James Enos Clyburn (born July 21, 1940) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 6th congressional district.

[2][3] Clyburn played a pivotal role in the 2020 presidential election by endorsing Joe Biden three days before the South Carolina Democratic primary.

His endorsement came at a time when Biden's campaign had suffered three disappointing finishes in the Iowa and Nevada caucuses and the 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.

[4][5] A distant relative of his was George W. Murray, an organizer for the Colored Farmers Alliance (CFA), who was a Republican South Carolina Congressman in the 53rd and 54th U.S. Congresses in the late 19th century.

[7] 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.

When Devine won the race, he became the first African American to hold a seat on the city council since Reconstruction.

[8] After an unsuccessful run for the South Carolina General Assembly, Clyburn moved to Columbia to join the staff of Governor John C. West in 1971.

[16] Duke Buckner, who ran against Clyburn in 2022, defeated Justin Scott in the June Republican Primary.

[17][18] Gregg Marcel Dixon, who ran against Clyburn as a Democrat in 2022,[19] switched to the United Citizens Party for his 2024 run for the seat.

[22] In 2023, ProPublica reported that Clyburn secretly worked with South Carolina Republicans during the 2020 Congressional redistricting process to dilute the state's Black vote.

[29] 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.

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.

[37][38] 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.

[42] But at the height of national polarization after the Supreme Court's intention to overturn Roe v. Wade had been leaked, Clyburn controversially campaigned on behalf of anti-abortion incumbent Representative Henry Cuellar, who faced a pro-choice primary challenger.

He has gained additional funding for special education[44] and lower interest rates on federal student loans.

[45] In many sessions Clyburn has sought, sponsored and/or voted for improvements in Pell Grant funding for college loans.

[47] 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.

[48] Clyburn has consistently voted for increases in minimum wage income and to restrict employer interference with labor union organization.

[52][53] Organizations such as the League of Conservation Voters and Defenders of Wildlife have viewed Clyburn favorably,[54] but he angered environmentalists when he proposed building a $150 million bridge across a swampy area of Lake Marion in Calhoun County.

"[58] He negatively viewed Bill Clinton's remarks about Obama winning the South Carolina primary.

[60] Speaking to The New York Times, Clyburn said such actions could lead to a longtime division between Clinton and his once most reliable constituency.

"I think black folks feel strongly that this is a strange way for President Clinton to show his appreciation.

In January 2017, Clyburn voted against a House resolution condemning the UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which called Israeli settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank a "flagrant violation" of international law and a major obstacle to peace.

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.

Three days after the South Carolina primary, Biden took a delegate lead on Super Tuesday, and a month later he clinched the nomination.

[114] They had three daughters; their eldest, Mignon Clyburn, was appointed to the Federal Communications Commission by President Barack Obama,[115] and their second daughter, Jennifer Clyburn Reed, was appointed as federal co-chair of the newly formed Southeast Crescent Regional Commission.

[116] Their third daughter, Angela Clyburn, is Political Director for the South Carolina Democratic Party[117] and a member of Richland County District One School Board.