It pays to have friends in high places.

Congressman Steny Hoyer today announced his support for candidate Marjorie Margolies. Hoyer is the US House Minority Whip from Maryland’s 5th district.

Hoyer said of Margolies, “Marjorie Margolies is one of the most hard-working and courageous individuals I ever served with in Congress.”

Margolies is running for the seat Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz is vacating in her bid for governor.

Hoyer heaped praise on Margolies’ legislative record.

“During her previous tenure in Congress, Marjorie was instrumental in passing a ban on dangerous assault weapons, enacting the Family and Medical Leave Act, and funding greater investment in women’s health care.”

Hoyer served as House Democratic Caucus Chair during Margolies’ first term in Congress, when she cast the tie-breaking vote for President Bill Clinton’s first budget.

Margolies formerly was the US Rep. for the 13th district but lost in 1994 when the Republicans swept into the House that year. The district since then has shrunken into, and towards Philadelphia considerably, making the district much more tolerable of Margolies more left-leaning stances than it used to be.

Now, Margolies is competing against State Senator Daylin Leach, State Rep. Brendan Boyle, and Dr. Valerie Arkoosh in a primary election.

Today’s endorsement is the largest to date that any of the candidates have received. Margolies has previously received the backing of State Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Montco) and State Sen. LeAnna Washington (D-Phila). Leach (D-Montco) has received the backing of the nurse’s union PASNAP and Boyle (D-Phila) last week was endorsed by the Boilermakers union. The Women’s Campaign Fund is supporting Arkoosh.