Hundreds of people gathered at Rep. Steny Hoyer’s 29th annual bull roast Friday to wax democratic and watch the Majority Leader blow out 70 birthday candles.
The down-home barbeque draws Democrats from every corner of Hoyer’s five-county district to a lavish estate in Bowie for finger food, a few beers, a couple hundred handshakes and plenty talk of party unity.
Among the dozens of VIPs were Sen. Ben Cardin, Gov. Martin O’Malley, Lieut. Gov. Anthony Brown, former Maryland Gov. Marvin Mandel and U.S. representatives Chris Van Hollen, Donna Edwards and John Sarbanes.
Also present were Democratic state lawmakers, county and municipal officials from Hoyer’s 5th congressional district — as well as old friends, former neighbors, business owners and other average “Joes.” Hoyer greeted his guests in his usual bull roast attire, which always gets quite a response — blue jeans, a blue checkered button-down and snakeskin boots.
“There’s nobody held in higher regard or respect [in Congress] than Steny Hoyer is,” said Sarbanes, son of former Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes. “He is the one who makes the machinery work.”
O’Malley made one of the only direct references to specific legislation during the event.
“Members have tremendous respect for Hoyer. That’s why he can keep them from allowing back-door legislation that would allow guns,” he said, referring to the D.C. voting rights bill stymied by House members who oppose adding language to loosen the District’s gun restrictions.
