Retirement? Nah. Not for Congressman Jim Clyburn. 

The Veteran South Carolina democrat announced he’ll seek an 18th term in the House at age 85.

Speaking at the South Carolina Democratic Party headquarters in Columbia on Thursday, Clyburn told supporters he would soon sign the paperwork to qualify for the Democratic nomination, framing his decision as part of a “vigorous” campaign to keep his seat. 

The longtime lawmaker represents the state’s 6th Congressional District, a safely Democratic seat he has held since the early 1990s. Clyburn’s decision to run sets him apart from two other major figures in Democratic leadership, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and former Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland. The trio spent years at the top of the House, even as younger Democrats pushed for new leadership. Now, both Pelosi and Hoyer are stepping away from Congress to retire. 

Clyburn, a former majority whip and highly influential voice in the party, has made it clear that he still has work to do. He previously shared he wants to help Democrats retake the House and help elevate Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, his protégé, as the first Black speaker.

"[Jeffries] was among those who asked me to stay. He did not know or had not been informed of what my decision was going to be," Clyburn said. "And he expressed an interest in my being a part of his leadership, if he were to take the House back. It made me feel necessary."

Discussions around term limits due to age have increasingly become a major topic for younger voters, as many question whether Washington’s older leaders reflect their lives and priorities. 

From 2022 to 2025, eight members of Congress died in office, all of them were democrats.

Though the discussion isn’t limited to Congress, nor is it a partisan issue, former President Joe Biden and current President Donald Trump also faced scrutiny for being the oldest presidents to ever lead the U.S. 

Clyburn, whose endorsement helped rescue Biden’s 2020 presidential primary campaign in South Carolina, is leaning on his record and relationships to make the case he’s still the right person for the job. He has brushed aside questions about his age, saying he wouldn’t run if he didn’t believe he was up to it.

His decision guarantees that debates about generational change, representation, and power inside the Democratic Party will be on South Carolina’s ballot again this fall.