The decision by Mr. Hoyer, who has served as majority leader the past four years, sets up a possible fight with Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, currently the No. 3 Democrat, who said on Monday that he was still pursuing the No. 2 position as well.
At the same time, some Democrats continued to publicly question the decision of Speaker Nancy Pelosi to try to remain as party leader in the new Congress though no lawmaker has stepped forward to challenge her. Both parties are to hold internal elections next week when Congress returns for a lame-duck session.
In a letter to his colleagues, Mr. Hoyer, who spent the weekend canvassing his fellow Democrats as he explored a run for minority whip, said he could provide the experience necessary to help Democrats try to recapture the House in 2012.
“As Democratic whip, I will hit the ground running, delivering our message across the country, speaking out on the House floor against efforts to undermine the health and security of the middle class, building support for our party among all Americans and fighting the special interest money that overwhelmed many of our colleagues,” he wrote.
Mr. Clyburn and Mr. Hoyer met Monday, but aides would not divulge any details about their talks. Mr. Hoyer leads in public endorsements.
Some Democrats were pushing for a compromise that would keep both men at the leadership table by encouraging Mr. Clyburn to instead pursue the No. 3 job of party caucus chairman. He held that job previously when Democrats were in the minority, but on Monday he did not seem interested in returning to his old post.
“I’ve been there,” Mr. Clyburn told reporters.
Democrats had hoped to avoid a divisive clash between Mr. Hoyer, who is closely aligned with more moderate Democrats, and Mr. Clyburn, the senior African-American lawmaker in Congress, who would have a strong base of support in the Congressional Black Caucus. Both men are popular beyond those constituencies, and such a fight could have long-term repercussions for Democrats as they try to regroup. Lawmakers and senior aides said they still believed an accommodation could be reached that would prevent hard feelings and acrimony.
Ms. Pelosi touched off the scramble on Friday when she said she intended to run for minority leader despite Democrats’ loss of at least 60 House seats. Aides say she has gotten a strong response and has the support to remain the head of House Democrats, though not all of them seem persuaded.
“What I question is whether the future of the Democratic Party is well served with her continuing as leader,” Representative Jason Altmire, Democrat of Pennsylvania, said Monday in an interview on MSNBC.
While Democrats squared off, Republicans appeared to avoid at least one fight at the top. Representative Pete Sessions, the Texan who headed the successful National Republican Congressional Committee effort to win the House, said he intended to remain in that post rather than seek a higher position, like majority whip. Representative Kevin McCarthy of California is now unchallenged for that job.
Republicans still face a contest for the No. 4 position of Republican Conference leader between Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and Representative Jeb Hensarling of Texas.
