Latest news with #Clyburn
New York Post
3 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Andrew Cuomo racks up Democratic power player Rep. Jim Clyburn's endorsement in NYC mayoral race
Democratic kingmaker Rep. Jim Clyburn endorsed Andrew Cuomo in the Big Apple's mayoral primary Friday — as surging socialist contender Zohran Mamdani's campaign garnered a mix of fresh condemnation and support. Clyburn, the 84-year-old South Carolina congressman, cast Cuomo as a bulwark against President Trump and asserted the former governor and accused sex pest has the 'experiences, credentials and character to not just serve New York, but also save the nation.' 'The mayor of New York is uniquely positioned to play an important role in the future of the national Democratic Party,' Clyburn said in a statement. 3 Rep. James Clyburn on Friday endorsed Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary. AP 3 Cuomo is the mayoral frontrunner in the polls. Stephen Yang Cuomo, 67, has vigorously denied the sexual harassment accusations against him. He responded to Clyburn's endorsement with a backhanded jab at the 33-year-old Mamdani's arguably pie-in-the-sky campaign promises. '(Clyburn) has always been on the right side of history, and he has spent a lifetime prioritizing making real change over headlines, of action over words, and results over performative politics,' Cuomo wrote on X. Clyburn is widely credited with rescuing Joe Biden's then-flailing presidential bid in 2020. His endorsement of Cuomo, first reported by The New York Times, could help the thrice-elected Democrat further solidify the support of black New Yorkers. According to a recent poll, nearly half of black voters backed the governor in the June 24 Democratic mayoral primary, comparted to 11% support for Mamdani and 12% for City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. But Mamdani arguably got a half-hearted boost from Adams, as the black lawmaker from southeast Queens on Friday endorsed the Working Families Party slate of candidates. The progressive party's slate picked Mamdani first in their ranked-choice endorsements, followed by City Comptroller Brad Lander, Adams and state Sen. Zellnor Myrie. The moderate Adams, however, conspicuously avoided naming Mamdani and explicitly said she wouldn't cross-endorse any candidates. She instead argued Cuomo should not be mayor. 'That's why, in addition to ranking me number one, I encourage New Yorkers to rank the full slate of Working Families Party candidates. We don't agree on everything – and if we did, I wouldn't be running. But I believe they care deeply about this city and its future. They have principles.' 3 Zohran Mamdani received the implicit backing of rival Adrienne Adams in the ranked-choice primary. Paul Martinka Mamdani, a state Assemblyman from Queens, also recently wracked up the endorsement of outspoken progressive former Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou. But another of Mamdani's Albany colleagues — state Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) — strongly urged voters not to rank the socialist firebrand, alleging his 'fanatical hatred of Israel' is disqualifying to lead a city with a large Jewish population.
The Hill
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Clyburn endorses Cuomo in NYC mayor's race
Influential longtime Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) threw his support behind Andrew Cuomo ahead of Tuesday's Democratic primary for New York City mayor, adding another prominent name to his list of supporters. Clyburn said he's endorsing the former New York governor because of his experience in office and record of accomplishing his initiatives. He said Cuomo searches for answers and places to find common ground to build coalitions. 'If he says he will build more affordable housing, raise the minimum wage, make the city safer and create more opportunities for our youth, you can be confident that he will — because he's done it before,' Clyburn said in a statement. 'His record of accomplishments is extraordinary, and I am confident he will be a great mayor of New York.' Clyburn said he's known him since Cuomo served as secretary of housing and urban development during the Clinton administration, when they worked together to support those who were underserved, particularly people of color. He said the role of New York City mayor is 'uniquely positioned' to be important for the future of the Democratic Party, as it faces challenges addressing the Trump administration. He said the mayor must meet that challenge and defend the city. 'Andrew Cuomo has the experience, credentials, and character to not just serve New York, but also help save the nation,' Clyburn said. Backing from the longtime Congressional Black Caucus member, who has served in various leadership positions during his tenure, including House majority whip, is a notable get for Cuomo as he hopes to solidify his support among Black voters. Polls have shown them to be a key part of Cuomo's coalition. Clyburn flexed political muscle in the past, most memorably when he endorsed former President Biden during his 2020 run after Biden struggled in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. But Biden rose significantly after Clyburn's endorsement and went on to win the nomination and presidency. Cuomo said he's 'honored and humbled' to have Clyburn's support, calling him a 'man who has spent a lifetime prioritizing making headway over headlines, of actions over words and results over performative politics.' Clyburn is also taking part in robocalls going out to residents ahead of the Tuesday primary. In one call, he says Cuomo will stand up to President Trump and urges voters to vote early as a heat wave could bring temperatures up to 100 degrees on Tuesday. Cuomo has been the front-runner throughout the entire race so far but is hoping to hold off a rising challenge from state Assembly member Zohran Mamdani, who has consistently placed second in the polls and is closing the gap. But the latest independent polling still shows Cuomo ahead. Cuomo has notched other major endorsements from figures like Reps. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), former New York Gov. David Patterson (D) and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Congressman Jim Clyburn, 84, Steps In to Hold Colleague's 4-Month-Old Baby on Live TV: Watch the Buzzy Moment
