Washington’s aging political class just got another reminder that retirement isn’t exactly in fashion on Capitol Hill.
At 85 years old, South Carolina Democrat Jim Clyburn announced Thursday that he intends to run for yet another term in Congress—his 18th—after being urged to remain in the fight by House Democratic leadership.
Speaking to supporters gathered at the South Carolina Democratic Party headquarters, Clyburn made it clear he’s not stepping aside anytime soon.
“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.
The veteran lawmaker revealed that his decision came after a conversation with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who personally asked him to stick around and even floated a role on his leadership team should Democrats regain control of the House.
“He was among those who asked me to stay. He did not know or had not been informed of what my decision was going to be,” Clyburn explained. “And he expressed an interest in my being a part of his leadership, if he were to take the House back. It made me feel necessary.”
The longtime congressman, who will turn 86 in July, insisted age isn’t slowing him down. According to Clyburn, he remains more than capable of continuing in office.
“I am very well equipped and healthy enough to move into the next term, trying to do the things that are necessary,” he said. “If I were not up to it, I would not do it.”
While Clyburn is among the oldest members of Congress, he’s not the most senior. That distinction belongs to Chuck Grassley, the 92-year-old Iowa senator who currently serves as president pro tempore of the Senate and stands third in the presidential line of succession. Another veteran lawmaker, Kentucky Republican Hal Rogers, the House’s longest-serving member, is also seeking reelection at age 88.
Clyburn first won his House seat back in 1992—the same election year that Arkansas governor Bill Clinton captured the presidency. Over the decades, the South Carolina Democrat has carved out a reputation as one of his party’s most influential power brokers, especially in his home state.
His political clout was on full display during the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, when his endorsement helped propel Joe Biden to a decisive victory in South Carolina—reviving Biden’s struggling campaign and setting him on the path to the Democratic nomination and eventually the White House.
Yet Clyburn has also used his platform to complain about how Democrats are portrayed in the press. During an interview last spring with MSNBC host Ali Velshi on MSNBC Reports, the congressman dismissed criticism that the party lacks a unified message.
“Well, I think the message coming from the Democratic Party is a good message,” Clyburn said. “The problem we’ve got, I’ll say, is that we have to depend upon the media to deliver it.”
He then went further, accusing media outlets of chasing attention rather than fairly covering Democratic priorities.
“If we have The Washington Post, for instance, caving to this wannabe dictator and we’ve got other media entities that seem to rather push a narrative that will bring eyes to their newspapers or to their television sets and not really give a fair hearing or reporting to what we’re doing.”
