Red State Republicans Move To Oust 85-Year-Old Democrat Rep Who Helped Biden Get To White House

Republicans in South Carolina advanced a new proposed House map Wednesday that could threaten longtime Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn, the party kingmaker who helped propel former President Joe Biden to the White House.

The South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the redistricting proposal late Wednesday evening after more than 12 hours of debate, WLTX reported. The pending map would likely axe the state’s only Democratic-held seat, currently held by the 85-year-old Clyburn, a 17-term congressman first elected in 1992.

Clyburn is one of the most powerful Democrats on Capitol Hill, and his presence in Washington carries significant political impact outside of the Palmetto State.

The lawmaker cemented his reputation as a party kingmaker in 2020 after his endorsement helped Biden — who had suffered crushing defeats in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary — win the South Carolina primary in a landslide and revive his path to the nomination. Shortly following Biden’s convincing South Carolina win, several candidates in the race including Tom Steyer, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar