James Clyburn

Congressman Jim Clyburn announced he will seek reelection for South Carolina's Sixth Congressional District.

Clyburn, the state's only Democratic representative, has served in Congress since 1993.

Clyburn is a prominent national Democrat credited with helping Joe Biden win the 2020 presidential election.

South Carolina's U.S. Rep. James Clyburn is running for office again after previously expressing some uncertainty about seeking another term.

Clyburn, 85, revealed his decision from the South Carolina Democratic Party's headquarters in Columbia on March 12. He said his constituents want him to run again, and he is choosing to listen to them over Washington "pundits" calling for him to step aside.

"If I were not up to it, I would not do it," Clyburn said.

Earlier in the week, Clyburn told The Washington Post that he was unsure if he would seek reelection. He has represented South Carolina's Sixth Congressional District since January 1993.

His decision to seek an 18th term has ramifications for the Democratic Party nationally and in South Carolina.

Clyburn is the only Democrat in South Carolina's delegation and a power broker in the national Democratic Party. He has served as the assistant Democratic leader in the House, which is a position that helps coordinate the party's legislative agenda and was House Majority Whip from 2019-2022 and 2007-2010.

Clyburn has been credited for former President Joe Biden's election win in 2020. South Carolina earned the nickname "First in the South" because it is the first Southern state to hold a primary in the presidential election cycles. The state's election results are often used as an indicator of who will win the general election in November, and a South Carolina primary win can help catapult a candidate's popularity.

Leading up to election day 2020, Clyburn campaigned rampantly across South Carolina and urged the state to support the Biden-Kamala Harris ticket. After Biden won in 2020, he called Clyburn and thanked him — crediting his 2020 win to Clyburn's campaign efforts.

More: How civil rights leader James Clyburn helped Joe Biden and Black America win the White House

When it came to his decision to run for reelection, Clyburn said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, asked him to stay in Congress.

"It made me feel necessary," Clyburn said.

At the state level, Clyburn faces threats from Republicans in the South Carolina Freedom Caucus, which wants to redraw the state's congressional lines to eliminate the 6th District's Democratic majority. A bill was introduced in a South Carolina House and referred to committee on the first day of session that began in January. U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-5th District), a candidate for governor, led the initial charge to redraw the congressional lines.

Clyburn has previously brushed aside the effort, calling it nothing more than a ploy for attention.

"I don't have any interest in doing anything but what I can do to do what is best for South Carolina (and) do what's best for this country," Clyburn said at his campaign announcement.

Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state and Greenville County politics. Contact her at [email protected]