Veteran South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn plans to seek another term in the U.S. House.
On Thursday (March 12) Clyburn, 85, announced that he will run for reelection in 2026. He promised to mount a “vigorous campaign” as he pursues an 18th term in the House of Representatives.
“I’m here today to say I do believe that I’m very well equipped and healthy enough to move into the next term,” Clyburn said during remarks at South Carolina Democratic Party headquarters in Columbia. “And so I will run a very vigorous campaign.”
Clyburn acknowledged that he knew everyone expected a retirement announcement. He shared that he did consider it but after consulting with this three daughters he changed his mind.
He said the message he received was, “We don’t want you to leave.”
“So, I’m responding to the people down here,” Clyburn said.
First elected in 1992, Clyburn spent nearly two decades as the number three House Democrat. He later served as assistant Democratic leader, making him for many years the highest-ranking Black lawmaker in the House of Representatives.
Clyburn’s potential reelection would push his political survival beyond Democratic Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer, who are retiring at the end of the current term on Jan. 3, 2027.
Clyburn’s pursuit of another term runs counter to growing calls for generational change within the Democratic Party. In 2024, Democratic candidate President Joe Biden withdrew from the re-election race due to a decline in his physical and mental wellness.
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.”
Clyburn won his most recent election in 2024 by more than 20 percentage points, maintaining a strong base of support in the majority-Black district.