Maryland’s Steny Hoyer reflects on transition
Hasn’t ruled out future congressional run; response to reporter: ‘I may. I may.’
Outgoing House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said he has not ruled out running for Congress in 2024.
When asked during CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday morning whether he plans to run for reelection in 2024, the Maryland Democrat said, “I may. I may.” Host Dana Bash asked, “You’re not onto the exit ramp yet?” He answered, “No.”
Hoyer has begun transitioning into a new role after stepping away from his leadership position Nov. 17. He will return to the House Appropriations Committee, where he served when he was not in party leadership.
The 42-year veteran congressman also said during the Sunday program that the move by the three top House Democratic leaders to step aside to usher in a new generation was not a coordinated effort. Besides Hoyer, outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Baltimore-born California Democrat, and Rep. Jim Clyburn, the outgoing Democratic whip, announced that they wouldn’t seek leadership spots. Republicans gained a majority in the midterm election.
“All of us had been around for some time and pretty much have a feel for the timing of decisions, and I think all three of us felt that this was the time,” Hoyer told Bash. “We had been, after all, a team of three for 20 years . ... In that capacity, each of us made an individual decision.”
Hoyer, 83, said he and Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat who was elected House minority leader, have talked about Hoyer continuing to give advice and counsel and be involved in decision-making.
“I think I’ll be part of leadership in one sense or another ... albeit not as majority leader,” Hoyer told Bash.
She also spoke with Maryland Gov.elect Wes Moore, who said he is “very confident” he will not need to raise taxes to put in place and pay for programs he describes as pathways to work, wages and wealth. Moore plans to back legislation offering a service-year option for every high school graduate, boost minimum wages and address the “racial wealth gap.”
He said Maryland has two available jobs for every person filing for unemployment.
“We have a dynamic economy,” he said on the program. “We’re just not preparing people to participate in that dynamic economy.”