Long-serving Democrat Jim Clyburn Of South Carolina Will Run For An 18th Term In Congress

COLUMBIA, S.C. — U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, nan dean of South Carolina’s Democrats, said Thursday that he will tally for an 18th House term, a move that could position him arsenic an influential elder statesman successful Congress if his statement regains nan mostly successful November.

The determination by nan 85-year-old lawmaker cuts against calls for generational alteration wrong nan party. Clyburn is 1 of respective seasoned Democrats moving again alternatively of stepping speech for younger politicians whose vexation accrued successful nan aftermath of President Joe Biden’s grounded reelection campaign.

“I’m present coming to opportunity I do judge that I’m very good equipped and patient capable to move into nan adjacent term, trying to do nan things that are basal to proceed that pursuit of perfection,” Clyburn said astatine authorities statement office successful Columbia. “And truthful I will tally a very vigorous campaign.”

Clyburn is among nan oldest Democrats serving successful Washington, and nan only personnel of nan past Democratic activity squad who is looking to instrumentality around. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and erstwhile Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland some scheme to discontinue astatine nan extremity of their existent terms.

Clyburn said that he sought counsel from his 3 daughters earlier making his announcement. One of them — Mignon Clyburn, a erstwhile personnel of nan Federal Communications Commission — said she was concerned astir nan governmental vitriol that her begetter would look successful Washington.

“Her liking was successful her daddy and what she thought I mightiness beryllium subjected to,” Clyburn said. “When Mignon yet had decided that she could unrecorded pinch it, I’m here.”

Clyburn said he heard from different female that “‘we don’t perceive to them group up there, and you should not. You should perceive to nan group down here, and we don’t want you to leave.’ And truthful I’m responding to nan group that are here.”

Clyburn served arsenic mostly whip and adjunct Democratic leader. Remaining successful Congress for different word could springiness him a chance to service alongside nan first Black speaker of nan House arsenic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York is successful statement for nan gavel should Democrats triumph control. Clyburn for galore years was nan highest-ranking Black lawmaker successful nan House.

On Thursday, asked astir nan imaginable of being capable to counsel Jeffries, Clyburn said nan 2 said precocious astir a imaginable moving narration successful nan adjacent Congress.

“He expressed an liking successful my being a portion of his leadership, if we were to return nan House back,” Clyburn said. “It made maine consciousness necessary.”

Four years ago, erstwhile Clyburn announced his bid for a 16th term, he told The Associated Press that he intended to support campaigning arsenic agelong arsenic his wellness and support from his family remained stalwart.

“I’ve told them, if you ever spot that I request to spell to nan rocking chair aliases walk my spare clip connected nan play course, fto maine know,” he said describing his daughters’ counsel.

Clyburn won his 2024 reelection by much than 20 percent points. First elected successful 1992, he represents nan territory that sweeps from areas astir nan superior of Columbia done agrarian cardinal and eastbound counties down to Charleston.

Should he service an 18th term, Clyburn would go nan longest-serving South Carolinian ever successful nan U.S. House. Time horizons are longer for nan state’s U.S. senators, 2 of whom — Republican Strom Thurmond and Democrat Fritz Hollings — served 48 years and astir 39 years, respectively.

Filing for predetermination successful this year’s elections successful South Carolina opens Monday and closes March 30. South Carolina’s superior elections will beryllium held June 9.

Whenever Clyburn does time off office, nan title to beryllium his successor will beryllium fierce. He is nan only Democrat representing his authorities successful Washington.

As to whether his 18th word could beryllium his last, Clyburn called that an “open question.”

“I’m looking guardant to nan time that I tin walk much clip reading, penning and playing golf, and truthful this could very good beryllium to my past term,” he said. “And it could very good not be.”

Kinnard writes for nan Associated Press.