View source for Jim Clyburn

{{Short description|American politician (born 1940)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Jim Clyburn
| image               = Jim Clyburn official portrait 116th Congress.jpg
| state               = [[South Carolina]]
| district            = {{ushr|SC|6|6th}}
| term_start          = January 3, 1993
| term_end            = 
| predecessor         = [[Robin Tallon]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|House positions|titlestyle=border: 1px dashed lightgrey;}}
{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office1             = [[Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives#Party whips and assistant party leaders|House Assistant Democratic Leader]]
| leader1             = [[Hakeem Jeffries]]
| term_start1         = January 3, 2023
| term_end1           = March 20, 2024
| predecessor1        = [[Katherine Clark]] (Assistant to the Speaker)
| successor1          = [[Joe Neguse]]
| leader2             = [[Nancy Pelosi]]
| term_start2         = January 3, 2011
| term_end2           = January 3, 2019
| predecessor2        = [[Chris Van Hollen]] (Assistant to the Leader)
| successor2          = [[Ben Ray Luján]] (Assistant Speaker)
| office3             = [[Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives|House Majority Whip]]
| leader3             = Nancy Pelosi
| term_start3         = January 3, 2019
| term_end3           = January 3, 2023
| predecessor3        = [[Steve Scalise]]
| successor3          = [[Tom Emmer]]
| leader4             = Nancy Pelosi
# 
| term_start4         = January 3, 2007
| term_end4           = January 3, 2011
| predecessor4        = [[Roy Blunt]]
| successor4          = [[Kevin McCarthy]]
| office5             = [[Democratic Caucus Chairman of the United States House of Representatives|Chair of the House Democratic Caucus]]
| leader5             = Nancy Pelosi
| term_start5         = January 16, 2006
| term_end5           = January 3, 2007
| predecessor5        = [[Bob Menendez]]
| successor5          = [[Rahm Emanuel]]
| office6             = [[Democratic Caucus Vice-Chairman of the United States House of Representatives|Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus]]
| leader6             = Nancy Pelosi
| term_start6         = January 3, 2003
| term_end6           = January 16, 2006
| predecessor6        = Bob Menendez
| successor6          = [[John B. Larson]]
}}
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
| birth_name          = James Enos Clyburn
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1940|7|21}}
| birth_place         = [[Sumter, South Carolina]], U.S.
| awards              = [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] (2024)
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Emily England|1961|2019|end=died}}
| children            = 3, including [[Mignon Clyburn|Mignon]] and [[Jennifer Clyburn Reed|Jennifer]]
| education           = [[South Carolina State University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| website             = {{URL|clyburn.house.gov|House website}}
| module              = {{Listen
|pos         = center
|embed       = yes
|filename    = House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn on the Death of Dorothy Height.ogg
|title       = Clyburn's voice
|type        = speech
|description = Clyburn on the death of civil rights leader [[Dorothy Height]]<br>Recorded April 21, 2010}}
| caption             = Official portrait, 2019
}}
'''James Enos Clyburn''' (born July 21, 1940) is an American politician serving as the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. representative]] for {{ushr|SC|6}}. First elected in [[1992 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#District 6|1992]], Clyburn is in his 17th term, representing a congressional district that includes most of the majority-black precincts in and around [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]] and [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]], as well as most of the majority-black areas outside [[Beaufort, South Carolina|Beaufort]] and nearly all of South Carolina's share of the [[Black Belt in the American South|Black Belt]]. Since [[Joe Cunningham (American politician)|Joe Cunningham]]'s departure in 2021, Clyburn has been the only Democrat in [[United States congressional delegations from South Carolina|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 [[Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives|House Majority Whip]] from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023 and also [[Party leaders of the United States House of Representatives|House assistant Democratic leader]] from 2011 to 2019 and again from 2023 to 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lillis |first=Mike |date=February 13, 2024 |title=Clyburn to step out of Democratic leadership |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4468595-clyburn-to-step-out-of-democratic-leadership/ |access-date=February 15, 2024 |work=The Hill}}</ref> 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 United States Congress|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 United States elections|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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rogers |first=Alex |date=November 17, 2022 |title="Nancy Pelosi announces she won't run for leadership post, marking the end of an era" |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/17/politics/nancy-pelosi-house-speaker-democrats-future/index.html |access-date=November 18, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Nevin |date=November 17, 2022 |title="Clyburn announces future plans, steps away from Democratic Whip in Congress" |work=WIS-TV |url=https://www.wistv.com/2022/11/18/clyburn-announces-future-plans-steps-away-democratic-whip-congress/ |access-date=November 18, 2022}}</ref>

Clyburn played a pivotal role in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]] by endorsing [[Joe Biden]] three days before the [[2020 South Carolina Democratic primary|South Carolina Democratic primary]]. His endorsement came at a time when Biden's campaign had suffered three disappointing finishes in the [[2020 Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses|Iowa]] and [[2020 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses|Nevada caucuses]] and the [[2020 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary|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.

== Early life and education ==
Clyburn was born in [[Sumter, South Carolina]], the son of Enos Lloyd Clyburn, a [[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] [[Minister (Christianity)|minister]], and his wife Almeta (née Dizzley), a beautician.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestate.com/463/story/67142.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912105201/http://www.thestate.com/463/story/67142.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 12, 2012 |title=Chapter 12 &#124; The parable of the talents – Crossing a Great Divide |publisher=TheState.com |date=May 17, 2007 |access-date=August 29, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.blackcommentator.com/44/44_guest.html|title=Dad's Diploma: Overcoming Injustice|last=Clyburn |first=Jim|date=May 29, 2003|work=The Black Commentator|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726193521/http://www.blackcommentator.com/44/44_guest.html|archive-date=July 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> A distant kinsman was [[George W. Murray]], an organizer for the [[Colored Farmers' National Alliance and Cooperative Union|Colored Farmers Alliance]] (CFA), who was a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] South Carolina Congressman in the 53rd and 54th U.S. Congresses in the late 19th century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dredge on Marszalek, 'A Black Congressman in the Age of Jim Crow: South Carolina's George Washington Murray' {{!}} H-SC {{!}} H-Net |url=https://networks.h-net.org/node/11282/reviews/11339/dredge-marszalek-black-congressman-age-jim-crow-south-carolinas-george |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=networks.h-net.org}}</ref> He and other black politicians strongly opposed the 1895 state constitution, which essentially [[Disenfranchisement after the Reconstruction Era|disenfranchised]] most African-American citizens, a situation the state maintained for more than half a century until federal civil rights legislation passed in the mid-1960s.

Clyburn was graduated from Mather Academy (later named [[Boylan-Haven-Mather Academy]]) in [[Camden, South Carolina]], then attended South Carolina State College (now [[South Carolina State University]]), an [[historically black college]] in [[Orangeburg, South Carolina|Orangeburg]]. He joined the [[Omega Psi Phi]] fraternity and was graduated with a [[bachelor's degree|baccalaureate]] in history.

In his first full-time position after college, Clyburn taught at C.A. Brown High School in [[Charleston, South Carolina]].

