A parade — of speakers — and a hint of rain at annual Hoyer bull roast, but no hints on his plans
Rep. Steny Hoyer thanks friends and fellow Democrats Friday at his 44th annual bull roast at Newton White Mansion in Prince George's County. A cake was brought out to celebrate his 86th birthday, which is June 14. (Photo by William J. Ford/Maryland Matters)
For almost an hour, the speakers at Rep. Steny Hoyer's (D-5th) 44th annual bull roast took turns heaping praise on the long-serving Democrat and heaping scorn on President Donald Trump (R).
When it finally came time for him to speak, Hoyer mostly followed that script. And then he danced.
Despite humid temperatures and threatening skies, and the prospect of a military parade Saturday on what happens to be Trump's 79th birthday, the overall mood was light among the hundreds who turned out to honor the dean of Maryland's congressional delegation — who turns 86 Saturday on the birthday he shares with Trump.
'We're gathered here today before Donald Trump is spending millions and millions of dollars of taxpayer money to have a parade to feed his ego on Donald Trump's birthday,' said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md).
'I can tell you, I'm not going to be anywhere near President Trump tomorrow, but I am very proud to be here to celebrate the birthday of a great American who didn't choose to have his birthday the same day as Donald Trump,' Van Hollen said.
Bashing Trump and praising Hoyer served as part of the main theme Friday at the bull roast at Newton White Mansion in Prince George's County. Lawmakers including Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-4th) and Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D), all of whom took a turn at the microphone.
Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-3rd) chastised the Trump administration one day after U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was forcibly removed by federal law enforcement officials at a press conference by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The secretary held it amid multiday protests in Los Angeles against the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
'The garbage that is being thrown at us [by the administration] where a group of goons threw a United States senator to the ground. It is unprecedented,' Elfreth said.
'What gives me calm on that House floor is, I can turn to Steny and sit down and say, 'This is just bulls— and what are we going to do about it?'' said Elfreth, who served long ago as an intern in Hoyer's office. 'And without a doubt, he has an answer.'
One thing Hoyer didn't have the answer for Friday is whether he plans to seek a 24th term in Congress — a question that always seems to be lingering in the background of recent bull roasts.
'It'll be time for that,' Hoyer said in a brief interview after the bull roast celebration.
Hoyer has been prominent in Maryland politics since before his tenure in Congress, winning a seat in the state Senate at age 27 and becoming its youngest president nine years lalter. He was elected to the House in 1981 to represent the district that currently includes portions of Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties and all three Southern Maryland counties.
During that time he has risen to serve as No. 2 Democrat in the House. He has been credited with helping former President Joe Biden (D) get the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed and is seen as the quarterback behind an on-again, off-again push to relocate the aging FBI headquarters from Washington, D.C., to a site in Greenbelt in Prince George's County.
After getting General Services Administration clearance for the Greenbelt site, the FBI effort has recently shifted to defense, after the Trump administration said it wants to relocate the FBI to Alabama. Hoyer has emerged as a leader of that fight
Gov. Wes Moore (D) highlighted how Hoyer was instrumental in getting the Americans with Disabilities Act passed in 1990.
'The reason that I love Steny Hoyer is time and time again when it was hard, Steny stood up,' Moore said to an applause from some attendees.
Even with all the accolades, Hoyer has at least one Democratic challenger for the 2026 primary election.
Harry Jarin, 35, an emergency services consultant and volunteer firefighter who resides in Edgewater in Anne Arundel County, officially launched his candidacy for the seat May 29.
'We don't need more career politicians who can't really connect with voters and don't really understand what people go through on a daily basis just to live in this country,' Jarin said in an interview Friday afternoon.
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'If we put someone like Steny Hoyer back up for office for a 24th term, we're sending a message to the rest of the country that we're all about the status quo and that Democrats aren't offering anything different,' he said. 'Voters made it very clear back in November that they want something different.'
Jarin didn't shy away from the age differential between him and Hoyer, noting the death last month of Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who was 75. Connolly was the third House Democrat to die in office this year.
'I don't think we should be reelecting people where we need to consult an actuary to determine whether or not they're going to survive another two-year term,' Jarin said.
But for attendees at Friday's bull roast, there was no question about whether Hoyer deserves to remain in office.
Prince George's County resident Henrietta Holiday recalled when she met Hoyer in 2002 at Joint Base Andrews. Holiday is an Air Force veteran.
'His relationships are genuine. When you're dealing with Steny Hoyer, you never feel like you're dealing with a politician,' Holiday said. 'I can see him running for another term. I would love to see him do what he loves for the rest of his life.'
Most of the three-hour event was spent socializing between elected officials and friends, bottled water in hand on a humid day, and even some chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches for the fortunate ones.
Minutes before the bull roast ended, Hoyer was presented a birthday cake. Then he decided to do a little dance.
'Ladies and gentlemen: Tomorrow, I want you to do something for me. When that parade comes on, you say, 'That parade for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army — and Steny Hoyer,'' he said. 'God bless you.'
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