2026年3月12日 / 美国东部时间上午11:07 / 哥伦比亚广播公司新闻
华盛顿— 南卡罗来纳州民主党众议员吉姆·克莱伯恩周四宣布，他将竞选国会第18个任期，成为其所在的那一代众议院民主党领袖中仍在选票上的最后一人。
现年85岁的克莱伯恩在哥伦比亚市南卡罗来纳州民主党总部与支持者举行的活动中宣布了这一消息，称他将签署参选所需文件，并发起一场“非常积极的竞选活动”。
“今天我要回答一个总是被问到的问题：还有什么未完成的工作或你还需要做什么？嗯，这就在我们宪法的序言中：我们存在是为了追求一个更完善的联邦，”他说，“我今天在此表示，我确实相信自己装备精良——并且足够健康——能够进入下一个任期，努力做那些必要的事情，继续追求完善。”
克莱伯恩提到了自己的年龄，并表示：“如果我认为自己做不到，我就不会参选。但根据一些广泛的民意调查，以及与我的三个女儿进行的多次深入磋商，她们最终一致认为我今天应该在这里并做出这个宣布。”
2026年3月12日星期四，南卡罗来纳州哥伦比亚市南卡罗来纳州民主党总部，众议员詹姆斯·克莱伯恩发言。（哥伦比亚广播公司新闻）
他的连任竞选正值民主党多年来推动代际更替之际。克莱伯恩2007年至2023年担任众议院民主党第三号人物，在此期间是国会中排名最高的非洲裔美国议员。
加利福尼亚州前议长南希·佩洛西和马里兰州前多数党领袖斯泰尼·霍耶在克莱伯恩之前就已辞去领导职务，克莱伯恩2023年放弃了众议院民主党党鞭职位，之后又担任了一年多的助理领袖。
佩洛西和霍耶近几个月都已宣布退出国会，这使得克莱伯恩成为众议院民主党上一代领袖中仍在寻求连任的最后一人。
本月早些时候接受《华盛顿邮报》采访时，克莱伯恩表示他还没准备好退出。
“我做了民意调查，采访了我的选民，我的家人在这个决定上意见分歧——他们还没有统一意见。我倾向于参选，”他说。
自1993年以来，克莱伯恩一直任职国会，并多年来一直是南卡罗来纳州民主党政治的“幕后推手”。2020年该州民主党初选前，他对乔·拜登的支持重振了拜登的竞选活动，并推动他获得提名。
南卡罗来纳州初选将于6月9日举行。克莱伯恩代表该州第6国会选区，该选区是稳固的民主党选区。
Rep. Jim Clyburn, 85-year-old South Carolina Democrat, running for reelection
March 12, 2026 / 11:07 AM EDT / CBS News
Washington— Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina announced Thursday he will seek an 18th term in Congress, making him the last of his generation of House Democratic leaders still on the ballot.
Clyburn, who is 85 years old, made the announcement at an event with supporters at the South Carolina Democratic Party headquarters in Columbia, saying he would be signing the paperwork needed to run and would mount a “very vigorous campaign.”
“Today I’m going to answer a question that’s always asked: What is there unfinished or what more do you need to do? Well, it’s in the preamble of our Constitution: We exist in pursuit of a more perfect union,” he said. “And I’m here today to say I do believe that I am very well-equipped — and healthy enough — to move into the next term, trying to do the things that are necessary to continue that pursuit of perfection.”
Clyburn noted his age, and said, “If I were not up to it, I would not do it. But in response to some extensive surveys, some intense consultations with my three daughters, they finally got to a unanimous opinion that I should be here today and make this announcement.”
Rep. James Clyburn speaks at South Carolina Democratic Party headquarters in Columbia, South Carolina, on Thursday, March 12, 2026. CBS News
His reelection bid comes amid a yearslong push in the Democratic Party for generational change. Clyburn served as the No. 3 Democrat in the House from 2007 to 2023, and was the top-ranking African-American lawmaker in Congress during that time.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and former Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland stepped down from their leadership roles ahead of Clyburn, who relinquished his position as House Democratic whip in 2023 and served as assistant leader for a little more than a year after that.
Pelosi and Hoyer have both announced their retirements from Congress in recent months, making Clyburn the last of House Democrats’ previous generation of leaders to seek reelection.
In an interview with the Washington Post earlier this month, Clyburn signaled he wasn’t ready to call it quits just yet.
“I’ve done polling, I’ve interviewed my constituents, and my family is split on the decision — they have not coalesced around it yet. I’m leaning towards doing it,” he said.
Clyburn has served in Congress since 1993 and has been a kingmaker in Democratic politics in South Carolina for years. His endorsement of Joe Biden before the state’s Democratic primary in 2020 revived Biden’s campaign and propelled him to the nomination.
South Carolina’s primary will take place on June 9. Clyburn represents the state’s 6th Congressional District, which is solidly Democratic.