Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer will announce his retirement from Congress on Thursday, ending a career spanning more than four decades that saw him rise to become the second-ranking House Democrat as majority leader and play a pivotal role in passing landmark bills including the Affordable Care Act.
Hoyer, 86, confirmed the news in an interview with the Washington Post, stating, “I did not want to be one of those members who clearly stayed, outstayed his or her ability to do the job,” as his decision comes amid a broader changing of the guard for senior Democrats, following former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s own announced retirement. His departure is likely to trigger a competitive primary for his deep-blue seat, with one candidate already having launched a campaign targeting Hoyer’s age.