Jim Clyburn seeks another term in Congress at 85

Andrew Solender

A man in a pinstriped suit and light tie, wearing glasses, stands in front of a large red, white, and blue American flag backdrop. — Rep. Jim Clyburn attends an event with then-President Joe Biden at the International African American Museum in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 19, 2025. Photo: Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images

Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) said Thursday he will seek another term in Congress, bucking a trend of generational change that has prompted other older House Democrats to retire.

Why it matters: The 85-year-old is poised to be the third-oldest member of Congress if reelected, with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), 85, and former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), 86, both retiring.

Reps. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), 88, and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), 87 — the only two other members of Congress older than Clyburn — are both running for reelection.

Between the lines: Nearly a dozen House Democrats in their 70s and 80s are retiring at the end of the 119th Congress.

But dozens of others have remained defiant, running for reelection even as some face well-funded Democratic primary challenges.

What he's saying: "In a few minutes, I'm going to sign the paperwork that's necessary in order to qualify for the Democratic nomination to run again."

Clyburn said he had a "long talk" with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday morning and that Jeffries "was among those who asked me to stay."

The intrigue: Clyburn said Jeffries "expressed an interest in my being a part of his leadership if we were to take the House back" in the November midterms.

"It made me feel necessary," he said with a chuckle.

Zoom out: First elected to Congress in 1992, Clyburn is considered the preeminent Democrat in South Carolina and one of the most prominent Black political leaders nationwide.

He is also seen as a kingmaker on the presidential level, having boosted Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign at a pivotal moment ahead of the South Carolina primary.
He served as Pelosi's third-in-command — variably as majority whip, assistant minority leader and Democratic caucus chair — for over a decade and a half from 2007 to 2023.
Even after Pelosi and Hoyer relinquished their leadership positions, Clyburn stayed on as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' (D-N.Y.) assistant leader for another year.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.

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Jim Clyburn seeks another term in Congress at 85

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