U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, who represents Maryland’s 5th District, is recovering from a “mild ischemic stroke,” according to his spokesperson.

The Democrat, who is 85, will likely return to his normal schedule next week and has responded well to treatment. He did not have any lingering symptoms from the stroke on Sunday night, according to Deputy Chief of Staff Margaret Mulkerrin.

An ischemic stroke usually happens when a blood clot blocks a vessel in the brain, cutting off the supply of blood — and therefore oxygen and nutrients — to a region of the brain. It’s the most common type of stroke.

Hoyer has been an elected official for the state since 1967 as member of the Maryland State Senate. He has represented the 5th District since 1981, serving in the House Democratic Caucus as chair and vice chair, then as the House minority whip and House majority leader.

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

He was also described as the architect of the plan to bring the FBI headquarters building to Prince George’s County.

“For the record, in Maryland, we spell ‘tenacity’ S-T-E-N-Y,” said Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller at a “victory lap” last November, when the federal government selected a site for the FBI headquarters in Greenbelt. The 5th Congressional District covers all of Charles, St. Mary’s, and Calvert counties, as well as portions of Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties.

When the Maryland Democratic Party honored Hoyer’s career during a gala in 2023, Hoyer quipped that he wasn’t retiring any time soon. ”I think I’ll keep on keepin’ on for some time, folks, I want you to know that,” Hoyer said at the time. “So don’t write any obituaries.”

Hoyer is at least the second member of Maryland’s congressional delegation to suffer a stroke in recent years. U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen suffered a stroke in 2022 in the form of a small venous tear at the back of his head. He returned to office within a few days.

Then-Congressman Anthony Brown, now Maryland’s attorney general, also recovered from a minor stroke. Brown suffered the stroke at his home in Bowie in 2018.