==Early political career==
Clyburn became involved in politics during the [[1969 Charleston hospital strike]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ldhi.library.cofc.edu/exhibits/show/charleston_hospital_workers_mo/aftermath|title=Aftermath · The Charleston Hospital Workers Movement, 1968-1969 · Lowcountry Digital History Initiative|website=ldhi.library.cofc.edu|access-date=June 5, 2019}}</ref> After assisting the settlement of the protests at the [[Medical University of South Carolina]], he became involved in [[St. Julian Devine]]'s campaign for a seat on the Charleston city council in 1969. Clyburn came up with the campaign's slogan, "Devine for Ward Nine". When Devine won the race, he became the first African American to hold a seat on the city council since [[Reconstruction era|Reconstruction]]. Clyburn later credited that campaign as the reason he got into electoral politics.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Blessed experiences : genuinely southern, proudly black|last=Clyburn |first=James |isbn=978-1611175592|oclc=893457675|year = 2015|publisher=University of South Carolina Press }}</ref>

After an unsuccessful run for the [[South Carolina General Assembly]], Clyburn moved to [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]] to join the staff of [[Governor of South Carolina|Governor]] [[John C. West]] in 1971. West called Clyburn and offered him a job as his advisor after reading Clyburn's response to his loss in the newspaper. After West appointed Clyburn as his advisor, Clyburn became the first nonwhite advisor to a governor in South Carolina history.

In the aftermath of the 1968 [[Orangeburg massacre]], when police killed three protesting students at South Carolina State, West appointed Clyburn as the state's human affairs commissioner.<ref>
{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/23/business/john-c-west-crusading-south-carolina-governor-dies-at-81.html?scp=1&sq=%22John%20C.%20West%22%20%22south%20carolina%22&st=cse|title=John C. West, Crusading South Carolina Governor, Dies at 81|last=Saxon|first=Wolf|date=March 23, 2004|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 27, 2009|author-link=Wolf Saxon}}
</ref> He served in this position until 1992, when he stepped down to run for Congress. The Orangeburg massacre and civil-rights protest predated the [[Kent State shootings|1970 Kent State shootings]] and [[Jackson State killings|1970 Jackson State killings]], in which the National Guard at Kent State, and police and state highway patrol at Jackson State, killed student protesters demonstrating against the U.S. invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War.<ref name="morrill">{{cite web|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article198943934.html|title=50 years after 3 students died in SC civil rights protest, survivors still ask 'Why?'|first=Jim|last=Morrill|date=8 February 2018|website=[[The Charlotte Observer]]|access-date=21 August 2020}}</ref>

== U.S. House of Representatives ==

===Elections===
[[File:President Bill Clinton meeting with Democratic Whips at the United States Capitol (33) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Clyburn greeting President [[Bill Clinton]] in 1993]]
{{See also|2008 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#District 6|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#District 6}}
After the 1990 census South Carolina's district lines were redrawn. Due to prior racial discrimination before the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]], the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] required the 6th district, which had previously included the northeastern portion of the state, to be redrawn as a [[black-majority district]]. The 6th was reconfigured to take in most of the majority-black areas near Columbia and Charleston, as well as most of the Black Belt. Five-term incumbent [[Robin Tallon]]'s home in [[Florence, South Carolina|Florence]] stayed in the district, but he chose to retire. Five candidates, all of whom were African American, ran for the Democratic nomination for the seat. Clyburn's campaign was led by NAACP activist [[Isaac W. Williams]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/life/2015/02/01/isaac-williams-civil-rights/22673483/|title=Williams a leader for African-Americans in the South|work=The Greenville News|access-date=January 19, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

Clyburn won 55% of the vote in the primary, eliminating the need for a runoff. As expected, he won the general [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1992|election in November]] handily, becoming the first Democrat to represent a significant portion of Columbia since 1965 and the first Democrat to represent a significant portion of Charleston since 1981. He was the first African-American to represent South Carolina in Congress since [[George W. Murray]] in 1893.<ref>{{cite web |title=Black-American Members by Congress |url=https://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/BAIC/Historical-Data/Black-American-Representatives-and-Senators-by-Congress/ |publisher=U.S. House of Representatives |access-date=18 September 2022}}</ref> He has been reelected 15 times with no substantive [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] opposition.

For his first 10 terms, Clyburn represented a district that stretched from the [[Pee Dee]] through most of South Carolina's share of the Black Belt, but swept west to include most of the majority-black precincts in and around Columbia and south to include most of the majority-black precincts in and around Charleston. After the 2010 census, the district was pushed well to the south, losing its portion of the Pee Dee while picking up almost all of the majority-black precincts near Beaufort and [[Hilton Head Island]] (though not taking in any of Beaufort or Hilton Head themselves). The reconfigured 6th was no less Democratic than its predecessor. In all its incarnations as a [[gerrymandering|gerrymandered]] black-majority district, it has been dominated by black voters in the Columbia and Charleston areas, and for much of that time has been the only safe Democratic district in the state.

In 2008, Clyburn defeated Nancy Harrelson, 68% to 32%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/8562/13981/en/summary.html |title=South Carolina 2008 General Election Results |date=November 21, 2008 |access-date=February 26, 2009 }}</ref> In 2010, he defeated Jim Pratt, 65% to 34%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Democrat Clyburn wins 10th term in 6th District|url=https://www.wmbfnews.com/story/13432987/democrat-clyburn-wins-10th-term-in-6th-district|access-date=2020-08-07|website=WMBF News|date=November 3, 2010 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2012, Clyburn defeated Anthony Culler, 73% to 25%.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lavender|first=Paige|date=2014-11-04|title=Jim Clyburn Wins Midterm Election Race Against Anthony Culler In South Carolina|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jim-clyburn-midterm-election-results_n_5967638|access-date=2020-08-07|website=HuffPost|language=en}}</ref>

