which it acts, that effort must extend beyond this house.I fear that America is heading not toward greatness, but toward smallness, pettiness, divisiveness, longness and disdainfulness. We must respect and love one another. We must remember that we are not great or unique because we say we are great, but because we are just generous and fair.I hope that spirit can guide us the rest of this Congress, because I still have much I want to do in the coming year, not least of which is keeping the government open. To do that, we must send all our appropriations bills to the president in a bipartisan, timely fashion.
Oh, honey. The Democrats have mainly strayed away from our beloved Founders goals for decades. The Republicans are no better, but the Democrats are way worse. You all make George Washington roll in his grave every day.
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