US Representative Jim ClyburnSouth Carolina’s highest-ranking elected Democrat says he has turned his eyes away from the Palmetto State in 2022 as Democrats suffer defeats in statewide races and the House of Representatives.
But Clyburn says he won’t lose sight of his home state again.
Sitting in a waiting room with drinks at the EdVenture Children’s Museum during its annual fish fry, Clyburn said he’s still ready to handle the pressure of being a prominent member of the Democratic Party who receives requests to appear across the country.
In 2022, Clyburn campaigned across the country for Democrats to try avoid an early red wave, which ended up not happening. Republicans failed to make gains in the US Senate and only achieved a slim majority in the US House of Representatives.
But in the process, Clyburn paid no attention to his home state, where Democrats suffered losses in the House of Representatives and lost the race for governor by more than 17 percentage points. Republicans increased their majority in the state House to 88 seats in the 2022 elections, up from 80 seats.
“I didn’t personally focus on legislative seats. I had no idea that these legislative seats were in any real danger,” Clyburn said in an exclusive interview with The State on Friday night. “I think I took my eyes off South Carolina, which I won’t do this time. I will focus on several legislative seats.”
Three of those Democratic defeats occurred in Clyburn’s congressional district.
Clyburn donates to state and local parties
Although much of Clyburn’s campaign ahead of the 2022 midterm elections was across the country, he provided financial resources for election efforts in the state, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Clyburn in 2022 contributed $350,000 to the state party and many thousands more to town hall parties and local campaigns.
During the 2024 cycle, he has already spent $5,000 on the South Carolina Democratic House Caucus and more than $111,000 to the state Democratic Party, which could be used for a coordinated campaign effort.
Other than contributing money, it remains unclear how Clyburn will campaign in South Carolina. He said he is talking to Chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party, Christale Spain about where he will be most useful in helping to get votes.
“Whatever she asks me to do,” Clyburn said. “They have been conducting focus groups across the state and are putting together a plan based on what they are finding.”
“She and the party people will develop a plan and share that plan with me and then I will get to work,” Clyburn added.
Clyburn does not face strong opposition to his re-election. He is in a safe Democratic district, allowing him to campaign for other candidates.
Pulled in different directions
Clyburn is pulled in several directions. He is the biggest name in the party that has been fighting in the ruby-red state, but has a prominent position on the national scene. He is most sought after by candidates across the country after he endorsed Joe Biden before the 2020 South Carolina Democratic presidential primary, which propelled Biden to the nomination and eventually the White House.
In the 2024 cycle he has already visited Pennsylvania and has trips to Georgia, Florida and Michigan on his agenda, a sign that he will be in demand before the general elections.
He will have to balance requests from across the country with requests from his home state.
«It’s not easy, it’s difficult and, of course, I have a certain notoriety that I have to respond to. And I tried to do that,” said Clyburn, 83. “I feel the pressure, but I feel prepared for it.”
At Clyburn’s annual fish fry on Friday night, people lined up to take photos with the 16-term congressman. Potential 2028 presidential candidates U.S. Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey and Raphael Warnock of Georgia attended and spoke to the crowd about the importance of re-electing Clyburn.
Clyburn, who is confident that Democrats will win control of the U.S. House, allowing Hakeem Jeffries to become Speaker, recently stepped away from House Democratic leadership. In February, he stepped down as assistant Democratic leader, allowing U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colorado, to take over the role.
“But I didn’t leave the lead. I gave up the title,” Clyburn said.
Asked if he was at the back of the Democratic leadership, Clyburn said, “and at the forefront.”
But with Clyburn giving up the leadership title, it leads to questions about how long he will want to continue in office as a congressman.
He is running for re-election and has never faced any real challenges in his work. But in December, at the annual family reunion over the holidays, he will again discuss with his daughters the possibility of doing another race during the 2026 cycle.
“These talks are very meaningful to me,” Clyburn said of the discussions that the late Emily Clyburn would preside over. “Sometimes we talk about what happened last year, what happened in the last campaign. What do you need to do in the next campaign and I think this year we will talk about whether or not there should be another campaign. They are very meaningful and very beneficial.”
His daughter Jennifer Clyburn Reed now chairs the discussion, Clyburn said.
