Washington — Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina introduced Thursday he’ll search an 18th time period in Congress, making him the final of his technology of Home Democratic leaders nonetheless on the poll.
Clyburn, who’s 85 years outdated, made the announcement at an occasion with supporters on the South Carolina Democratic Social gathering headquarters in Columbia, saying he can be signing the paperwork wanted to run and would mount a “very vigorous marketing campaign.”
“Right this moment I’ll reply a query that is at all times requested: What’s there unfinished or what extra do you should do? Effectively, it is within the preamble of our Structure: We exist in pursuit of a extra good union,” he mentioned. “And I am right here right now to say I do imagine that I’m very well-equipped — and wholesome sufficient — to maneuver into the subsequent time period, making an attempt to do the issues which can be essential to proceed that pursuit of perfection.”
Clyburn famous his age, and mentioned, “If I had been less than it, I’d not do it. However in response to some intensive surveys, some intense consultations with my three daughters, they lastly acquired to a unanimous opinion that I needs to be right here right now and make this announcement.”
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His reelection bid comes amid a yearslong push within the Democratic Social gathering for generational change. Clyburn served because the No. 3 Democrat within the Home from 2007 to 2023, and was the top-ranking African-American lawmaker in Congress throughout that point.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and former Majority Chief Steny Hoyer of Maryland stepped down from their management roles forward of Clyburn, who relinquished his place as Home Democratic whip in 2023 and served as assistant chief for a little bit greater than a yr after that.
Pelosi and Hoyer have each introduced their retirements from Congress in current months, making Clyburn the final of Home Democrats’ earlier technology of leaders to hunt reelection.
In an interview with the Washington Submit earlier this month, Clyburn signaled he wasn’t able to name it quits simply but.
“I’ve achieved polling, I’ve interviewed my constituents, and my household is cut up on the choice — they haven’t coalesced round it but. I am leaning in the direction of doing it,” he mentioned.
Clyburn has served in Congress since 1993 and has been a kingmaker in Democratic politics in South Carolina for years. His endorsement of Joe Biden earlier than the state’s Democratic major in 2020 revived Biden’s marketing campaign and propelled him to the nomination.
South Carolina’s major will happen on June 9. Clyburn represents the state’s sixth Congressional District, which is solidly Democratic.
