Maryland Democrat Steny Hoyer, 85, suffers mild stroke

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) suffered a mild stroke over the weekend but will continue with his regular schedule next week.

Margaret Mulkerrin, Hoyer's deputy chief of staff and spokeswoman, said in a statement that the former House majority leader sought medical treatment after experiencing a "mild ischemic stroke."

"Mr. Hoyer has responded well to treatment and has no lingering symptoms," Mulkerrin said Tuesday. "He expects to resume his normal schedule next week. Mr. Hoyer's wife and family extend their deepest thanks to his medical team."

Hoyer, 85, served as majority leader of the House from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023. A powerful Maryland voice and supporter of President Joe Biden, Hoyer has represented the state's 5th Congressional District since 1981.

The former majority leader won the Democratic primary on May 14, defeating three competitors with 72.3% of the vote. He will face Republican Michelle Talkington, who ran in the GOP primary uncontested.

Hoyer's stroke comes as his fellow House Democrat, Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), returned to the hospital after being discharged from a 24-day stay for a respiratory infection. Pascrell left the hospital on Aug. 8 to go to a rehabilitation facility but returned a few days later. The New Jersey Democrat is the second oldest member of the House at 87 years old.

Several House members have faced health setbacks or died during this session of Congress.

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Most recently, longtime Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (D-TX) died on July 19, just one month after announcing that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ) died in late April after suffering a “cardiac episode” on April 6 that kept him on a ventilator in the intensive care unit at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.

Other members have been diagnosed with cancer or tumors. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) announced he was diagnosed with blood cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) had a successful surgery for a skull tumor in May.