Rep. James Clyburn Announces He Will Seek Reelection

WASHINGTON — Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) announced Thursday he will seek reelection, ending speculation that he may retire after more than 30 years in Congress.

“In a few minutes, I am going to sign the paperwork that’s necessary in order to qualify for the Democratic nomination to run again,” he said to applause during a press event he organized at the South Carolina Democratic Party headquarters in Columbia.

Clyburn, 85, was first elected to the 6th Congressional District in 1993. He spent years in House Democratic leadership, serving as Majority Whip alongside former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and former Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). A leader on civil rights issues, he’s long been a power broker in his state and for the Democratic Party, having been key to former President Joe Biden winning in South Carolina in 2020.

Still, his decision to stay in office may rankle some, given his advanced age and a debate within his party over the need for generational change in Congress. Clyburn will be 86 by the midterms, about the same age as Pelosi and Hoyer, both of whom recently announced their retirements after similarly long stints in the House.

He addressed these concerns during his Thursday announcement, and said he feels he has more work to do in the House.

“We exist in pursuit of a more perfect union,” Clyburn said. “I don’t think there’s anybody here today who believes that we should give up on that pursuit of perfection. And I’m here today to say I do believe that I’m very well-equipped and healthy enough to move into the next term.”

“I know that in a few months, I’m going to celebrate the 47th anniversary of my 39th birthday, which adds up to 86 years,” he added. “But if I were not up to it, I would not do it.”

He touted his seniority in the House, noting his current role as the top Democrat on the appropriations subcommittee on transportation and housing. Even in the minority party, he said, he helped get $227 million in investments into this year’s appropriations bill.

Clyburn said he also had “a long talk” with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday. Jeffries asked him to stay, he said, and expressed interest in having Clyburn serve on his leadership team if Democrats win back control of the House in November, which they are well-positioned to do.

“It made me feel necessary,” said the South Carolina Democrat.

When a reporter asked about Democrats clamoring for younger leaders, Clyburn brought up a fellowship program he’s funded for 13 years that helps to develop the next generation of leadership in the South Carolina Democratic Party. It provides high school graduates with laptops, scholarships and a chance to talk with him, and some have gone on to run campaigns. One graduate of the program is now running Clyburn’s reelection campaign.

“The Bible says that the young are called because of their strength, the older because of their knowledge. For there to be success, there should be an adequate balance of both,” he said. “That, to me, is what is successful.”

At least one Democratic organization is unhappy with Clyburn’s decision and already calling for someone to run against him.

“This selfish decision does such a disservice to his district, to the Democratic Party, and to the country,” said Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something, which recruits young progressives to seek office. “There is an incredible bench of leaders in his community who could take the baton ― I hope one or many of them primary him and make him defend this choice.”