October 24th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

Longtime Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller will step down from his leadership post Thursday, The Baltimore Sun reports.

Democrats plan to name Sen. Bill Ferguson of Baltimore, four decades Miller's junior, his successor

Miller has served as Senate president since January 1987 and has represented the 27th District, including parts of Prince George's, Calvert and Charles counties, since 1975. He is the longest-serving state Senate president in the United States.

In January, Miller announced he had been diagnosed last July with prostate cancer and had been treated with medication and chemotherapy.

Miller was at Johns Hopkins Hospital on Tuesday and, speaking Wednesday during a memorial for U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, said he told the doctor he had to get out of the hospital and "every attendant knew why."

Miller was set to hold a closed-door meeting Thursday with the Senate Democratic caucus to discuss his health and other issues.