Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) (LAW ’66) announced Jan. 7 he will not seek re-election in 2026 after serving over four decades in Congress. Georgetown University community members responded to the decision with gratitude for his political career.
First elected in 1981, Hoyer rose to become the second-highest ranking Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving as House Majority Leader between 2007 and 2011 and 2019 and 2023. His departure follows a series of retirements from bipartisan politicians of both parties known for their bipartisan support.
As the House Majority Leader, Hoyer played a key role in fundraising, campaigning and the passage of legislation such as the Affordable Care Act of 2010 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
During his speech announcing his retirement on the House floor, Hoyer said politicians must return to civility.
“I fear that America is heading not towards greatness but smallness, pettiness, divisiveness and disdainfulness,” Hoyer said in the speech. “We must remember we are not great or unique because we say we are great, but because we are just, generous and fair.”
Thomas O’Donnell, an adjunct professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy, lobbied in 2015 for the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, a branch of the government that finances US exports. O’Donnell said Hoyer was essential in garnering bipartisan support for the bill.
“He was sort of the key person in the House who helped us, and he worked very, very close with the Republicans to get that done,” O’Donnell told The Hoya. “And that was just an example I saw firsthand, but he certainly had a reputation as an honest broker and could work with the other side of the aisle.”
Pundits credit Hoyer for his ability to garner votes and negotiate with Republicans, including on budget agreements and major legislation.
Joshua Huder, a senior fellow at McCourt’s Government Affairs Institute, said Congress must follow in Hoyer’s example to remain bipartisan.
“Congress still legislates on a bipartisan basis even now,” Huder told The Hoya. “And so to the extent that we have a deliberative body, that’s less deliberative because they can’t be cordial or can’t see one another’s humanity, then it’s a problem.”
Fred Bao (SFS ’29), a Maryland resident, said Hoyer’s efforts to bring funds back to Maryland’s fifth congressional district translated into successful projects that improved the quality of life for locals.
“From securing funding to improve transportation infrastructure in Maryland to funding for Chesapeake Bay cleanup and other local initiatives, these efforts that have a disproportionate impact on all Marylanders are also noticed by the voters,” Bao wrote to The Hoya.
Max Choi (CAS ’27), another Maryland resident, credited Hoyer with the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAA), which codified additional protections for disabled people, saying he helped usher in a new era of disability rights.
“I have personally worked across different sectors of the government, and it’s surreal how much care goes into accommodating individuals with disabilities, all because of the ADAA,” Choi wrote to The Hoya. “Seeing Hoyer as one of the lead sponsors of such a historic act makes me view him with a great deal of respect.”
Choi said he was uncomfortable with Hoyer’s long tenure in elected office.
“I am generally against politicians who serve such long periods of time,” Choi wrote. “At some point, I believe there needs to be term limits so that the same people are not in office for such a long time, and so that changing demographics in the population can be better reflected. Despite this, I still think Hoyer has done a lot of good throughout his tenure.”
Huder said Hoyer served alongside powerful House Democrats such as Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) and commanded the respect of members from both parties.
“His colleagues had a lot of respect among that leadership team, generally speaking — Pelosi, Hoyer, Clyburn were a very solid three that were on top of the party for 18, 19 or 20 years,” Huder said. “So widely respected on both sides of the aisle.”
Bao said that despite criticism of Hoyer’s long career and establishment image, he will be remembered for his accomplishments as an effective party leader.
“I think the criticism Representative Hoyer faces is one that all the establishment Democrats are facing as the Democratic Party debates on what the future of the party should look like,” Bao wrote. “However, I think what all Democrats can agree on is that Representative Hoyer has not only played a significant role in the progress the Democratic Party has made in the last couple of decades, but his choice to step away now is also very commendable.”
