Steny Hamilton Hoyer is an American politician and attorney who has been serving as the U.S. representative for Maryland's 5th congressional district since May 19, 1981, when he first attained office through a special election. As of 2023, he is in his 22nd House term, making him the dean of the Maryland congressional delegation and the most senior Democrat in the House.
Hoyer's district includes a large area of rural and suburban territory southeast of Washington, D.C. He has held various leadership positions throughout his career, including being the second-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2023, behind Nancy Pelosi. He has also served as House majority leader twice, from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023, under Speaker Pelosi.
During periods of Republican House control, Hoyer served as House minority whip, under Minority Leader Pelosi, from 2003 to 2007 and again from 2011 to 2019. Following the 2018 midterm elections, in which the Democrats took control of the House, Hoyer was re-elected majority leader in 2019 for the 116th Congress, remaining the number two House Democrat behind Speaker Pelosi.
In November 2022, Hoyer announced that he, along with Pelosi, would not seek a leadership position in the 118th Congress, but would continue to serve as a member of the House.
