BALTIMORE — Maryland’s oldest lawmaker hasn’t announced whether he’ll run for reelection. But if he doesn’t, it won’t be for lack of funding.

Rep. Steny Hoyer, a Prince George’s County Democrat, raised roughly $232,000 during the second fundraising quarter, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings. After expenses, the cash influx gives the 86-year-old congressman over $636,000 in cash on hand for his campaign. He started the quarter with over $573,000.

The sum is roughly $60,000 less than Hoyer’s fundraising numbers during the same quarter of the previous election cycle, when he raised over $291,000 and went on to win reelection to his long-held seat. While the quarterly report won’t be among the largest in Congress — Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Montgomery County Democrat, raised roughly $1.2 million, for example — it’s a fair amount for a long-tenured member in a safe blue seat.

The fundraising boost comes during a precarious moment for veteran Democratic leaders like Hoyer.

Age has remained a top-of-mind issue for Democratic voters since former President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign fell apart last year after he struggled to answer questions during a debate with the then-presumed GOP nominee, Donald Trump, leading to Vice President Kamala Harris becoming the Democratic nominee.

It’s only become more prescient since Trump’s election. Three Democratic lawmakers have died since March. Each was at least 70 years old.

As a former member of the party’s leadership, Hoyer remains an influential member of the Democratic caucus, the House Appropriations Committee, and serves as the ranking member of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.

Hoyer’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

The age debate isn’t strictly about age, but health — whether aging lawmakers are healthy enough to fulfill the responsibilities of a member of Congress. Reps. Gerry Connolly of Virginia and Raul Grijalva of Arizona both suffered from cancer. Turner passed after experiencing a medical emergency.

Their deaths reinvigorated questions about the party’s emphasis on experience in leadership, particularly given the energy needed to keep up with the frenetic pace of the Trump administration.

Being a Democratic lawmaker under Trump hasn’t been relaxing. The president has blitzed a series of immense structural changes to the federal government that Democrats have decried, while Republican lawmakers have passed new policies that Democrats have detested — most recently, the partisan “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that extended current tax rates while enacting cuts to social programs.

Donations from political committees accounted for $140,500 of Hoyer’s new funds, with contributions ranging from $1,000 to $7,500. Individual donations made up $84,700. The campaign spent over $169,000 during the past three months.

Hoyer has held his seat since 1981. He is one of the oldest members of Congress and spent years as the second-ranking House Democrat before stepping down from his post of Majority Leader in 2023, saying that, “The timing was right.”

In August of last year, Hoyer suffered a mild stroke. Despite the health scare, he went on to win reelection, defeating Republican Michelle Talkington with 68% of the vote. He received 72% of the vote during the Democratic primary, defeating three younger challengers.

At least one Democrat will challenge Hoyer in 2026: political newcomer Harry Jarin. Jarin’s campaign disclosures weren’t available prior to publication.

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