Democrats give Clyburn new post

WASHINGTON — Wrapping up leadership elections, House Democrats on Thursday unanimously chose Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina for a new role — assistant leader — as the party whip relinquishes that job and a younger generation of Democratic leaders takes charge in the new year.

The vote for Clyburn, who is the highest-ranking Black member of Congress and close to President Joe Biden, averted a potentially divisive party struggle after what had been a largely drama-free transition in the aftermath of the midterm elections. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her team are stepping aside after decades at the helm.

Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, who is openly gay, withdrew his challenge to Clyburn. Cicilline won assurances from the Democratic leaders that LGBTQ voices would be represented at the leadership table.

Clyburn, a civil-rights leader, said he plans to continue his work advocating “for the South, and for communities that have been left out of economic progress of previous generations.”

The two days of closed voting among Democrats contrasts with the dragged-out process underway on the Republican side as GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy works to shore up support to become House speaker in January.

On Wednesday, House Democrats elected Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York to become the new party leader, the first Black person to lead a major political party in Congress.