High-Ranking Democrat Announces Retirement

Maryland Democrat Rep. Steny Hoyer, one of the longest-serving power brokers in Washington and a former top lieutenant to Nancy Pelosi, announced Thursday that he will retire from Congress at the conclusion of his current term, bringing an end to a decades-long career embedded in the House’s Democratic leadership structure.

Hoyer, 86, delivered the announcement from the House floor, framing his departure as a reluctant decision after a lifetime in politics.

“I stand here now, after some 60 years in public service,” Hoyer said. “Mr. Speaker, I have decided not to seek another term in the People’s House. 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.”

He went on to criticize the current state of Congress, suggesting lawmakers have drifted from their constitutional responsibilities.

“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 consciences, renew their courage, and carry out the responsibilities that the First Article of the Constitution demands,” Hoyer said.

Hoyer has been a central figure in Democratic Party leadership for decades. He began his political career in the Maryland State Senate, serving from 1966 to 1979, before joining the state’s Board for Higher Education. In 1980, he won his first congressional election and entered the House in 1981.

Over the next 45 years, Hoyer climbed the leadership ladder, serving as Democratic whip from 2003 to 2007 and as House majority leader from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023. According to his official biography, his tenure makes him the longest-serving House member in Maryland history.

Reflecting on the evolution of the institution, Hoyer argued that the chamber has changed significantly since his arrival more than four decades ago.

“The Congress I entered in 1981 was somewhat different,” Hoyer said. “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.”

He closed his remarks with a bleak warning about the nation’s direction.

“I fear that America is heading not toward greatness, but toward smallness, pettiness, divisiveness, and loneliness,” Hoyer added.

Hoyer’s announcement comes as Democrats face growing political headwinds heading into the 2026 midterm elections under President Donald J. Trump’s second term.

A recent poll from the Napolitan News Service, conducted online by Scott Rasmussen with fieldwork by RMG Research, Inc., shows Republicans holding a four-point advantage over Democrats on the generic congressional ballot.

The survey asked respondents, “If the election were held today, would you vote for the Republican from your district or the Democrat from your district?” Among registered voters, 45 percent said they would back the Republican candidate, compared with 41 percent who favored the Democrat.

When independent voters who lean toward one party were included, Republicans maintained the same margin, leading Democrats 48 percent to 44 percent. That edge represents a slight improvement over September 2025, when Republicans held a narrower 46–45 percent lead including leaners.

Republicans have led the generic ballot for most of 2025, with Democrats posting modest advantages only in April and May, and the two parties tied at 47 percent each in August.

While the GOP leads overall, Democrats held a narrow two-point advantage in voter enthusiasm, with 50 percent saying they were enthusiastic about voting compared with 48 percent of Republicans.

The poll also highlighted notable divisions within the Republican coalition. Among voters who favor Trump-aligned policies, 43 percent described themselves as “very enthusiastic” about voting, compared with just 22 percent among those who prefer more traditional Republican approaches — signaling that the party’s energy is strongest among its America First base.

Age-based enthusiasm gaps were also pronounced. Voters 65 and older showed the highest engagement, with 57 percent saying they were “very enthusiastic,” while enthusiasm dropped sharply among voters ages 18–34 and 35–44, at 27 percent.

Among respondents who described themselves as “very enthusiastic,” 64 percent said they discuss politics every day or almost every day, underscoring the link between political engagement and turnout motivation.

No additional demographic breakdowns were released beyond the topline figures.