Clyburn, Jim (James
Enos Clyburn), 1940- , African-American politician, b. Sumter, S.C., S.C.
State College (B.A.). Clyburn’s father was a fundamentalist minister
who was active in local politics. In 1971, Clyburn joined South Carolina
governor John C. West’s staff, the first African-American to advise a
governor in the state. A year later, Clyburn was promoted to serve as the
state’s human affairs commissioner, a position he held until 1992 he
first ran for Congress; he has since been reelected 15 times. In 2003, he
was elected the vice-chair of the House Democratic Caucus, and became its
full chair three years later; he was elected Democratic Whip once the
Democrats gained control of the House following the 2006 election, the
third-highest position in the House. When the democrats lost their majority
after the 2010 elections, Clyburn took the position as Assistant Leader to
the minority party; he returned to his position as Whip after the 2018
elections gave the house back to the Democrats. Clyburn is now the senior
member of his state’s Congressional team, and a major powerbroker in
his home state. He has held an annual fish fry during presidential election
season that has attracted all major candidates; his endorsement of Joe
Biden
shortly before the South Carolina primaries in 2020 are said to have
revitalized Biden’s campaign and lead to his winning the
party’s nomination. Clyburn is generally recognized for his
progressive positions on most issues.
See his autobiography (2014).
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