Rep. Steny Hoyer, the longest-serving House Democrat, to retire at the end of term

Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the longest-serving Democrat in Congress and once a rival to become House speaker, will announce Thursday he is set to retire at the end of his term. That's according to a person familiar with the plans and granted anonymity to discuss them. Hoyer served for years in party leadership and steered Democrats through some of their most significant legislative victories. He is set to deliver a House floor speech about his decision in the morning. “Tune in,” he said in a social media post. At 86, Hoyer is the latest in a generation of senior-most leaders stepping aside, making way for a newer era of lawmakers eager to take on governing ahead of the midterm elections.