In March 2024, Clyburn announced his run for re-election.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Lee |date=March 18, 2024 |title=Congressman Clyburn seeks reelection, emphasizes accomplishments of Biden administration |url=https://www.abccolumbia.com/2024/03/18/congressman-clyburn-seeks-reelection-emphasizes-accomplishments-of-biden-administration/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=WOLO-TV}}</ref> Duke Buckner, who ran against Clyburn in 2022, defeated Justin Scott in the June Republican Primary.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kayanja |first=Ian |date=March 18, 2024 |title=Duke Buckner targets Clyburn's seat in SC's 6th Congressional District race |url=https://abcnews4.com/news/local/duke-buckner-targets-james-clyburns-seat-in-scs-6th-congressional-district-race-south-carolina-political-news-us-house-of-representatives-abc-news-4-wciv-2024 |access-date=March 18, 2024 |work=WCIV-TV}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sockol |first=Matthew |date=2024-06-11 |title=Duke Buckner secures win in S.C.'s 6th Congressional District GOP primary |url=https://abcnews4.com/news/local/justin-scott-and-duke-buckner-seek-gop-nomination-in-6th-congressional-district-race-republican-primary-united-states-us-house-representatives-congress-democratic-jim-clyburn-south-carolina-sc-wciv |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=WCIV |language=en}}</ref>  Gregg Marcel Dixon, who ran against Clyburn as a Democrat in 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Ann |date=May 13, 2022 |title=Can Dixon Beat Clyburn? Dr. Boyce Watkins Interviews Pro-Reparations House Candidate Gregg Marcel Dixon |url=https://moguldom.com/408151/can-dixon-beat-clyburn-dr-boyce-watkins-interviews-pro-reparations-house-candidate-gregg-marcel-dixon/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=The Moguldom Nation}}</ref> switched to the [[United Citizens Party]] for his 2024 run for the seat.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 18, 2024 |title=Statement of Intention of Candidacy & Party Pledge |url=https://vrems.scvotes.sc.gov/Candidate/ViewCandidateDocument?candidateId=20462&documentTypeSid=SICPledge |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=South Carolina State Election Commission}}</ref> [[Alliance Party of South Carolina|Alliance Party]] candidate Joseph Oddo and [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] candidate Michael Simpson have also filed for the seat.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilder |first=Anna |date=March 23, 2024 |title=Who's running for Congress in SC? Candidates are filing, campaigning |url=https://www.aol.com/news/running-congress-sc-candidates-filing-093000949.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |work=AOL}}</ref> In November 2024, Clyburn won re-election with 59.5% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-11-05 |title=South Carolina Sixth Congressional District Election Results |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/05/us/elections/results-south-carolina-us-house-6.html |access-date=2024-11-08 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==== South Carolina Redistricting ====
In 2023, ''[[ProPublica]]'' reported that Clyburn secretly worked with South Carolina Republicans during the [[2020 United States redistricting cycle|2020 Congressional redistricting process]] to dilute the state's Black vote.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |author-first=Marilyn W.|author-last=Thompson |author-link=Marilyn W. Thompson |author2-first=Cheney |author2-last=Orr |title=How Rep. James Clyburn Protected His District at a Cost to Black Democrats |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/how-rep-james-clyburn-protected-his-district-at-a-cost-to-black-democrats |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=ProPublica |date=May 5, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The [[South Carolina's congressional districts|resulting Congressional map]] made Democrats "have virtually no shot of winning any congressional seat in South Carolina other than Clyburn’s."<ref name=":3" /> The [[NAACP]], in 2022, challenged the South Carolina's redistricting as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, alleging that Republicans deliberately moved Black voters into Clyburn’s district to solidify Republican control over [[South Carolina's 1st congressional district|a neighboring swing district]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, The et al v. Alexander et al, No. 3:2021cv03302 - Document 397 (D.S.C. 2022) |url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/south-carolina/scdce/3:2021cv03302/267522/397/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Justia Law |language=en}}</ref> A spokesperson for Clyburn denied "any accusation that Congressman Clyburn in any way enabled or facilitated Republican gerrymandering."<ref name=":3" /> The NAACP case, filed as ''[[Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP]]'', was argued on October 11, 2023, in the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] and a ruling siding with the State was made in the 2024 term.<ref>Talks on Alexander v SC State NAACP Amicus Briefs, case before US Supreme Court on October 11, now available online". ''League of Women Voters of South Carolina''. October 8, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.</ref><ref>Montellaro, Zach (May 15, 2023). "Supreme Court to hear racial redistricting case from South Carolina". ''Politico''. Retrieved December 19, 2023.</ref><ref>"Alexander v. South Carolina Conference of the NAACP Oral Argument". ''C-Span''. October 11, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2023.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-23 |title=Court rules for South Carolina Republicans in dispute over congressional map |url=https://www.scotusblog.com/2024/05/court-rules-for-south-carolina-republicans-in-dispute-over-congressional-map/ |access-date=2025-01-09 |website=SCOTUSblog |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Tenure===

====Party leadership====
[[File:Barack Obama meets with House leaders in Williamsburg, VA 2-5-09.jpg|thumb|Clyburn with President [[Barack Obama]] as he meets with House leaders in 2009]]
Clyburn was elected [[Democratic Caucus Vice-Chairman of the United States House of Representatives|vice-chairman of the House Democratic Caucus]] in 2003, the caucus's third-ranking post.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} He became chair of the House Democratic Caucus in early 2006 after caucus chair [[Bob Menendez]] was appointed to the [[United States Senate|Senate]]. After the Democrats won control of the House in the [[United States general elections, 2006|2006 election]], Clyburn was unanimously elected Majority Whip in the [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]].{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

Clyburn would have faced a challenge from [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee]] chair [[Rahm Emanuel]], but Speaker-elect [[Nancy Pelosi]] persuaded Emanuel to run for [[Democratic Caucus Chairman of the United States House of Representatives|Democratic Caucus chair]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/09/AR2006110901764.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |first1=Charles |last1=Babington |first2=Jonathan |last2=Weisman |title=Reid, Pelosi Expected to Keep Tight Rein in Both Chambers |date=November 10, 2006}}</ref> Clyburn was interviewed by [[National Public Radio]]'s ''Morning Edition'' on January 12, 2007, and acknowledged the difficulty of counting votes and rallying the fractious Democratic caucus while his party held the House majority.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}

In the [[United States general elections, 2010|2010 elections]], the Democrats lost their House majority. Pelosi ran for Minority Leader in order to remain the House party leader, while Clyburn announced that he would challenge [[Steny Hoyer]], the second-ranking House Democrat and outgoing Majority Leader, for Minority Whip. Clyburn had the support of the [[Congressional Black Caucus]], which wanted to keep an African-American in the House leadership, while Hoyer had 35 public endorsements, including three standing committee chairs. On November 13, Pelosi announced a deal whereby Hoyer would remain Minority Whip, while a "number three" leadership position styled ''Assistant Leader'' would be created for Clyburn.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/11/13/democratic.leadership.battle/index.html?eref=edition|title=Deal ends Democratic leadership fight|author=Dana Bash|publisher=CNN|date=November 13, 2010 |author-link=Dana Bash}}</ref> The exact responsibilities of Clyburn's assistant leader office were unclear, though it was said to replace the ''Assistant to the Leader'' post previously held by [[Chris Van Hollen]], who had attended all leadership meetings but was not in the leadership hierarchy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/112congress/index.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=David A. |last=Fahrenthold |title=Alexis Covey-Brandt}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/07/AR2010110704606.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |first=Paul |last=Kane |title=House Democrats could retain leadership team |date=November 8, 2010}}</ref>

On November 28, 2018, Clyburn was elected to serve his second stint as [[House majority whip|House Majority Whip]].<ref name=nov28>{{cite web|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/politics/south-carolina-s-jim-clyburn-elected-house-majority-whip/article_27f1fb8c-f353-11e8-8590-331559e06478.html |title=South Carolina's Jim Clyburn elected House majority whip &#124; Palmetto Politics |publisher=postandcourier.com |date=November 28, 2018 |access-date=January 6, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article222331865.html |title=S.C.'s Clyburn elected to No. 3 post in U.S. House |publisher=The State |access-date=January 6, 2019}}</ref>

;Ideology
Clyburn is regarded as liberal in his political stances, actions and votes. In 2007 the ''[[National Journal]]'' ranked him the 77th most liberal U.S. representative, with a score of 81, indicating that the conductors of this study found his voting record to be more liberal than 81% of other House members, based on their recent voting records.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/house/lib.htm#results|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910143851/http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/house/lib.htm#results|url-status=dead|title=2007 Vote Ratings|archive-date=September 10, 2015}}</ref> Clyburn identifies as a [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]],<ref>{{cite web|date=26 February 2020|title=Why South Carolina's James Clyburn Is Endorsing Biden {{!}} FiveThirtyEight|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swttS4566qY&t=1836s|website=YouTube}}</ref> but thinks the Democratic Party's more [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] wing should be "practical". Various progressives have called him "conservative" and "centrist".<ref name="mccrthy2">{{cite web |last=Rosen |first=James |date=December 14, 2013 |title=Rep. Clyburn too conservative? Signs of emerging Democratic divide |url=https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article24760444.html |access-date=2021-07-02 |website=McClatchy Washington Bureau}}</ref><ref name="th0290">{{cite web |last=Choi |first=Joseph |date=November 8, 2020 |title=Clyburn responds to Ocasio-Cortez remarks: 'I don't get hung up on labels' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/525028-clyburn-says-he-doesnt-get-hung-up-on-labels-in-democratic-party |access-date=2021-07-02 |website=The Hill}}</ref>

