Rep. Jim Clyburn Announces Re-election Bid for 18th Term Democratic Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, 85, announced Thursday he will seek re-election to his congressional seat, marking his 18th term in the House. The announcement was made at a gathering with supporters at the South Carolina Democratic Party headquarters in Columbia, where Clyburn emphasized his commitment to continuing the work of advancing the nation’s goals. Clyburn, who has represented the state’s 6th Congressional District since 1993, stated he would sign the necessary paperwork to run and pledged to launch a “very vigorous campaign.” He framed his decision as a response to the Constitution’s call for a “more perfect union,” asserting that he remains “very well-equipped” and “healthy enough” to pursue this goal. “If I were not up to it, I would not do it,” he said, adding that after extensive consultations with his three daughters, they reached a unanimous agreement that he should remain in the race. The announcement comes as the Democratic Party continues its push for generational change. Clyburn, who served as the third-ranking Democrat in the House from 2007 to 2023, was the top-ranking African-American lawmaker in Congress during that period. His leadership role ended in 2023 when he stepped down as House Democratic whip, and he briefly served as assistant leader before focusing on his re-election bid. Clyburn’s decision to run follows the retirements of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and former Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, who both announced their exits from Congress in recent months. With their departures, Clyburn has become the last of the previous generation of House Democratic leaders to seek re-election.#south_carolina #washington_post #rep_jim_clyburn #south_carolina_democratic_party #house_democratic_whip
Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., Announces Bid for 18th Term in Congress Rep. Jim Clyburn, a 85-year-old Democratic congressman from South Carolina, has announced he will seek re-election for his 18th term in the U.S. House of Representatives. The decision marks a departure from two other prominent Democratic leaders, Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer, who have both opted to retire. Clyburn made the announcement during a speech to supporters at the South Carolina Democratic Party headquarters in Columbia, stating he would soon sign the necessary paperwork to qualify for the Democratic nomination. Clyburn, first elected to Congress in 1992, has long been a key figure in Democratic politics. His career began alongside the rise of Bill Clinton, who became president that same year. Clyburn quickly rose through the ranks, serving as co-president of his freshman congressional class and later as chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus from 1999 to 2001. He joined the Democratic leadership team as vice chairman and later chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. When Democrats gained control of the House in 2006, Clyburn was elected majority whip, the third-highest leadership position. For the next 16 years, he shared the top leadership roles with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Steny Hoyer. However, as younger Democrats pushed for generational change, Clyburn stepped down from his leadership role in 2022, allowing Rep. Joe Neguse to assume the position. Clyburn has been a central figure in South Carolina’s Democratic Party, often referred to as a “kingmaker” for his influence over the state’s primary voters. His support was instrumental in former President Joe Biden’s 2020 Democratic presidential primary victory.#rep_jim_clyburn #south_carolina_democratic_party #congressional_black_caucus #house_democratic_caucus #world_famous_fish_fry
