House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer will not run for elected leadership of the next Congress after Nancy Pelosi announced she would step down as speaker.
In a letter sent to all Democratic members on Thursday, Hoyer wrote: “I believe it is time for me to continue in a different role. Therefore, I have decided not to seek elected leadership in the 118th Congress.”
He said he would continue his work on the Appropriations Committee, “including a focus on education, health care, and investing in America’s productive capacity to create more jobs and opportunities for our people.”
Hoyer has served alongside Pelosi for decades — 36 years in Democratic leadership.
“It has been an honor and honor to work with Nancy Pelosi, whose tenure as Speaker has been both historic and very productive,” Hoyer said in the letter.
Further explaining his decision, Hoyer quoted Pelosi, telling reporters he believed there were “excellent options.”
“You know when Nancy said there was a time and a season? I think it’s a time and a season. I think we’ve got great options,” he said.
CNN’s Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report