Clyburn has established liberal stances on health care, education, [[organized labor]] and environmental conservation issues, based on his legislative actions as well as evaluations and ratings by pertinent interest groups.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=27066 |title=Project Vote Smart: Clyburn |publisher=Votesmart.org |date=May 14, 2010 |access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>

;Healthcare

In 2009, Clyburn introduced the Access for All Americans Act. The $26 billion sought by the Act would provide funding to quadruple the number of community health centers in the US that provide medical care to uninsured and low-income citizens.<ref>[http://www.thestate.com/politics/story/698176.html Clyburn bill would extend healthcare] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430022204/http://www.thestate.com/politics/story/698176.html |date=April 30, 2009}}</ref>

The [[American Public Health Association]], the [[American Academy of Family Physicians]], The Children’s Health Fund, and other health care interest groups rate Clyburn highly based on his voting record on pertinent issues. Other groups in this field, such as the [[American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]], gave Clyburn a rating of zero in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=27066&type=category&category=38&go.x=15&go.y=14 |title=Project Vote Smart: Clyburn: Health Issues |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>

Despite his opposition to [[partial-birth abortion]], Clyburn is regarded as [[Abortion-rights movements|pro-abortion rights]], as shown by his high ratings from [[Planned Parenthood]] and [[NARAL Pro-Choice America]] and low rating from the [[National Right to Life Committee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=27066&type=category&category=2&go.x=11&go.y=15 |title=Project Vote Smart: Clyburn: Abortion Issues |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref> But at the height of national polarization after the [[SCOTUS|Supreme Court's]] intention to overturn ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' had been [[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|leaked]], Clyburn controversially campaigned on behalf of anti-abortion incumbent Representative [[Henry Cuellar]], who faced a pro-choice [[Partisan primary|primary]] challenger.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Griffiths |first1=Brent |title=Top House Democrat James Clyburn defends campaigning for Rep. Henry Cuellar, the lone anti-abortion lawmaker in his caucus |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/pelosi-clyburn-campaigning-for-anti-abortion-democrat-henry-cuellar-texas-2022-5 |access-date=16 July 2022 |work=Business Insider |publisher=Insider Inc. |date=5 May 2022}}</ref>

;Education
[[File:P20211217ES-0316-2 (51898319514) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Clyburn (left) at [[South Carolina State University]] with President [[Joe Biden]] in 2021]]
Clyburn has continuously sought new and additional funding for education. He has gained additional funding for special education<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://clyburn.house.gov/statements/cc011220education.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203082648/http://clyburn.house.gov/statements/cc011220education.html|url-status=dead|title=Education Advocates Give Funding a Boost December 20, 2001|archive-date=February 3, 2011}}</ref> and lower interest rates on federal student loans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://majoritywhip.house.gov/daily_whipline/2008/04/17/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226053045/http://majoritywhip.house.gov/daily_whipline/2008/04/17/|url-status=dead|title=The Daily WhipLine April 17, 2008|archive-date=February 26, 2009}}</ref> In many sessions Clyburn has sought, sponsored and/or voted for improvements in [[Pell Grant]] funding for college loans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://majoritywhip.house.gov/daily_whipline/2007/07/18/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226092321/http://majoritywhip.house.gov/daily_whipline/2007/07/18/|url-status=dead|title=''The Daily WhipLine'', July 18, 2007|archive-date=February 26, 2009}}</ref>

The [[National Education Association]] and the National Association of Elementary School Principals rate Clyburn very highly, as do other education interest groups.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=27066&type=category&category=27&go.x=18&go.y=12 |title=Project Vote Smart: Clyburn: Education |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>

;Ports
Although he was criticized for a previous expenditure of 160 million dollars to expand South Carolina's ports, Clyburn said he would continue to make funding available for further expansions. The plan is to deepen the ports to allow for larger commercial ships to arrive from the Panama Canal, which is being expanded to allow for larger ships to pass through. This is primarily because of larger commercial ships from China, and China's extremely high demand for soybeans, which are produced in South Carolina but must be sent to larger ports for exporting. This measure will benefit South Carolina business and farmers and is thus heavily backed by these groups.<ref>{{cite news |title= Clyburn says ports worth the investment|author=Gene Zaleski|url=http://thetandd.com/news/local/clyburn-says-ports-worth-the-investment/article_3cceeb36-e10e-11e1-817a-0019bb2963f4.html?comment_form=true|newspaper=The Times and Democrat|date=August 8, 2012|access-date=August 16, 2012}}</ref>

;Labor
Clyburn has consistently voted for increases in [[minimum wage]] income and to restrict employer interference with labor union organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/House/James_Clyburn_Jobs.htm |title=Jim Clyburn on Jobs |publisher=Ontheissues.org |access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>

Many national labor unions, including the [[AFL–CIO]], the [[United Auto Workers]], the Communication Workers Association, and the [[International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers|International Brotherhood of Boilermakers]], give Clyburn outstanding ratings based on his voting record on issues that pertain to labor and employment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=27066&type=category&category=43&go.x=6&go.y=7 |title=Project Vote Smart: Clyburn: Labor |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>

;Environment
[[File:Bono-pelosi-clyburn.jpg|thumb|Clyburn with Nancy Pelosi and U2 lead singer [[Bono]] in 2006]]
Clyburn has opposed legislation to increase [[offshore drilling]] for [[Oil well|oil]] or natural gas. Instead, he has promoted use of [[Nuclear power|nuclear energy]] as a cheaper alternative to [[fossil fuels]] than [[wind energy|wind]] and [[solar energy]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://clyburn.house.gov/pressroom-statements-detail.cfm?id=18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505021508/http://clyburn.house.gov/pressroom-statements-detail.cfm?id=18|url-status=dead|title=America's Energy Future July 11, 2008|archive-date=May 5, 2011}}</ref> Members of the nuclear power industry have said that there is mutual respect between Clyburn and themselves.<ref name="Charities cash">{{cite news|last=Lipton|first=Eric|title=Congressional Charities Pulling In Corporate Cash|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/06/us/politics/06charity.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=July 27, 2012|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 5, 2010}}</ref> Clyburn pushed for a 2010 contract to convert plutonium from old weapons into nuclear fuel.<ref name="Charities cash"/><ref name="DOE Facility">{{cite news|title=Shaw AREVA MOX Services Awarded Multi-Billion Dollar Construction Option for DOE Facility|url=http://www.areva.com/EN/news-6625/shaw-areva-mox-services-awarded-multibillion-dollar-construction-option-for-doe-facility.html|access-date=July 27, 2012|newspaper=Areva}}</ref>

Organizations such as the [[League of Conservation Voters]] and [[Defenders of Wildlife]] have viewed Clyburn favorably,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=27066&type=category&category=30&go.x=13&go.y=13 |title=Project Vote Smart: Clyburn: Environmental Issues |publisher=Votesmart.org |access-date=October 11, 2011}}</ref> but he angered environmentalists when he proposed building a $150 million bridge across a swampy area of Lake Marion in Calhoun County.

