So Close to Speakership, Hoyer to Step Away from Leadership Role, Remain in House

By Courtney Cohn, Capital News Service

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, has decided to leave his position as the second-ranking Democrat – a post he has held in the minority and the majority since 2003 – but will remain in the House.

Hoyer for years was considered a likely successor to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California. But as she stepped away from her post Thursday, so too did Hoyer, part of a smoothly-engineered transition to younger party leadership.

In a letter to his fellow House Democrats on Thursday, Hoyer said: “Like my dear friend, John Lewis, I believe God’s work for us is to create that ‘beloved community’ for which John worked so consistently and courageously. I believe there is much for me still to do in pursuit of that endeavor. I believe that it is time for me, however, to continue my service in a different role.”

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