Steny Hoyer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Steny Hoyer
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Official portrait, 2019
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| House Majority Leader | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Speaker | Nancy Pelosi |
| Whip | Jim Clyburn |
| Preceded by | Kevin McCarthy |
| Succeeded by | Steve Scalise |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Speaker | Nancy Pelosi |
| Whip | Jim Clyburn |
| Preceded by | John Boehner |
| Succeeded by | Eric Cantor |
| House Minority Whip | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Eric Cantor |
| Succeeded by | Steve Scalise |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Nancy Pelosi |
| Succeeded by | Roy Blunt |
| Chair of the House Democratic Caucus | |
| In office June 21, 1989 – January 3, 1995 |
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| Leader | Tom Foley |
| Preceded by | William H. Gray III |
| Succeeded by | Vic Fazio |
| Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus | |
| In office January 3, 1989 – June 21, 1989 |
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| 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 |
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| Assumed office May 19, 1981 |
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| Preceded by | Gladys Spellman |
| President of the Maryland Senate | |
| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1978 |
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| Preceded by | William S. James |
| Succeeded by | James Clark Jr. |
| Member of the Maryland Senate from the 26th district |
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| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1978 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Mike Donovan |
| Member of the Maryland Senate from the 4C district |
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| In office January 1967 – January 1975 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Steny Hamilton Hoyer
June 14, 1939 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
Judith Pickett
(m. 1961; died 1997)Elaine Kamarck
(m. 2023) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Maryland, College Park (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | |
Steny Hamilton Hoyer (born June 14, 1939) is an American politician. He has served as a U.S. representative for Maryland's 5th district since 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the longest-serving member of Congress from Maryland.
Hoyer has held some of the most important leadership jobs in the House of Representatives. He was the House Majority Leader twice, from 2007 to 2011 and from 2019 to 2023. The Majority Leader helps schedule legislation and is the second-most powerful member of the party in control of the House.
When the Democrats were not in the majority, Hoyer served as the House Minority Whip. The whip's job is to make sure party members vote together on important issues. For 20 years, from 2003 to 2023, he was the second-ranking Democrat in the House, working closely with Nancy Pelosi. In 2022, he announced he would step down from leadership but continue to serve in Congress.
Contents
Early Life and Schooling
Steny Hoyer was born in New York City but grew up in Mitchellville, Maryland. His father was from Copenhagen, Denmark, and his mother was American. One of his ancestors, John Hart, signed the Declaration of Independence.
Hoyer was an excellent student. He graduated with high honors (magna cum laude) from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1963. He later earned a law degree (J.D.) from Georgetown University Law Center in 1966.
Start of His Political Career
Hoyer's interest in politics began early. From 1962 to 1966, he worked for U.S. Senator Daniel Brewster. Interestingly, Nancy Pelosi, who would later become Speaker of the House, also worked on Brewster's staff at the same time.
In 1966, Hoyer was elected to the Maryland State Senate. He represented a district in Prince George's County. In 1975, he became the President of the Maryland State Senate. At the time, he was the youngest person ever to hold that position in the state's history.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
How He Was Elected
In 1981, a special election was held to fill a vacant seat in Congress for Maryland's 5th district. Hoyer won the Democratic primary and then defeated his Republican opponent in the special election on May 19, 1981.
Since then, he has been reelected many times. He has served in the House for over 40 years, making him the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives in Maryland's history.
Work in Congress
As a representative, Hoyer has worked on many different issues. He has focused on strengthening American manufacturing and the U.S. economy. He also supports gun control laws and has an "F" rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund, which means he often votes against their positions.
Hoyer has been involved in major political events. He voted against the impeachment of President Bill Clinton in 1999. However, he voted in favor of impeaching President Donald Trump in both 2019 and 2021.
In 2021, Hoyer gave a speech criticizing a social media post by Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. The post showed Greene with a gun next to photos of three other Democratic representatives. Hoyer argued that the post was dangerous and called for Greene to be removed from her committee roles. The House later voted to do so.
Foreign Policy Views
Hoyer has been very involved in foreign affairs. He is a strong supporter of Israel and has often worked with groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). He supported the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
He has also taken positions on other global issues. He supported military action in Syria in response to the use of chemical weapons. He has also stated that it is "unacceptable" for Iran to have nuclear weapons.
Leadership in the Democratic Party
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Hoyer has been a leader in the Democratic Party for decades. He was first elected as Minority Whip in 2002. This made him the second-most powerful Democrat in the House.
When Democrats won control of the House in the 2006 elections, Nancy Pelosi became Speaker. Hoyer was elected House Majority Leader, defeating Representative John Murtha. As Majority Leader, he was in charge of managing the flow of bills on the House floor.
After Democrats lost the majority in 2010, Hoyer became the Minority Whip again. He returned to the role of Majority Leader in 2019 after Democrats regained control of the House. On November 28, 2018, he was officially selected for the position.
Personal Life
Hoyer was married to Judith Pickett Hoyer, who passed away in 1997. They had three daughters together. His wife, Judy, was a strong supporter of early childhood education. In her honor, several child development centers in Maryland are named "Judy Centers."
After being a widower for 26 years, Hoyer married Elaine Kamarck in June 2023. Kamarck is a scholar at the Brookings Institution and worked in the Clinton administration.
Hoyer is a member of a Baptist church. On August 13, 2024, his office announced that he had suffered a mild stroke.
See also
In Spanish: Steny Hoyer para niños