South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn stepped in to hold the 4-month-old son of his congressional colleague during a press conference on June 10. Clyburn and Colorado Rep. Brittany Pettersen were advocating for longer background checks for firearms purchases. Pettersen, 43, has frequently brought her children to work with her, and has recently advocated for Congress to allow members to vote remotely during maternity Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn has been a member of Congress since 1993. But he's been a father even longer. Clyburn and his late wife, Emily, shared three daughters, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. So it made sense that the 84-year-old congressman called on his paternal instincts on Tuesday, June 10, when he stepped in to hold the 4-month old son of his colleague, Colorado Rep. Brittany Pettersen. The pair were speaking to reporters as part of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, introducing the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and Enhanced Background Checks Act to establish universal background checks for firearms purchases. As Pettersen, 43, stepped up to answer questions with her son, Sam, in her arms, Clyburn quickly volunteered to help. 'I love that,' Pettersen said of the gesture after carefully handing her son over. 'I can't wait to tell him one day that Representative Clyburn was holding him.' Pettersen and her husband, Ian Silverii, welcomed Sam on Jan. 25. They also share a 5-year-old son, Davis. The congresswoman has frequently brought her children with her as she carries out her House duties. She and Davis sat in on a House Financial Services hearing in June 2023, and in April 2025, she brought Sam on the House floor as she advocated for Congress to allow members to vote remotely during maternity leave. The issue was a central part of the birth announcement Pettersen shared on her congressional website when Sam was born. 'Congress makes no accommodations for new parents, so while I'm recovering and taking care of my newborn at this critical time, it's incredibly unfair that my constituents will not have a voice in Congress until I am physically able to return to Washington,' she wrote. 'No Member should have to choose between caring for their newborn and representing their constituents," she continued. "I'm disappointed Speaker Johnson has still refused to move forward with my bipartisan proposal to allow Members to vote remotely while they take care of their newborns, but I won't stop fighting to bring this to the floor for a vote, even while recovering from childbirth.' Pettersen added: 'My two boys remind me of what's at stake, and I'm more committed than ever to making sure my constituents' voices are heard in Washington.' Clyburn, meanwhile, won reelection for his 17th term in the House of Representatives in November. He is a major power broker in Washington, a pivotal member of the Congressional Black Caucus and has previously served as the Democratic Party's House majority whip. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Clyburn and Pettersen, as well as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, advocated for longer background checks for gun purchases ahead of the 10th anniversary of the mass shooting at the Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. The attack by then-21-year-old Dylann Roof on June 17, 2015, left nine dead — all of whom were constituents of Clyburn's district. 'He picked this church because of its history,' Clyburn told reporters. 'With the kind of background check we are talking about today, we would have prevented that because he would have never gotten a gun.' Read the original article on People
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Jim Clyburn wins hearts by holding Rep. Pettersen's baby at press conference: ‘So sweet'
During a press conference on combating gun violence, Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn made a heartwarming gesture by offering to hold Colorado Representative Brittany Pettersen's infant son, freeing her hands to speak. A video of the moment has gone viral on social media. In the clip, Pettersen begins addressing the press while cradling her sleeping baby. Clyburn taps her shoulder and offers to take the child. Pettersen hands over her son, noting he is fast asleep. She then quips into the microphone, "I can't wait to tell him one day that Representative Clyburn held him at a press conference." As the clip went viral, many praised Clyburn's gesture. One person wrote, 'This is what AMERICA should look like!' Another wrote, 'Sometimes the smallest gestures speak the loudest.' A third person commented, 'That's very sweet of him.' Also Read: Mikie Sherrill wins New Jersey primary: All on Governor hopeful's husband, Jason Hedberg, and children Pettersen and her husband, Ian Silverii, welcomed their second child, Samuel Lee Silverii, on January 25, 2025. 'We are overjoyed to welcome our baby boy, Sam, to our family,' Rep. Pettersen said in a statement. 'Ian and I are deeply appreciative of the overwhelming love and support we have received from our community in Colorado and my colleagues in Congress. Davis couldn't be more excited to take on his new role as a big brother!" She added, 'Congress makes no accommodations for new parents, so while I'm recovering and taking care of my newborn at this critical time, it's incredibly unfair that my constituents will not have a voice in Congress until I am physically able to return to Washington. No Member should have to choose between caring for their newborn and representing their constituents. I'm disappointed Speaker Johnson has still refused to move forward with my bipartisan proposal to allow Members to vote remotely while they take care of their newborns, but I won't stop fighting to bring this to the floor for a vote, even while recovering from childbirth.'
