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Family, Service and a Break: Lawmakers Share What They're Thankful For This Thanksgiving

Members of Congress from both parties say they are thankful for family, public service and a break from the stresses of Washington. Rep. Jim McGovern plans to do his annual 43-mile charity walk in Massachusetts. Steny Hoyer, remarried in June 2023, celebrates a large, healthy family, while Jodey Arrington is grateful for a decade in Congress as he prepares to retire in 2026. Others emphasized everyday gratitude and simple holiday traditions.

06:40 AM, 11/29/2025Politics
Family, Service and a Break: Lawmakers Share What They're Thankful For This Thanksgiving

As Americans prepare for Thanksgiving, members of Congress are reflecting on what matters most to them: family, public service and a chance to step away from the pressures of Washington.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) said they are especially grateful for time with family. Houchin described serving in office as "a real blessing" and appreciates the opportunity to both serve and reconnect with loved ones.

Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said he is thankful to be in Massachusetts and to get away from the recent chaos in Washington. He plans to continue his annual charity tradition: "I do a 43-mile walk every year for the food bank in Western Massachusetts. So Monday and Tuesday, I’ll be walking 43 miles," he said, joking that the walk might make this "the last time you see me."

Former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) highlighted renewed family meaning this year. Hoyer, who remarried in June 2023, said he is grateful for his new wife and that his 17 grandchildren are healthy and doing well. Arrington, who will retire at the end of 2026 after a decade in Congress, said he is thankful for the opportunity to serve and to return home to focus on his family.

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) emphasized gratitude as an everyday practice: "I'm always most thankful for the blessings that I've received, both for me personally and for my family... Gratitude is the attitude," he said.

On holiday traditions, Houchin recalled a family popsicle-stick ornament-making contest, Luna said she enjoys "binge-watching 'Harry Potter,'" Hoyer admitted he is "a big turkey and gravy guy," and Arrington summed up his plans simply: "Eat a lot of food and watch a lot of football." Their remarks offer a mix of personal milestones, service-minded traditions and simple pleasures that shape how they plan to spend the holiday.

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