Majority Whip James Clyburn
The South Carolina Democratic party has announced that Congressman James E. Clyburn will be stepping down from House Democratic Leadership at the end of this current term, though he is still committed to running for re-election to serve South Carolina’s Sixth Congressional District.
Clyburn has served in House Democratic Leadership since 2011, and served as Majority Whip from 20007-2010 and 2019-2022. He is the first African American to serve multiple terms as Majority Whip.
“For decades, Congressman Clyburn’s steady leadership and invaluable guidance helped Congressional Democrats achieve historic wins for South Carolina and all Americans. As a member of his staff I saw firsthand how he delivered for South Carolinians every day by fighting to provide student loan relief, increase funding for HBCUs, and expand access to healthcare. We are proud his colleagues selected him time and time again to lead our Party in the US House of Representatives. As he seeks re-election, we are lucky he will continue to fight to make America’s greatness accessible and affordable for all," says South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain.
Congressman Clyburn is from Sumter, South Carolina. When he graduated from South Carolina State in 1961, he started work as a public-school teacher in Charleston, SC. He joined the staff of Governor John C. West in 1971 and became the first African American advisor to a South Carolina governor. He served as South Carolina Human Affairs Commissioner from 1974 until 1992 when he ran for Congress. He has represented South Carolina’s Sixth Congressional District since 1993. The district covers all of Allendale, Bamberg, Calhoun, Clarendon, Hampton, and Williamsburg counties and parts of Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Florence, Jasper, Orangeburg, Richland and Sumter counties.