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'We have a geriatric problem' - Democrats wrestle with age-old issue
For 33 years, Congressman Jim Clyburn's "world famous fish fry" has been a must-attend event for members of the Democratic Party hoping to make a splash on the national stage. But after a blistering electoral defeat and with an aging old guard, some are wondering if it's time for the party to make some new traditions. It was just over five years ago here in South Carolina, that the then-79-year-old Clyburn, a Democratic kingmaker in the state, gave the then-77-year-old Joe Biden his highly coveted presidential endorsement. His past picks – like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton – have all won the party's nomination, if not the White House. Clyburn's endorsement of Biden is widely regarded as helping the former vice-president win South Carolina's primary and turn the tide in his struggling campaign. Since then, Democrats have had to re-evaluate their choice for the aging Biden – who grudgingly abandoned his re-election bid last year amid a rising din of questions about his competency. After his successor, Vice-President Kamala Harris, lost to Donald Trump, many wondered if he had hung on too long. Then last month, Biden announced he had stage 4 prostate cancer, a condition with a grim prognosis that would have presented a national crisis if he had managed to win re-election. Biden's cancer diagnosis raises fresh questions about his health in White House What we know about Biden's cancer diagnoses Audio emerges of Biden's 'poor memory' interview with investigator Now many within the party, including some of those dining on fried fish and white bread at Clyburn's gathering last Friday, are wondering if it's time the party found new blood - especially after three congressional Democrats died in office this year alone. The losses meant that the Republicans' slim majority in Congress was bolstered, allowing them to pass Trump's controversial spending bill by a single vote. "We have a geriatric problem," said Ashley McIntyre Stewart, specifically noting the recent House spending bill. "We need to get the younger community involved so that we don't have the Republicans railroad us." According to a survey last month by Axios, more than half of the 30 Democrats in the House over age 75 are planning to seek re-election next year, including Clyburn, whose term would end when he is 88 if he wins. The veteran politician scoffed at the idea of retiring. "I will respond to the voters of South Carolina," he told media who were at the fish fry. "I've been with them all month, and not a single one of them said to me that they think I'm too old. Every one of them said to me, please don't leave." He also bristled at the second-guessing over whether Biden should have stepped aside earlier, saying that his children and grandchildren don't care about the former president's choice. "They're going to ask me what did you do to make sure I got a better life," he said. "That's all I'm concentrating on." Democratic voters have tended to accept the risks that come with electing older politicians to office, prioritising governing experience over youth and vitality. In 2024, only two Democratic incumbents in Congress lost their party's nomination, and both – Cori Bush of Missouri and Jamaal Bowman of New York – were relative newcomers under the age of 50. Republicans have their own crop of elderly politicians too, including the 78 year-old president. But 2020's electoral battering and Biden's health revelations have caused some introspection. William Godwin, a Democrat from Chicago, was visiting South Carolina and stopped by the fish fry to see Clyburn and hear from the two Democratic governors, Tim Walz of Minnesota and Wes Moore of Maryland, invited to speak. He said he respected the wisdom of elderly politicians like Clyburn and Biden, but his party needed a youth movement. "We need the activists," he said. "We need the energy from a variety of different backgrounds - not just age - to really come put our hands together and work toward getting some real elections won." There are signs some young upstarts are taking heed: Saikat Chakrabarti, the 39-year-old former chief of staff to Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is challenging former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in her San Francisco Congressional primary. Jake Rakov, 37, is going after the seat of his former boss, 15-term incumbent Rep Brad Sherman, 70. Voters are craving "new ideas and new energy to get Congress to actually work again," he told a local news outlet, the Bay Area Reporter, in April. At the fish fry, winning elections after last year's disappointment and the challenges of Trump's aggressive second term agenda were the focus of speeches from two Democratic governors, who are also potential 2028 presidential hopefuls. Walz, the 61-year-old who was his party's vice-presidential nominee last year, may not exactly be a fresh face some in the party are looking for, although he received a warm reception from the South Carolina audience. Maryland's Moore – a 46-year-old military veteran who is only the third black governor in US history – generated the most animated response, as he spoke about the "baton" being in his generation's hands. "We're about to send a message the entire country is going to hear," he said. "This is our time. This is our moment. We will not shirk, we will not flinch, we will not blink. We will win, just as those who came before us did." Democrats may have won in the past, but last year's defeat was particularly stinging – and Trump's first months back in power have put the party in a deep hole, with years' worth of work needed to rebuild Democrat-backed government programmes and replenish worker rolls that have been slashed by the Republicans. "I gave Donald Trump credit for this," Walz said. "He moves so quickly and so fast for bad things, we better be ready to move quickly and fast for good things." Walz said that Democrats needed to have "tough conversations" about how to win back the voters who flipped to Trump last year. In a few years, South Carolina will once again be a pivotal battleground in the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination. The kind of candidate who comes out on top will be determined in part by the conversations – including how to balance age and experience with youth and energy - happening at this fish fry and in other Democratic gatherings across the country in the days ahead. What should Democrats do now? Everyone has a different answer Five takeaways from Biden's BBC interview How Biden tarnished his own legacy Why Kamala Harris lost: A flawed candidate or doomed campaign?
