Democrat Jim Clyburn, 85, to run for 18th House term
Are they actually going to vote on something real?
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), the former No. 3 Democrat and one of the oldest members of Congress, announced he will run for reelection in 2026.
“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 Thursday at the South Carolina Democratic Party headquarters in Columbia.
Clyburn said he believes he is “very well equipped and healthy enough” to seek another term. Noting his upcoming 86th birthday, he said of his pursuit of reelection: “If I were not up to it, I would not do it.”
The South Carolina Democrat, who served as majority whip from 2007 to 2010 and again from 2019 to 2022, is taking the opposite approach from his fellow colleagues who stepped down from leadership. Ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who served as majority leader, announced in November 2025 and January, respectively, that they would pass the torch to a new generation.
This will be Clyburn’s 18th term if he wins reelection this fall, first coming to Capitol Hill after winning election to his state’s 6th District in 1992. Before rising through the leadership ranks, he led the Congressional Black Caucus from 1999 to 2001.
After the Democrats lost the House in 2022, Pelosi and Hoyer stepped down from their posts. Clyburn kept his position until 2024. This changing of the guard allowed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-CA), and Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse (D-CO) to step into leadership roles.
Clyburn’s decision to seek another term comes as younger Democrats in and outside the halls of Congress are demanding that older members retire and allow new talent to enter the party.
“This selfish decision does such a disservice to his district, to the Democratic Party, and to the country,” Amanda Litman, Democratic strategist and co-founder of progressive PAC Run for Something, said of Clyburn’s announcement. “There is an incredible bench of leaders in his community who could take the baton — I hope one or many of them primary him and make him defend this choice.”
Several elder Democrats, such as Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), opted to retire at the end of this term rather than face a competitive primary challenger. But Clyburn is among seven other Democrats and Republicans over 80 dismissing those calls and running for reelection in 2026.
Rep. David Scott (D-GA), 80, is …
Are they actually going to vote on something real?
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), the former No. 3 Democrat and one of the oldest members of Congress, announced he will run for reelection in 2026.
“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 Thursday at the South Carolina Democratic Party headquarters in Columbia.
Clyburn said he believes he is “very well equipped and healthy enough” to seek another term. Noting his upcoming 86th birthday, he said of his pursuit of reelection: “If I were not up to it, I would not do it.”
The South Carolina Democrat, who served as majority whip from 2007 to 2010 and again from 2019 to 2022, is taking the opposite approach from his fellow colleagues who stepped down from leadership. Ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who served as majority leader, announced in November 2025 and January, respectively, that they would pass the torch to a new generation.
This will be Clyburn’s 18th term if he wins reelection this fall, first coming to Capitol Hill after winning election to his state’s 6th District in 1992. Before rising through the leadership ranks, he led the Congressional Black Caucus from 1999 to 2001.
After the Democrats lost the House in 2022, Pelosi and Hoyer stepped down from their posts. Clyburn kept his position until 2024. This changing of the guard allowed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-CA), and Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse (D-CO) to step into leadership roles.
Clyburn’s decision to seek another term comes as younger Democrats in and outside the halls of Congress are demanding that older members retire and allow new talent to enter the party.
“This selfish decision does such a disservice to his district, to the Democratic Party, and to the country,” Amanda Litman, Democratic strategist and co-founder of progressive PAC Run for Something, said of Clyburn’s announcement. “There is an incredible bench of leaders in his community who could take the baton — I hope one or many of them primary him and make him defend this choice.”
Several elder Democrats, such as Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), opted to retire at the end of this term rather than face a competitive primary challenger. But Clyburn is among seven other Democrats and Republicans over 80 dismissing those calls and running for reelection in 2026.
Rep. David Scott (D-GA), 80, is …
Democrat Jim Clyburn, 85, to run for 18th House term
Are they actually going to vote on something real?
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), the former No. 3 Democrat and one of the oldest members of Congress, announced he will run for reelection in 2026.
“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 Thursday at the South Carolina Democratic Party headquarters in Columbia.
Clyburn said he believes he is “very well equipped and healthy enough” to seek another term. Noting his upcoming 86th birthday, he said of his pursuit of reelection: “If I were not up to it, I would not do it.”
The South Carolina Democrat, who served as majority whip from 2007 to 2010 and again from 2019 to 2022, is taking the opposite approach from his fellow colleagues who stepped down from leadership. Ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who served as majority leader, announced in November 2025 and January, respectively, that they would pass the torch to a new generation.
This will be Clyburn’s 18th term if he wins reelection this fall, first coming to Capitol Hill after winning election to his state’s 6th District in 1992. Before rising through the leadership ranks, he led the Congressional Black Caucus from 1999 to 2001.
After the Democrats lost the House in 2022, Pelosi and Hoyer stepped down from their posts. Clyburn kept his position until 2024. This changing of the guard allowed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-CA), and Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse (D-CO) to step into leadership roles.
Clyburn’s decision to seek another term comes as younger Democrats in and outside the halls of Congress are demanding that older members retire and allow new talent to enter the party.
“This selfish decision does such a disservice to his district, to the Democratic Party, and to the country,” Amanda Litman, Democratic strategist and co-founder of progressive PAC Run for Something, said of Clyburn’s announcement. “There is an incredible bench of leaders in his community who could take the baton — I hope one or many of them primary him and make him defend this choice.”
Several elder Democrats, such as Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), opted to retire at the end of this term rather than face a competitive primary challenger. But Clyburn is among seven other Democrats and Republicans over 80 dismissing those calls and running for reelection in 2026.
Rep. David Scott (D-GA), 80, is …
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