Steny Hoyer
Steny Hoyer | |
---|---|
Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus | |
In office January 3, 1989 – June 21, 1989 | |
Leader | Jim Wright |
Preceded by | Mary Rose Oakar |
Succeeded by | Vic Fazio |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 5th district | |
Assumed office May 19, 1981 | |
Preceded by | Gladys Spellman |
President of the Maryland Senate | |
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1978 | |
Preceded by | William S. James |
Succeeded by | James Clark Jr. |
Member of the Maryland Senate from the 26th district | |
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1978 | |
Preceded by | Constituency established |
Succeeded by | Mike Donovan |
Member of the Maryland Senate from the 4C district | |
In office January 1967 – January 1975 | |
Preceded by | constituency established |
Succeeded by | constituency abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | Steny Hamilton Hoyer June 14, 1939 New York City, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) |
Judith Pickett
(m. 1961; died 1997)Elaine Kamarck (m. 2023) |
Children | 3 |
Residence(s) | Mechanicsville, Maryland, U.S. |
Education | University of Maryland, College Park (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
Profession |
|
Signature | ![]() |
Website | House website |
Steny Hamilton Hoyer (
From 2003 to 2023, Hoyer was the second-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives behind
Early life and education
Hoyer was born in New York City but grew up in Mitchellville, Maryland, the son of Jean (née Baldwin) and Steen Theilgaard Høyer. His father was Danish and a native of Copenhagen; "Steny" is a variant of his father's name, "Steen".[7] His mother was an American with Scottish, German, and English ancestry and a descendant of John Hart, a signer of the US Declaration of Independence.[8]
Steny Hoyer graduated from
Early political career
From 1962 to 1966, Hoyer was a member of the staff of U.S. Senator Daniel Brewster; also on Brewster's staff at that time was Nancy Pelosi.[10]
In 1966, Hoyer won a newly created seat in the
From 1969 to 1971, Hoyer served as the first vice president of the Young Democrats of America.[14]
In 1978, Hoyer sought the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Maryland as the running mate of then acting Governor Blair Lee III, but lost to Samuel Bogley, 37%–34%.[15] The same year, Hoyer was appointed to the Maryland Board of Higher Education, a position he held until 1981.[9]
U.S. House of Representatives



Elections
Fifth district Congresswoman
Tenure
Domestic issues
Hoyer supports and has led the Make It In America plan linking the domestic manufacturing industry and overall U.S. economic success.[23]
Hoyer is
In 2008, Hoyer said he opposed providing immunity to telecom companies, but then negotiated a bill, which Senators
In June 2010, Hoyer brought up the idea that Congress could temporarily extend middle-class tax cuts set to expire at the end of the year, suggesting that making them permanent would cost too much. President Obama wanted to extend them permanently for people making less than $200,000 a year and families making less than $250,000.[34]
Hoyer voted against the impeachment of President Bill Clinton in 1999. In 2019 and 2021, Hoyer voted to impeach President Donald Trump.[35]
In February 2021, Hoyer made a speech in Congress that has been viewed online more than two million times, criticizing a Facebook post by U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. The post featured a gun-toting Greene next to three members of the "Squad"—Representatives Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Rashida Tlaib—with the caption "Democrats' Worst Nightmare". In his speech, Hoyer compared Greene's words with those of Representative Steve King, who was removed from the Judiciary and Agriculture Committees in 2019 after comments he made to The New York Times questioning why white supremacy was considered offensive. Hoyer said that, in both posts, Greene had promoted baseless conspiracy theories far more offensive and incendiary than the comment that led Republicans to strip King of his committee roles. He asked his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to "do the decent thing" and strip Greene of her committee roles. The vote succeeded, with 11 Republicans joining Democrats to pass the motion to remove.[36]
Foreign issues
Hoyer supports civilian nuclear cooperation with India.[37]
Hoyer initially supported the Iraq War and was recognized by the DLC for his vocal leadership on this issue. After the war became publicly unpopular, he said he favored a "responsible redeployment".[38] But he repeatedly supported legislation to continue funding the war without deadlines for troop withdrawal, most recently in return for increased funding of domestic projects.[39]
Hoyer is a supporter of Israel, and has often been allied with
Hoyer supported President Trump's decision to
Hoyer has said that a nuclear Iran is "unacceptable" and that the use of force remains an option.[45]
In January 2019, Hoyer opposed Trump's planned withdrawal of
's call for authorizing limited but decisive military action in response to the Assad regime's alleged use of chemical weapons.Hoyer is a former chair of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Maritime law
Hoyer voted for the Abandoned Shipwrecks Act of 1987.[47] The Act asserts United States title to certain abandoned shipwrecks located on or embedded in submerged lands under state jurisdiction, and transfers title to the respective state, thereby empowering states to manage these cultural and historical resources more efficiently, with the goal of preventing treasure hunters and salvagers from damaging them. President Ronald Reagan signed it into law on April 28, 1988.[48]
Legislation
On February 28, 2014, Hoyer introduced the bill
Fundraising
Hoyer is a prolific fundraiser for House Democrats. He has been the top giver to fellow party members in the House. In the 2008 election cycle, he contributed more than $1 million to the party and individual candidates as of July 14, 2008.[51]
Party leadership


Hoyer served as chair of the
When
Pelosi became the Speaker of the House in January 2007. Hoyer was elected by his colleagues to be House Majority Leader for the 110th Congress, defeating John Murtha of Pennsylvania by a vote of 149–86 within the caucus, despite Pelosi's endorsement of Murtha.[3][53] Hoyer was the first Marylander to become Majority Leader[54] and became the highest-ranking federal lawmaker in Maryland history.[13] In this post, Hoyer was the House Democrats' floor leader and ranked second in the leadership, after the Speaker.
The day after the 2010 midterm elections, in which the Democrats lost control of the House, Hoyer had a private conversation with Pelosi and said he would not challenge her for minority leader.
Hoyer and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) have been criticized for picking their preferred candidates through an undemocratic process. In 2018, it was reported that Hoyer sought to influence the primary race in Colorado's 6th congressional district. He was recorded urging progressive candidate Levi Tillemann to drop out of the race. Hoyer acknowledged that the DCCC had already identified its preferred candidate and discouraged a candid discussion about his weaknesses.[64] On November 28, 2018, Hoyer was selected to return as House Majority Leader.[5][6]
Electoral history
Personal life
Hoyer has three daughters from his marriage to Judy Pickett Hoyer, who died of cancer in February 1997.[1] In June 2012, after Hoyer announced his support of same-sex marriage, his daughter Stefany Hoyer Hemmer came out as a lesbian in an interview with the Washington Blade.[71] A widower for 26 years, Hoyer married Elaine Kamarck, a Clinton administration official and the director of the Center for Effective Public Management at the Brookings Institution, in June 2023.[72][73]
Judy Hoyer was an advocate of
Hoyer serves on the board of trustees for St. Mary's College of Maryland[9] and is a member of the board of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, a nonprofit that supports international elections.[77] He is also an Advisory Board Member for the Center for the Study of Democracy.[78]
Hoyer is a member of a Baptist church.[79]
On August 13, 2024, Hoyer suffered a mild stroke.[80]
References
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{{cite web}}
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External links
- Congressman Steny Hoyer official U.S. House website