Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th) showed up at the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department Wednesday morning and did something he hasn’t done since the early 1980s — voted for someone other than Steny Hoyer for the 5th District seat.
“For the first time in 60 years I’m not on the ballot,” Hoyer said to election workers at the early voting center after casting his ballot for Del. Adrian Boafo (D-Prince George’s), whom he endorsed to succeed him in the district that includes St. Mary’s, Charles and Calvert counties and parts of Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties.
Hoyer announced in January he wouldn’t seek reelection to the seat he has held for 45 years. Hoyer, who celebrated his 87th birthday Sunday, was first elected to the state Senate in 1966, at age 27.
He was greeted at the voting center by Election Judge Erin Sears, who thanked Hoyer for his service and for helping her husband to keep his federal job at the Smithsonian. “I’m going to miss you,” Sears said to Hoyer, who greeted and shook hands with the more than a dozen other election workers.
Hoyer almost left without an “I voted early” sticker to place on his shirt.
“Thank you all for what you’re doing,” he said, before hugging Sears and kissing her cheek.
After voting,. Hoyer stood outside and summarized his support for Boafo, the 32-year-old state delegate from Bowie who served as mayor pro tem during his first time in office and who worked as Hoyer’s campaign manager from 2019 to 2021.
“It’s time to turn it over to a new generation, and that’s what I’m doing with Adrian,” he said. “Adrian Boafo, I think, is going to make a real impact in the Congress in the United States. The good news is he’s going to be there for a long time.”
Hoyer addressed the recent attacks on Boafo from three opponents in the crowded Democratic primary – local businesswoman Quincy Bareebe, former Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III and former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn – who say $8 million in “dark money” has supported Boafo’s campaign. He said he is confident the nomination will go to Boafo, who he said has kept his campaign messaging positive.
“I am really concerned that some people are questioning his integrity, and by reference, mine,” Hoyer said. “Why are they going after him? Because he’s leading. The leader of the pack always gets those running behind and barking at his heels, nipping at his heels.
He said Boafo has “accomplished a great deal already for Southern Maryland and our state and will accomplish a great deal for our nation.”
Boafo, who joined Hoyer Wednesday, said his main focus is talking with voters.
“We’re focused on making sure that we’re out here talking to real people who are really concerned about what this [Trump] administration is doing in Washington,” he said. “That’s what we’re going to do for the next six days.”
The last day of early voting is Thursday with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Primary election day is Tuesday.