;Objection to the 2004 presidential election
Clyburn was one of 31 House Democrats who voted not to count Ohio's 20 [[electoral votes]] in the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll007.xml|title=Final Vote Results for Role Call 7|date=January 6, 2005|access-date=January 15, 2013|work=[[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives]]}}</ref> [[George W. Bush]] won Ohio by 118,457 votes.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/29/politics/ohio-recount-gives-a-smaller-margin-to-bush.html |title = Ohio Recount Gives a Smaller Margin to Bush - The New York Times|website = [[The New York Times]]| date=December 29, 2004 | last1=Salvato | first1=Albert }}</ref> Without Ohio's electoral votes, the election would have been decided by the U.S. House of Representatives, with each state having one vote in accordance with the [[Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution]].

;War in Iraq
On July 31, 2007, Clyburn said in a broadcast interview that it would be a "real big problem" for the Democratic Party if General [[David Petraeus]] issued a positive report in September, as it would split the Democratic caucus on whether to continue to fund the [[Iraq War]]. While this soundbite caused some controversy, the full quote was, in reference to the 47-member [[Blue Dog Coalition|Blue Dog caucus]], "I think there would be enough support in that group to want to stay the course and if the [[U.S. Republican Party|Republicans]] were to stay united as they have been, then it would be a problem for us."<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/30/AR2007073001380.html
| title = Clyburn: Positive Report by Petraeus Could Split House Democrats on War
| date = July 30, 2007
| access-date = May 12, 2009
|newspaper=The Washington Post
| first1=Dan
| last1=Balz
| first2=Chris
| last2=Cillizza
}}</ref>

;Bill Clinton comments
Clyburn was officially neutral during the 2008 primary battle between [[Hillary Clinton]] and [[Barack Obama]], but former President [[Bill Clinton]] blamed Clyburn for Hillary's 29-point defeat in the South Carolina primary and the two of them had a heated telephone conversation. Clyburn had voted for Obama, saying, "How could I ever look in the faces of our children and grandchildren had I not voted for Barack Obama?"<ref name="usnews.com">{{cite web | title=Bill Clinton's 2 a.m. Phone Call to Jim Clyburn | website=US News & World Report | date=11 February 2014 |url=http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/02/11/bill-clintons-2-am-phone-call-to-jim-clyburn | access-date=27 June 2023}}</ref> He negatively viewed [[Bill Clinton]]'s remarks about Obama winning the South Carolina primary. Clinton had compared Obama's victory to [[Jesse Jackson]]'s win in the [[Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1988|1988 primary]].<ref name=NYT2008-4-24>[http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/black-congressman-denounces-b-clintons-remarks/ Black Leader in House Denounces Bill Clinton’s Remarks] [[New York Times]] April 24, 2008</ref> "Black people are incensed all over this", Clyburn said. Clinton responded that the campaign "played the [[race card]] on me", denying any racial tone in the comment.<ref>Phillips, Kate (April 24, 2008), [http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/bill-clinton-irritated-by-race-card-questions/ "Bill Clinton Irritated by Race-Card Questions"], ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> Speaking to ''[[The New York Times]]'', Clyburn said such actions could lead to a longtime division between Clinton and his once most reliable constituency. "When he was going through his [[Clinton impeachment|impeachment problems]], it was the black community that bellied up to the bar", Clyburn said. "I think black folks feel strongly that this is a strange way for President Clinton to show his appreciation."<ref name=NYT2008-4-24/>

;Impeachments of Bill Clinton and Donald Trump
On December 19, 1998, Clyburn voted against all four articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton. On December 18, 2019, Clyburn voted for both articles of impeachment against President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-impeachment-vote-results-house-2019-12|title=WHIP COUNT: Here's which members of the House voted for and against impeaching Trump|last=Panetta|first=Grace|website=Business Insider|access-date=January 30, 2020}}</ref> On January 13, 2021, one week after the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]], Clyburn voted for the single article of impeachment against Trump.

;Israel
In January 2017, Clyburn voted against a House resolution condemning the [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334|UN Security Council Resolution 2334]], which called [[Israeli settlement|Israeli settlement building]] in the occupied [[Israeli-occupied territories|Palestinian territories]] in the [[West Bank]] a "flagrant violation" of international law and a major obstacle to peace.<ref>{{cite news |title=House votes to rebuke UN on Israeli settlement resolution |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/312956-house-votes-to-rebuke-un-vote-on-israel |work=The Hill|first=Cristina|last=Marcos|date=January 5, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=AAI Thanks 80 Representatives For Standing Against Illegal Israeli Settlements |url=http://www.aaiusa.org/aai_thanks_80_representatives_for_standing_against_illegal_israeli_settlements |publisher=Arab American Institute |access-date=February 12, 2019 |archive-date=July 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713152455/https://www.aaiusa.org/aai_thanks_80_representatives_for_standing_against_illegal_israeli_settlements |url-status=dead }}</ref> He voted to provide Israel with support following [[2023 Hamas attack on Israel]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Demirjian |first=Karoun |date=2023-10-25 |title=House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/25/us/politics/house-israel-vote.html |access-date=2023-10-30 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Washington |first1=U. S. Capitol Room H154 |last2=p:225-7000 |first2=DC 20515-6601 |date=2023-10-25 |title=Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session |url=https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023528 |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives |language=en}}</ref>

;Homosexuality and same-sex marriage
In 1996, Clyburn voted in favor of the [[Defense of Marriage Act]].<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=H.R. 3396 (104th): Defense of Marriage Act -- House Vote #316 -- Jul 12, 1996|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/104-1996/h316|access-date=2021-02-07|website=GovTrack.us|language=en}}</ref> The act restricted federal recognition of marriage to the union of a man and a woman, and explicitly granted states the power not to introduce same-sex marriage and refuse to acknowledge same-sex marriages granted under the laws of other states.<ref>{{cite web|title=Summary of H.R. 3396 (104th): Defense of Marriage Act|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/104/hr3396/summary|access-date=2021-02-07|website=GovTrack.us|language=en}}</ref> The [[United States House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]] had explicitly said the act was meant to "express moral disapproval of homosexuality".<ref>{{cite web|title=Lawmakers' 'moral disapproval' of gay people in 1996 could doom DOMA law in Supreme Court|url=https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/lawmakers-moral-disapproval-gay-people-1996-could-doom-224933451--politics.html|access-date=2021-02-07|website=news.yahoo.com|date=March 27, 2013 |language=en-US}}</ref> The act passed by an 85-vote majority in the Senate and was signed into law by [[Bill Clinton|President Bill Clinton]].<ref name=":1" />

