Rep. James Clyburn, battling with Rep. Steny Hoyer for the minority whip position in the next Congress, has “no interest” in “stepping down” to a lower leadership post.
The South Carolina Democrat also believes there are as many as 50 Democrats who remain undecided on whether to support him or Hoyer, meaning that the race is still wide open.
Clyburn also won’t entertain the notion of making any deal with Hoyer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California — at least until it is clear that he doesn’t have the votes to win.
“I wouldn’t be making calls or talking to these members if I didn’t think I could win,” Clyburn told POLITICO in an interview on Tuesday.
According to Clyburn, a winning margin in the whip race “has not been reached by either one of us.”
Sources close to Hoyer have said the Maryland lawmaker already has the votes to win, despite formally announcing his candidacy for the post only on Monday.
Clyburn, the top-ranking African-American leader in Congress, also said his race has “become a mission” for the Congressional Black Caucus. The South Carolina Democrat said CBC members are telling him “that your race is our race.”
The veteran lawmaker suggested other Democratic leaders took CBC support for granted during tough legislative fights, and he said that fellow black lawmakers want to make sure that no longer happens.
“Every time there’s to be a deal, the short end of the stick ends up with the CBC,” Clyburn said.
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