House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer was hospitalized with pneumonia, according to reports.
“Mr. Hoyer was admitted to the George Washington University Hospital yesterday and was diagnosed with pneumococcal pneumonia,” Katie Grant, Hoyer’s spokeswoman, said in a statement to Politico, which broke the news of his hospitalization.
Hoyer, who represents the 5th District in Maryland was hospitalized earlier in the week.
“He is being treated with antibiotics and resting, and is expected to make a full recovery quickly. He looks forward to being back at work very soon,” Grant added.
Hoyer, 79, has been the No. 2 Democrat in the House of Representatives for more than a decade and a half. Hoyer has indicated that he wants to lead the caucus when House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi retires.
“Would I like to be speaker? Of course. Would I be disappointed if it doesn’t happen? No,” he was quoted by WJLA as saying in recent months.
Having been elected in 1981, he’s the most senior member of the Democratic caucus.
Other details about his hospitalization are not clear.