In 2012, after Obama's public endorsement of same-sex marriage,<ref>{{cite news|author=Phil Gast|date=2012-05-09|title=Obama announces he supports same-sex marriage|url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/05/09/politics/obama-same-sex-marriage/index.html|access-date=2021-02-07|website=CNN Digital|language=en}}</ref> Clyburn said in an interview that he too supported same-sex marriage.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|last=Sands|first=Geneva|date=2012-05-14|title=Clyburn splits with Obama, says gay marriage should not be left up to states|url=https://thehill.com/video/policy-areas/227161-rep-clyburn-diverges-from-obamas-states-rights-view-of-gay-marriage-|access-date=2021-02-07|website=TheHill|language=en}}</ref> In the interview, he said his former disapproval was rooted in his Christian faith, but that he had since "evolved". Clyburn called for nationwide legislation of marriage equality, opposing Obama's state-by-state approach, saying, "if you consider this to be a civil right—and I do—I don't think civil rights ought to be left up to a state-by-state approach".<ref name=":2" />

During the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2020 Democratic presidential primaries]], when considering an endorsement, Clyburn cited [[Pete Buttigieg]]'s sexual orientation as an issue, saying it was "no question" that his sexuality would hurt his popularity and that "[he] knew a lot of people [his] age that felt that way."<ref>{{cite web|last=Tripp|first=Drew|date=2019-11-04|title=Clyburn says Pete Buttigieg being gay is an issue for older black voters|url=https://abcnews4.com/news/lowcountry-and-state-politics/jim-clyburn-pete-buttigieg-sexuality-gay-south-carolina-black-voters|access-date=2021-01-17|website=WCIV}}</ref> Clyburn added, "I'm not going to sit here and tell you otherwise, because I think everybody knows that's an issue."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Scott|first=Eugene|title=Analysis {{!}} Buttigieg's campaign says it doesn't think homophobia is why he can't get a foothold with black voters|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/07/buttigiegs-campaign-says-it-doesnt-think-homophobia-is-why-he-cant-get-foothold-with-black-voters/|access-date=2021-01-17|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> In the wake of his comments, then-candidate [[Kamala Harris]] dismissed his comments as "nonsense" and "a trope" of the African American community,<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last=Dugyala|first=Rishika|title='Just nonsense': Kamala Harris calls narrative that black voters are homophobic a trope|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/04/just-nonsense-kamala-harris-calls-narrative-that-black-voters-are-homophobic-a-trope-065759|access-date=2021-01-17|website=POLITICO|date=November 4, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> but the Benson Strategy Group reported that "being gay was a barrier for these voters, particularly for the men who seemed uncomfortable discussing it."<ref name=":0" />

===Committee assignments===
For the [[119th United States Congress|119th Congress]]:<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Standing Committees and Select Committees of the House of Representatives|url=https://clerk.house.gov/committee_info/scsoal.pdf |publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives |access-date=May 13, 2025}}</ref>
* [[United States House Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]]
** [[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies]]
** [[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies]]
** [[United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies]] (Ranking Member)

===Caucus memberships===
* [[Congressional Black Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Membership|url=https://cbc.house.gov/membership/|publisher=Congressional Black Caucus|access-date=March 7, 2018}}</ref>
* House Democratic Caucus 
*[[United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Members|url=https://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html|publisher=U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus|access-date=August 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801155201/https://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html|archive-date=August 1, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Arts Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Membership|url=https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|publisher=Congressional Arts Caucus|access-date=March 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership|archive-date=June 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Congressional Cement Caucus
* [[United States–China Working Group]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Mission|author=|url=https://larsen.house.gov/uscwg/ |format=|publisher=U.S.-China Working Group|date=|accessdate=26 February 2025}}</ref>

==Presidential endorsements==

[[File:P20220315AS-0990 (52028887046).jpg|thumb|right|Clyburn with President Joe Biden in 2022]]

Clyburn is considered a [[Power broker (politics)|power broker]] in South Carolina.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Brockel|first=Gillian|date=2020-01-10|title=A civil rights love story: The congressman who met his wife in jail in 1960|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/01/10/clyburn-recounts-1960-meet-cute-with-his-future-wife-jail/|access-date=2020-08-07|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Eichel|first=Henry|date=2003-10-19|title=Presidential candidates covet endorsement from Clyburn|url=https://www.goupstate.com/article/20031008/News/605170969|access-date=2020-08-07|website=GoUpstate|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> For almost 30 years, he has hosted an annual [[fish fry]] "that every four years becomes a must-attend event for presidential hopefuls."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Davis|first=Susan|date=June 14, 2019|title=Why 2020 Democrats Are Lining Up For Clyburn's 'World Famous' Fish Fry|work=[[NPR]]|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/06/14/732330671/why-2020-democrats-are-lining-up-for-clyburns-world-famous-fish-fry|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726192740/https://www.npr.org/2019/06/14/732330671/why-2020-democrats-are-lining-up-for-clyburns-world-famous-fish-fry|archive-date=July 26, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Martin|first=Jonathan|author-link=Jonathan Martin (journalist)|date=June 21, 2019|title=Hoping to Woo Black Voters, Democratic Candidates Gather at James Clyburn's Fish Fry|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/21/us/politics/jim-clyburn-fish-fry-democrats.html|access-date=July 26, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

During the [[2004 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2004 Democratic presidential primaries]], Clyburn supported former House Minority Leader [[Dick Gephardt]] until he dropped out of the race and then supported [[John Kerry]]. Clyburn was one of the 31 who voted in the House not to count Ohio's [[Electoral College (United States)|electoral votes]] in the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 presidential election]] amid a [[2004 United States election voting controversies|dispute]] over irregularities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll007.xml| title = Final vote results for roll call 7| date = January 6, 2005| access-date = May 12, 2009}}</ref>

Like other Democratic congressional leaders, Clyburn remained publicly uncommitted throughout most of the 2008 presidential primary elections. Despite being officially neutral, Clyburn voted for Obama in the South Carolina primary. Former President [[Bill Clinton]] accused Clyburn of being responsible for Hillary's 29-point defeat in South Carolina, while Clyburn criticized Bill Clinton's comments on race comparing Obama's win to that of [[Jesse Jackson]].<ref name="usnews.com"/><ref>{{cite news |author=Alexander Mooney |url=https://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/25/clinton.clyburn/index.html |title=Prominent black lawmaker scolds Bill Clinton |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=2008-04-26 |access-date=2022-06-10}}</ref> Clyburn endorsed Obama on June 3, immediately before the [[Montana Democratic primary, 2008|Montana]] and [[2008 South Dakota Democratic primary|South Dakota]] primaries. By that time, Obama's lead in pledged delegates was substantial enough that those two primaries could not undo it.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/03/election.superdelegates/index.html Steady Stream of superdelegates pushed Obama over top] [[CNN]] June 3, 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wilgoren|first=Debbi|title=Clyburn Endorses Obama|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/06/clyburn-endorses-obama.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018063531/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/06/clyburn-endorses-obama.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 18, 2012|access-date=May 31, 2013|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 3, 2008}}</ref>

Clyburn endorsed [[Hillary Clinton]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential campaign]].<ref>{{cite web|title = South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn endorses Hillary Clinton|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/02/19/jim-clyburn-hillary-clinton-endorsement/80606394/|website = USA TODAY|access-date = February 23, 2016}}</ref>

