Maryland

Maryland's Longtime Senate President Steps Down Amid Illness

Miller announced in January that he had stage 4 prostate cancer

Maryland's longtime Senate president is stepping down from his leadership post as he deals with his cancer diagnosis, and a Baltimore lawmaker is being nominated to take his place.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller made the announcement in Annapolis on Thursday after speaking with the chamber's other 31 Democrats in a closed-door meeting. He says he will remain a senator.

Sen. Bill Ferguson was nominated by the Democratic caucus to be the next Senate president.

Miller is 76 and has been Maryland's Senate President for more than three decades. He is the country's longest-serving state senator. He was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer In January.

Gov. Larry Hogan thanked Miller for his decades of public service. 

"As the longest continuously serving presiding officer in the nation, President Miller has been a strong, unifying leader for the legislature and the state. His steady presence and trademark humor will be deeply missed as President, but we are pleased to know that Mike will continue to represent the people of District 27 in the Senate," Hogan said in a statement. 

Stay with News4 for more details on this developing story. 

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