Jim Clyburn
James Enos Clyburn (born July 21, 1940) is an American politician and retired educator serving as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina. He previously as House Majority Whip between 2007 and 2011 and between 2019 and 2023. Clyburn also served as House assistant Democratic leader from 2011 to 2019 and again from 2023 until he stepped down in 2024.
James Clyburn | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2016 | |
| House Assistant Democratic Leader | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – February 14, 2024 | |
| Leader | Hakeem Jeffries |
| Preceded by | Katherine Clark (Assistant Speaker) |
| Succeeded by | TBD |
| 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 | |
| Speaker | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Steve Scalise |
| Succeeded by | Tom Emmer |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Speaker | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Roy Blunt |
| Succeeded by | Kevin McCarthy |
| Chair of the House Democratic Conference | |
| 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 Conference | |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 16, 2006 | |
| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Bob Menendez |
| Succeeded by | John B. Larson |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 6th district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Robin Tallon |
| 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) |
| Website | House website Party website |
Currently in his 16th term, Clyburn has served as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 6th congressional district since 1993. His congressional district 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. Clyburn is the dean of South Carolina's congressional delegation. Since John Spratt's departure in 2011, aside from the single term served by Joe Cunningham, Clyburn has been the only Democrat in South Carolina’s congressional delegation.
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. 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 announced her retirement as leader of the House Democratic Caucus. On the same day, Hoyer announced he would not seek his leadership position. Clyburn announced that he would seek the House Assistant Democratic Leader position, 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.