Clyburn's endorsement of [[Joe Biden]] on February 26, 2020, three days before the [[2020 South Carolina Democratic primary|South Carolina primary]], was considered pivotal in the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|2020 Democratic presidential primaries]]. Several analyses have determined the endorsement changed the trajectory of the race, due to Clyburn's influence over the state's African-Americans, who make up the majority of its Democratic electorate. Until Clyburn's endorsement, Biden had not won a single primary and had placed fourth, fifth, and a distant second in the [[2020 Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses|Iowa]], [[2020 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary|New Hampshire]], and [[2020 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses|Nevada]] caucuses and primaries, respectively. Three days after the South Carolina primary, Biden took a delegate lead on [[Super Tuesday]], and a month later he clinched the nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/watch/clyburn-endorsement-carries-considerable-weight-in-sc-exit-poll-79722053629|title=Clyburn endorsement carries considerable weight in SC: exit poll|publisher=MSNBC|date=February 29, 2020|access-date=April 2, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/04/joe-biden-jim-clyburn-endorsement-super-tuesday|title='A chain reaction': how one endorsement set Joe Biden's surge in motion|first=Daniel|last=Strauss|work=The Guardian|date=March 4, 2020|access-date=April 2, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Jim Clyburn changed everything for Joe Biden's campaign. He's been a political force for a long time.|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Donna M.|last=Owens|date=April 1, 2020|access-date=September 20, 2023|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/jim-clyburn-changed-everything-for-joe-bidens-campaign-hes-been-a-political-force-for-a-long-time/2020/03/30/7d054e98-6d33-11ea-aa80-c2470c6b2034_story.html}}</ref> Biden went on to win the [[2020 United States Presidential election|2020 Presidential election]]. Clyburn's endorsement of Biden, and subsequent political endorsements in later democratic primaries, have given him a reputation as a political "kingmaker".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/jim-clyburn-changed-everything-for-joe-bidens-campaign-hes-been-a-political-force-for-a-long-time/2020/03/30/7d054e98-6d33-11ea-aa80-c2470c6b2034_story.html|title=Jim Clyburn changed everything for Joe Biden's campaign. He's been a political force for a long time.|newspaper=Washington Post|date=April 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/james-clyburn-tests-his-kingmaker-reputation-in-democratic-primaries-11653145200|title=James Clyburn tests his kingmaker reputation in democratic primaries|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|date=May 21, 2022}}</ref>

In 2024, [[List of Democrats who oppose the Joe Biden 2024 presidential campaign|amidst calls from other Democrats for Biden to withdraw]] from his [[Joe Biden 2024 presidential campaign|2024 presidential campaign]], Clyburn stated his support for Biden, but also that he would back Vice President [[Kamala Harris]] as the Democratic presidential candidate if Biden were to withdraw, which eventually came to happen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/07/12/congress/clyburns-00167781|title=Clyburn sticks with Biden after press conference: 'I'm all in.'|publisher=Politico|date=July 12, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4747554-clyburn-biden-harris-democratic-ticket/|title=Clyburn says he's for Harris 'if Biden ain't there' |work=The Hill|date=June 29, 2024}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{Election box open primary begin no change | title=[[1992 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#District 6|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 1992]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Annual Report 1992–1993|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_1992-1993.pdf|pages=66–67; 84}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 41,415
| percentage = 56.11%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Frank Gilbert
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 11,089
| percentage = 15.02%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ken Mosely
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 9,494
| percentage = 12.86%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Herbert Fielding]]
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 9,130
| percentage = 12.37%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[John Roy Harper II]]
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 2,680
| percentage = 3.63%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 73,808
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 120,647
| percentage = 65.26%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John Chase
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 64,149
| percentage = 34.70%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 75
| percentage = 0.04%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 184,871
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change | title=[[1994 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#6th congressional district|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 1994]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Annual Report 1994–1995|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_1994-1995.pdf|pages=8; 34}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 50,476
| percentage = 85.71%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Ben Frasier]]
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 8,419
| percentage = 14.29%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 58,895
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 88,635
| percentage = 63.80%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gary McLeod
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 50,259
| percentage = 36.18%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 29
| percentage = 0.02%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 138,923
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change | title=[[1996 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#6th congressional district|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 1996]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Annual Report 1995–1996|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_1995-1996.pdf|pages=21; 45}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 50,933
| percentage = 87.75%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Ben Frasier]]
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 7,107
| percentage = 12.25%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 58,040
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 120,132
| percentage = 69.41%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gary McLeod
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 51,974
| percentage = 30.03%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Savitap Joshi
| party = Natural Law Party (United States)
| votes = 948
| percentage = 0.55%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 26
| percentage = 0.02%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 173,080
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change | title=[[1998 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#6th congressional district|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 1998]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Annual Report 1997 & 1998|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_1997-1998.pdf|pages=28; 47}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 32,652
| percentage = 83.07%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mike Wilson
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 6,655
| percentage = 16.93%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 39,307
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 116,507
| percentage = 72.56%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gary McLeod
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 41,421
| percentage = 25.80%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = George C. Taylor
| party = Natural Law Party (United States)
| votes = 2,496
| percentage = 1.55%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 152
| percentage = 0.09%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 173,080
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=[[2000 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#6th congressional district|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 2000]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Annual Report 2000|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_2000.pdf#page=38%22%3E}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 138,053
| percentage = 71.76%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Vince Ellison
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 50,005
| percentage = 25.99%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Dianne Nevins
| party = Natural Law Party (United States)
| votes = 2,339
| percentage = 1.22%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Lynwood Hines
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 1,934
| percentage = 1.01%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 49
| percentage = 0.03%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 192,380
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change | title=[[2002 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#6th congressional district|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 2002]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Annual Report 2002|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_2002.pdf|pages=12; 40}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 34,106
| percentage = 88.79%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Ben Frasier]]
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 4,304
| percentage = 11.21%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 38,410
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 115,855
| percentage = 66.95%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gary McLeod
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 55,490
| percentage = 32.07%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = R. Craig Augenstein
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 1,662
| percentage = 0.96%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 40
| percentage = 0.02%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 173,047
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=[[2004 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#District 6|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 2004]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Annual Report 2004|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_2004.pdf#page=48%22%3E}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 161,987
| percentage = 66.98%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = ''Gary McLeod''
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = ''75,443''
| percentage = ''31.20%''}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = ''Gary McLeod''
| party = Constitution Party (United States)
| votes = ''4,157''
| percentage = ''1.72%''}}
{{Election box candidate no change
| candidate  = Gary McLeod
| party      = Total
| votes      = 79,600
| percentage = 32.92%
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 242
| percentage = 0.10%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 241,829
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=[[2006 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#District 6|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 2006]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Election Report 2005–2006|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_2006.pdf#page=57%22%3E}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 100,213
| percentage = 64.36%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gary McLeod
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 53,181
| percentage = 34.15%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Antonio Williams
| party = Green Party (United States)
| votes = 2,224
| percentage = 1.43%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 88
| percentage = 0.06%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 155,706
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=[[2008 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#District 6|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 2008]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Election Report 2008|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://scvotes.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Election_Report_2008.pdf#page=59%22%3E}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 193,378
| percentage = 67.48%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Nancy Harrelson
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 93,059
| percentage = 32.47%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 134
| percentage = 0.05%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 286,571
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change | title=[[2010 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#District 6|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 2010]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2010 Primaries|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/16117/28318/en/summary.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=
2010 General Election|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/19077/40477/en/summary.html}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 50,138
| percentage = 90.07%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gregory Brown
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 5,527
| percentage = 9.93%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 55,665
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 125,459
| percentage = 62.86%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Pratt
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 72,661
| percentage = 36.41%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Nammu Y. Muhammad
| party = Green Party (United States)
| votes = 1,389
| percentage = 0.70%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 81
| percentage = 0.04%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 199,590
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=[[2012 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#District 6|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 2012]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2012 General Election|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/42513/116143/en/summary.html}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 218,717
| percentage = 93.62%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Nammu Y. Muhammad
| party = Green Party (United States)
| votes = 12,920
| percentage = 5.53%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 1,978
| percentage = 0.85%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 233,615
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change | title=[[2014 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#District 6|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 2014]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 Primaries|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/51763/133986/en/summary.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=
2014 General Election|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/53424/149816/en/summary.html}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 37,429
| percentage = 85.98%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Karen Smith
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 6,101
| percentage = 14.02%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 43,530
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 125,747
| percentage = 72.51%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Anthony Culler
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 44,311
| percentage = 25.55%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Kevin Umbaugh
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 3,176
| percentage = 1.83%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 198
| percentage = 0.11%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 173,432
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=[[2016 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#District 6|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 2016]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2016 General Election|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/64658/316617/en/summary.html}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 177,947
| percentage = 70.09%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Laura Sterling
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 70,099
| percentage = 27.61%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Rich Piotrowski
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 3,131
| percentage = 1.23%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Prince Charles Mallory
| party = Green Party (United States)
| votes = 2,499
| percentage = 0.98%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 225
| percentage = 0.09%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 253,901
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=[[2018 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#District 6|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 2018]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2018 General Election|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/92124/Web02-state.222648/#/cid/27012}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 144,765
| percentage = 70.13%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gerhard Gressmann
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 58,282
| percentage = 28.23%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bryan Pugh
| party = Green Party (United States)
| votes = 3,214
| percentage = 1.56%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 172
| percentage = 0.08%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 206,433
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=[[2020 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#District 6|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 2020]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2020 General Election|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/106502/Web02-state.264691/#/cid/27012}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 197,477
| percentage = 68.18%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = John McCollum
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 89,258
| percentage = 30.82%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Mark Hackett
| party = Constitution Party (United States)
| votes = 2,646
| percentage = 0.91%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 272
| percentage = 0.09%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 289,653
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box open primary begin no change | title=[[2022 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#District 6|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 2022]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2022 Primaries|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/114143/Web02-state.289375/#/cid/27012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=
2022 General Election|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/115412/Web02-state.307150/#/cid/27012}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 48,729
| percentage = 87.90%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Michael Addison
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 4,203
| percentage = 7.58%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gregg Dixon
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 2,503
| percentage = 4.52%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 55,435
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box open primary general election no change}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 130,923
| percentage = 62.04%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Duke Buckner
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 79,879
| percentage = 37.85%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 226
| percentage = 0.11%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 211,028
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=[[2024 United States House of Representatives elections in South Carolina#District 6|South Carolina's 6th congressional district results, 2024]]<ref>{{cite web|title=2024 General Election|publisher=South Carolina Election Commission|url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/122436/web.345435/#/detail/27012}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Clyburn (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 182,056
| percentage = 59.50%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Duke Buckner
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 112,360
| percentage = 36.72%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Michael Simpson
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 5,279
| percentage = 1.73%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Gregg Dixon
| party = United Citizens Party
| votes = 4,927
| percentage = 1.61%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Joseph Oddo
| party = Alliance Party (United States)
| votes = 1,056
| percentage = 0.35%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
| votes      = 299
| percentage = 0.10%}}
{{Election box total no change
  | votes = 305,977
  | percentage = 100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

