Jim Clyburn
Jim Clyburn | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2019 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 6th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Robin Tallon |
| House Assistant Democratic Leader | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – March 20, 2024 | |
| Leader | Hakeem Jeffries |
| Preceded by | Katherine Clark (Assistant to the Speaker) |
| Succeeded by | Joe Neguse |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019 | |
| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Chris Van Hollen (Assistant to the Leader) |
| Succeeded by | Ben Ray Luján (Assistant Speaker) |
| House Majority Whip | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 | |
| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Steve Scalise |
| Succeeded by | Tom Emmer |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Leader | Nancy Pelosi
|
| Preceded by | Roy Blunt |
| Succeeded by | Kevin McCarthy |
| Chair of the House Democratic Caucus | |
| In office January 16, 2006 – January 3, 2007 | |
| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Bob Menendez |
| Succeeded by | Rahm Emanuel |
| Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus | |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 16, 2006 | |
| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Bob Menendez |
| Succeeded by | John B. Larson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Enos Clyburn July 21, 1940 Sumter, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Emily England
(m. 1961; died 2019) |
| Children | 3, including Mignon and Jennifer |
| Education | South Carolina State University (BA) |
| Awards | Presidential Medal of Freedom (2024) |
| Website | House website |
James Enos Clyburn (born July 21, 1940) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 6th congressional district. First elected in 1992, Clyburn is in his 17th term, representing a congressional district that includes most of the majority-black precincts in and around Columbia and Charleston, as well as most of the majority-black areas outside Beaufort and nearly all of South Carolina's share of the Black Belt. Since Joe Cunningham's departure in 2021, Clyburn has been the only Democrat in South Carolina's congressional delegation and as well as the dean of this delegation since 2011 after fellow Democrat John Spratt lost re-election.
Clyburn served as the third-ranking House Democrat, behind Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer, from 2007 until 2023, serving as majority whip behind Pelosi and Hoyer during periods of Democratic House control, and as assistant Democratic leader behind Pelosi and Hoyer during periods of Republican control. He was House Majority Whip from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023 and also House assistant Democratic leader from 2011 to 2019 and again from 2023 to 2024. After the Democrats took control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections, Clyburn was reelected majority whip in January 2019 at the opening of the 116th Congress, alongside the reelected Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer, marking the second time the trio has served in these roles together.
In the 2022 midterm elections, Republicans gained control of the House, and Pelosi retired as leader of the House Democratic Caucus. In the 2022 United States House of Representatives Democratic Caucus leadership election, Clyburn successfully sought the position as House Assistant Democratic Leader, rather than that of Democratic Whip.
Clyburn played a pivotal role in the 2020 presidential election by endorsing Joe Biden three days before the South Carolina Democratic primary. His endorsement came at a time when Biden's campaign had suffered three disappointing finishes in the Iowa and Nevada caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. Biden's South Carolina win three days before Super Tuesday transformed his campaign; the momentum led him to capture the Democratic nomination and later the presidency.