Speaker Pelosi has announced that she’ll run for Minority Leader. That means that Steny Hoyer or is out or he has to run for the second ranking position in the minority — namely, whip. James Clyburn held that position in the Majority. And he’s just announced that he’s going to run for it again in the Minority.
So Hoyer either has to run against Clyburn or he’s out of the leadership.
Of course, another part of this story is that Hoyer is the more conservative member of the House leadership team. And a lot of his core constituency, more right-leaning Dems from swing states or conservative districts — was booted in this election.