==Personal life==
[[File:FCC Chair Clyburn convenes FCC open meeting as first woman Chair 6-27-2013 (9159801059).jpg|thumb|Clyburn with his daughter [[Mignon Clyburn|Mignon]] in 2013]]
Clyburn was married to librarian Emily England Clyburn from 1961 until her death in 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/19/majority-whip-jim-clyburns-wife-passes-away-1503767|title = House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn's wife dies at 80|last = Bresnahan|first = John|work = [[Politico]]|date = September 19, 2019|access-date = September 19, 2019}}</ref> They had three daughters; their eldest, [[Mignon Clyburn]], was appointed to the [[Federal Communications Commission]] by President Barack Obama,<ref>{{cite news |title=Mignon Clyburn Nominated to FCC |first=Amy |last=Schatz |author-link=Amy Schatz |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |access-date=August 27, 2009 |date=April 29, 2009|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB124105025793571073}}</ref> and their second daughter, [[Jennifer Clyburn Reed]], was appointed as federal co-chair of the newly formed [[Southeast Crescent Regional Commission]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/aug/4/biden-nominates-jim-clyburns-daughter-jennifer-cly/ |title=Biden nominates Clyburn's daughter to federal commission on poverty |first=Dave |last=Boyer |date=2021-08-04 |website=The Washington Times |access-date=2022-08-16}}</ref> Their third daughter, Angela Clyburn, is Political Director for the [[South Carolina Democratic Party]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=SCDP Headquarters Staff |url=https://scdp.org/our-party/team/ |access-date=October 6, 2023 |website=South Carolina Democratic Party}}</ref>  and a member of Richland County District One School Board.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=From the Board of School Commissioners |url=https://go.boarddocs.com/sc/rcsd1/Board.nsf/public |access-date=October 6, 2023 |website=Richland One School District}}</ref> In 2024, Clyburn was awarded the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] by President [[Joe Biden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/05/03/president-biden-announces-recipients-of-the-presidential-medal-of-freedom-2/|publisher=The White House|title=President Biden Announces Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom|date=May 3, 2024|access-date=May 3, 2024}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of African-American United States representatives]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* Thomas, Rhondda R. & Ashton, Susanna, eds. (2014). [http://www.sc.edu/uscpress/books/2013/7314.html ''The South Carolina Roots of African American Thought.''] Columbia: University of South Carolina Press. "James E. Clyburn (b. 1940)," p.&nbsp;273-278.

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
* [https://clyburn.house.gov/ Congressman James E. Clyburn] - official U.S. House website
* [https://assistantdemocraticleader.house.gov/ Office of the Assistant Democratic Leader] - official leadership website
* [https://clyburnforcongress.com/ Jim Clyburn for Congress]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1dzfSLbdHk Jim Clyburn statue unveiled at Allen University] on [[WLTX]], October 27, 2023
{{CongLinks |congbio=c000537 |votesmart=27066 |fec=H2SC02042 |congress=james-clyburn/208 }}
* {{C-SPAN|21607}}
* [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-james-e-clyburn/gop-agenda-is-a-plague-on_b_738491.html?view=print GOP Agenda Is a Plague on Americans] by Jim Clyburn, September 24, 2010

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Clyburn, Jim}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:20th-century South Carolina politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Methodists]]
[[Category:21st-century South Carolina politicians]]
[[Category:African-American members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:African-American Methodists]]
[[Category:African-American people in South Carolina politics]]
[[Category:African-American state cabinet secretaries]]
[[Category:American Methodists]]
[[Category:Clyburn family]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from South Carolina]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Methodists from South Carolina]]
[[Category:People associated with the 2020 United States presidential election]]
[[Category:People from Sumter, South Carolina]]
[[Category:People of the African Methodist Episcopal church]]
[[Category:Politicians from Columbia, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients]]
[[Category:South Carolina Democrats]]
[[Category:South Carolina State University alumni]]
[[Category:State cabinet secretaries of South Carolina]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]