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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