Hoyer endorses Jazz Lewis for Maryland House seat

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is throwing his support behind Maryland Democrat Jazz Lewis’s bid for the state’s 4th Congressional District. 

Lewis, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, formerly worked as a senior policy adviser for Hoyer and is currently his legislative chamber’s Democratic Caucus Chair. The seat he’s running for is being vacated by Rep. Anthony Brown (D), who is running to be attorney general of Maryland.

“Jazz represents the best of Prince George’s County. I’ve seen up close his devotion to his work, to the people of Prince George’s County where he was born and raised, and to the community of Glenarden where he chose to start his family. Whether as a community organizer, as the Democratic Caucus Chair in the Maryland House of Delegates, or now as a candidate for Congress, Jazz has always fought for our community,” Hoyer said in a statement. 

The endorsement marks a rare foray for Hoyer into a primary with multiple Democrats running. Former Prince George’s state’s attorney Glenn Ivey is also running, as is Gabriel Njinimbot, an IT consultant. 

“I am honored to have the support of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. He has been a mentor to me personally and a model for all on how to champion working-class issues and bring people together to get things done,” Lewis tweeted.

I am honored to have the support of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. He has been a mentor to me personally and a model for all on how to champion working-class issues and bring people together to get things done. https://t.co/qXRWhjjX9o

— Jazz Lewis (@JazzforMaryland) November 8, 2021

Hoyer’s support could be significant given his extensive ties to donors and reputation as a major figure in Prince George’s County, which is split in half between Hoyer’s district and Brown’s district.