For over 40 years, Steny Hoyer has been the rock upon which Maryland’s 5th Congressional District has stood. He’s brought home the bacon, brought in the bases, and built a district economy that—frankly—doesn’t just admire him, it depends on him.
Every two years, without fail, the same whispers echo across Southern Maryland: Will Hoyer run again? What if he retires? Who’s next? It’s become a ritual—like waiting for cicadas to emerge. But the cicadas have come and gone. Steny remains.
Let’s be clear. I’m not calling for Congressman Hoyer to retire. In fact, if he runs for ten more terms—which would put him comfortably over the century mark—I’ll be there, checking the box, with full-throated support. The man delivers. Every. Single. Time.
But politics is a human endeavor, and humans don’t last forever. And if, one day, the heavens do open and God sends a flaming chariot with wheels of fire to carry Congressman Hoyer home, we’d be foolish not to at least think about the future.
So let’s play the game that everyone plays—quietly, cautiously, respectfully—and ask:
Who are the five most likely Democrats to run for Maryland’s 5th if Hoyer retires?
1. Mckayla Wilkes
She’s run for this seat three times already, so no one questions her intentions. But her problem isn’t effort—it’s understanding the district. CD5 is built on defense contracting, two NAVSEA bases, and a federal workforce that lives and breathes procurement cycles and security clearances. When Wilkes says she supports soldiers but opposes expensive weapons systems, she’s not just missing the mark—she’s undermining the backbone of the regional economy. This district doesn’t need a lecture about military spending from someone who doesn’t know how many livelihoods depend on it.
Wilkes’s first campaign drew some interest. The second fizzled. The third? Barely a blip. Voters have heard her case. They’ve moved on.
2. Shayla Adams-Stafford
Shayla is a smart, ambitious woman, currently on the Prince George’s County Council (District 5). She has fundraising chops, a strong progressive base, and a knack for nonprofit visibility. But—and it’s a big “but”—she’s not from the 5th Congressional District. Her base is Glenn Ivey territory: Landover, Hyattsville, Bladensburg. Those voters aren’t in Hoyer’s district. Southern Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties are more conservative and defense-dependent than her progressive brand can comfortably reach.
Her husband is a major figure in the radical progressive movement, which is fine in many parts of the state—but not necessarily in Lexington Park, Lusby, or Waldorf. She’s one to watch, but the ground beneath her feet isn’t CD5 turf.
3. Courtney Finklea Green
Now this is someone who should make folks sit up and pay attention.
As Maryland’s Deputy State Treasurer, Courtney helps manage almost $14 billion in state funds. That’s real money, real responsibility, and real experience. She’s not just a rising star—she’s already demonstrated executive skill, fiduciary discipline, and the kind of quiet leadership that actually works in Washington. She's the only one under consideration that has experience as part of a service family life, which is such a big part of the cd5. She Is the only name being mentioned that knows her way around a military base and what it's like to shop as a service wife at a PX.
Courtney’s roots are deep in Prince George’s County going back to when she worked for the powerhouse District 25, but her professional reach stretches across the entire state. She knows what makes government tick—and she understands the unique needs of CD5: jobs, bases, budgets, and federal partnerships. She's currently the president of the South County Democratic Club founded by Congressman Hoyer and served in the delegation as an elected delegate to the Democratic national convention under Congressman Hoyer.
She’s not declared anything. She’s not campaigning. And I’m certainly not trying to push her into this. But if there were ever a moment when the district needed someone with brains, gravitas, and government fluency to step up, Courtney would be high on the list.
4. Sen. Anthony Muse
He’s in. Then he’s out. Then he’s in again. Anthony Muse has been dancing with this idea for years—and has publicly said he’s considered running against Hoyer.
But there are problems. Real ones.
Muse has been sued by his own church denomination. He’s reportedly bankrupted two congregations. There are rumors of personal scandals. Financial questions. Whisper campaigns that never quite fade. Whether true or not, the accumulation of controversy makes him a long shot. In CD5, folks value stability—and Muse doesn’t exactly radiate calm.
5. Sen. Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson’s name has started popping up in quiet conversations about a post-Hoyer political landscape—and it’s worth unpacking how he got here.
Once the Sheriff of Prince George’s County, a high-profile, well-paid, countywide office, Jackson made headlines for all the wrong reasons. His tenure from 2002 to 2010 was marred by controversy, most infamously the 2008 botched raid on the home of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo. Deputies under Jackson’s command stormed the wrong house, shot and killed two family dogs, and turned what should’ve been a routine investigation into a national scandal. For a while, Jackson became the butt of numerous jokes. People would say there's no reason to shoot two black Labrador retrievers unless you're an ice cream cone because you might get licked to death.
While Jackson stood by his department, the political fallout was lasting. He didn’t seek reelection.
Instead, he rebranded himself as a state legislator, sliding into Delegate from District 27B, then getting appointed to the Maryland Senate in 2021 after Senate President Mike Miller, his longtime political godfather, stepped down due to illness. Let’s be blunt: without Mike Miller, Jackson wouldn’t have made that leap. His entire second political life has been tied to the old Miller machine, and his base is in Calvert and southern Prince George’s, entirely within Hoyer’s district to make him a viable maybe.
He’s not flashy. He’s not loud. He’s not particularly policy-forward. But Jackson has allies, name recognition, and decades in public life. If he runs, it’ll be on experience and seniority—and on the strength of the old South County networks that Mike Miller once commanded like a plantation master.
Still, it’s hard to forget: most politicians don’t step *down* from Sheriff to Delegate. They don’t have to.