COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) 鈥� U.S. Rep. , the dean of South Carolina鈥檚 Democrats, said Thursday that he will run for an 18th House term, a move that could position him as an influential elder statesman in Congress if his party regains the majority in November.
The decision by the 85-year-old lawmaker cuts against calls for generational change within the party. Clyburn is one of several veteran Democrats running again instead of stepping aside for whose frustration increased in the wake of President Joe Biden’s failed reelection campaign.
鈥淚鈥檓 here today to say I do believe that I鈥檓 very well equipped and healthy enough to move into the next term, trying to do the things that are necessary to continue that pursuit of perfection,” Clyburn said at state party headquarters in Columbia. 鈥淎nd so I will run a very vigorous campaign.鈥�
Clyburn is among the oldest Democrats serving in Washington, and the only member of the last Democratic leadership team who is looking to stick around. Former Speaker of California and former Majority Leader of Maryland both plan to retire at the end of their current terms.
Clyburn said that he sought counsel from his three daughters before making his announcement. One of them 鈥� Mignon Clyburn, a former member of the Federal Communications Commission 鈥� said she was concerned about the political vitriol that her father would face in Washington.
鈥淗er interest was in her daddy and what she thought I might be subjected to,鈥� Clyburn said. 鈥淲hen Mignon finally had decided that she could live with it, I鈥檓 here.”
Clyburn said he heard from another woman that “‘we don鈥檛 listen to them people up there, and you should not. You should listen to the people down here, and we don鈥檛 want you to leave.鈥� And so I鈥檓 responding to the people that are here.鈥�
Clyburn served as majority whip and assistant Democratic leader. Remaining in Congress for another term could give him a chance to serve alongside the first Black speaker of the House as of New York is in line for the gavel should Democrats win control. Clyburn for many years was the highest-ranking Black lawmaker in the House.
On Thursday, asked about the prospect of being able to advise Jeffries, Clyburn said the two spoke recently about a possible working relationship in the next Congress.
鈥淗e expressed an interest in my being a part of his leadership, if we were to take the House back,” Clyburn said. 鈥淚t made me feel necessary.鈥�
Four years ago, when Clyburn announced his bid for a 16th term, he that he intended to keep campaigning as long as his health and support from his family remained stalwart.
鈥淚鈥檝e told them, if you ever see that I need to go to the rocking chair or spend my spare time on the golf course, let me know,鈥� he said describing his daughters’ counsel.
Clyburn won his 2024 reelection by more than 20 percentage points. First elected in 1992, he represents the district that sweeps from areas around the capital of Columbia through rural central and eastern counties down to Charleston.
Should he serve an 18th term, Clyburn would become the longest-serving South Carolinian ever in the U.S. House. Time horizons are longer for the state鈥檚 U.S. senators, two of whom 鈥� Republican Strom Thurmond and Democrat Fritz Hollings 鈥� served 48 years and nearly 39 years, respectively.
Filing for election in this year鈥檚 elections in South Carolina opens Monday and closes March 30. South Carolina鈥檚 primary elections will be held June 9.
Whenever Clyburn does leave office, the competition to be his successor will be fierce. He is the only Democrat representing his state in Washington.
As to whether his 18th term could be his last, Clyburn called that an 鈥渙pen question.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to the day that I can spend more time reading, writing and playing golf, and so this could very well be to my last term,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd it could very well not be.鈥�
___
Meg Kinnard can be reached at
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
