Longtime Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, a powerful figure in his party and a symbol of its aging leadership class, announced Thursday that he will seek an 18th term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The 85-year-old lawmaker, first elected in 1992, made his intentions clear at an event in Columbia, South Carolina, telling supporters, "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." His decision, as reported by Fox News, runs counter to growing calls for generational change within the Democratic Party, calls that intensified after serious concerns over then-President Joe Biden's physical and mental fitness culminated in his withdrawal from the 2024 re-election race.
Clyburn spent nearly two decades as the number three House Democrat, serving in leadership alongside 85-year-old former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and 86-year-old former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland. Both Pelosi and Hoyer have opted to step aside at the end of 2026 rather than seek another term, highlighting a broader debate over whether the partys most senior figures should finally make room for younger voices.
Confronting questions about his own age, Clyburn attempted to inject humor into the discussion, saying he will soon "celebrate the 47th anniversary of my 39th birthday." He insisted he remains fully capable of serving, declaring, "If I were not up to it, I would not do it," and adding, "My health has been good."
Nearly a dozen House Democrats in their 70s and 80s are retiring when the 119th Congress ends this year, even as others in the same age bracket push ahead for another term in office. On the Republican side, 88-year-old Rep. Hal Rogers of Kentucky and 87-year-old Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of California currently the oldest members of Congress are both seeking re-election, underscoring how entrenched political careers have become in Washington.
Clyburn has long been regarded as one of the nations most influential Black political leaders and a key power broker among South Carolina Democrats. With South Carolina serving for nearly half a century as the first southern primary in presidential politics, his endorsement has carried outsized weight in the Democratic nomination process.
His backing of Joe Biden in the 2020 South Carolina primary proved decisive, helping the then-former vice president secure a landslide victory that revived a faltering campaign and paved his path to the Democratic nomination and ultimately the White House. For conservatives who argue that Washington suffers from a chronic incumbency problem and a political class reluctant to relinquish power, Clyburns decision to run yet again will likely be seen as one more example of a Democratic establishment clinging to the past rather than cultivating new leadership.
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