Maryland Rep. Senyr Hoyer, a Democrat, reportedly suffered a stroke over the weekend. According to a statement from the 85-year-old representative’s office, he is responding well to treatment and has no additional symptoms following the incident.
Hoyer is also expected to return to his normal work schedule, however Congress remains in recess through August.
Hoyer suffered an “ischemic” stroke, which is the most common form of stroke. Typically, this kind of stroke, which is caused when a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked, affects people in older age.
Margaret Mulkerrin, a spokesperson for the politician, said that Hoyer’s family wished to express their deepest thanks to the medical team who treated him.
At his advanced age, Hoyer has no intention to step down from his role as the representative for Maryland’s 5th Congressional District, though he did step down from his role as Democratic majority leader at the end of the last Congress.
The news comes only weeks after President Joe Biden, also an octogenarian, stepped down from the 2024 presidential race over concerns about his age. While the president has not officially stated that he stepped out of the race because of his age – the president’s cognitive abilities have long been a point of contention, on top of his advanced age – it became painfully clear to the American public on June 27 during the presidential debate with former President Donald Trump that Biden was struggling to perform as well as he used to.
Since Biden stepped down from the race, Democratic operatives and media pundits have begun to spin the old Republican talking point about Biden’s age back onto Trump. In July, People proclaimed that President Trump is now the “oldest presidential nominee in history.” The Economist also ran with the same story. As did Axios. As did Business Insider. As did The Independent.
You get the picture, right?
