83-Year-Old Democrat Says Quitting Congress Would Be to ‘Give Up My Life’

To hear 83-year-old Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) tell it, retiring from Congress is tantamount to giving up on life.

On Sunday, The Wall Street Journal published a lengthy piece on older Democratic lawmakers who are unwilling to step aside. Although Clyburn quit as House Democratic whip in 2023, he still wields influence in the caucus, as do former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Democratic leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who also stepped down from their positions but retain their seats.

Not only does Clyburn intend to retire, he seems offended by the mere mention of the idea.

“Nancy left her seat. Steny left his seat. I left my seat. What the hell I’m supposed to do now?” Clyburn told the Journal. “What do you want—me to give up my life?”

As the Journal pointed out, nearly 40% of congressional Democrats are 65 or older, compared to just under 30% for Republicans. The age issue reared its head again after House Democrats elected 74-year-old Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) to serve as ranking member on the Oversight Committee over Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) – despite having esophageal cancer. Since then, Connolly’s condition worsened, forcing him to step down.

Age has taken on increasing salience for Democrats more broadly in recent years after former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on the bench and was replaced by a conservative. More recently, former President Joe Biden decided to run for reelection with disastrous effects for Democrats.

David Hogg, who at just 25 was recently elected as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, has sparked controversy with his pledge to primary older and ineffective Democrats. Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville took exception to the idea, and recently debated Hogg on the matter.

“I don’t understand,” said Carville, 80. “You’re not going to raise money to run against Democrats, or you are going to raise to run against Democrats?”