Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., one of the most influential Democrats in Congress and a towering figure in South Carolina politics, announced Thursday he will seek re-election to the House.
The 85-year-old, who previously faced increasing questions about whether he would seek another term, said it was a family decision, amid a broader conversation in Washington about generational turnover in political leadership.
“I do believe that I’m very well equipped and healthy enough to move into the next term,” Clyburn said, adding that he made the decision to run again after discussing it with his daughters.
“If I were not up to it, I would not do it,” he said.
Clyburn, who represents South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District, has served in Congress since 1993. He rose from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and has avidly worked with community organizations pushing for racial equality across the South and amplifying voices of Black voters across the nation.
He has remained popular in his heavily blue district, which includes large portions of Columbia, Charleston and much of South Carolina’s historic Black Belt region. In 2024, Clyburn won with nearly 60% of the vote, and he topped 62% in 2022.
He has become one of the most powerful lawmakers in Washington, serving in top House leadership roles and shaping national policy debates for decades. After an early career in state politics and public service, Clyburn was elected to Congress in 1992 and has climbed through Democratic leadership to become the first African American to serve multiple terms as House majority whip and later an assistant Democratic leader, making him one of the highest-ranking Black lawmakers in the history of Congress.
Over the course of his career, Clyburn has become known as a key power broker among Democrats, particularly within the party’s Black political leadership. He served as chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, in addition to chairman of the House Democratic Caucus.
His endorsement of then-Vice President Joe Biden three days before the 2020 Democratic presidential primary in South Carolina was widely credited with helping revive Biden’s campaign and secure the nomination. The win reshaped the primary race and propelled Biden to eventually clinch the presidency.
Clyburn also played a vital role in reshaping the Democratic presidential nominating process. Working with Biden and the Democratic National Committee, Clyburn helped elevate South Carolina to the first Democratic primary state in the 2024 election, arguing the opening contest should better reflect the diversity of the party’s voters.
Since then, the two have remained close allies, with Biden frequently praising Clyburn as a trusted adviser and pivotal figure within the party. Biden conferred the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, on Clyburn in 2024.
Ebony Davis is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked at CNN as a campaign reporter covering elections and politics.