Democrat King Jim Clyburn is choosing his 2022 Court

Few members of the Democratic Party wield as much influence as the Majority Whip in the House of Representatives Jim Clyburn (D-SC). And now, he’s back on the campaign trail, putting his thumbs on the scale of some of the Democrats’ most-watched 2022 primaries.

He stopped in Ohio over the weekend to attend Representative Shontel Brown (D-OH) ahead of her successful rematch with progressive activist Nina Turner. He was then appeared by Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) of San Antonio, who is facing a May 24 election spill with progressive candidate Jessica Cisneros.

When deciding which races to enter, Clyburn said he’s taking a few things into account. He is assessing the candidates’ profiles and whether they were – or will be – credible votes for Biden’s agenda.

But he also found a more subjective element: style.

“I look at the record and the style… Style means something. Substance means everything – but style means something,” Clyburn told The Daily Beast in an interview on Sunday.

For Clyburn, style was a matter of decoration. He doesn’t like low shots or name calling. He believes in legislators with good manners. And though the two progressive challengers are now losing their influence, he says it’s not about spurring more moderate lawmakers. “I am considered by everyone to be quite liberal except for those who seem to think that progress is meant to offend people,” he said.

“I don’t want to be offended. So I treat people as I want to be treated. So stylistically, if you have to scream all the time and call everyone’s name, if that’s what makes you progressive, then I’m not one,” he added. “But if it’s your voting record and the programs you support and you recommend, then no one is more progressive than me.”

The congressman also pointed to Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) and Wisconsin Senate candidate Lieutenant General Mandela Barnes (D) as examples of advances he supported.

While his appearance for Brown was expected, making it difficult for Cuellar was not an obvious play, as many supporters of Cuellar’s tradition were absent following an FBI raid on congressman’s house in January.

Before the March 1 primaries, Cuellar faced a degree of political isolation. But the Justice Department has since said he is not the target of an investigation that, according to his attorney, is likely to improve his political standing.

Cuellar has also drawn outrage from Democratic circles for being part of a “nine unbreakable” pact by House Democrats that blocked passage of the Better Back Building Act for until the bipartisan infrastructure bill was passed — and as the only House Democrat to vote against codifying Roe the suit became law last year.

That position became controversially new following Tuesday’s news of a Supreme Court draft opinion to oust Roe v. Wade. Cuellar defended his anti-abortion stance in a statement, arguing “abortion must be rare and safe” and noting that he supports exceptions to rape, incest, and homosexuality. mother’s network.

Cisneros on Wednesday called on the Democratic leadership to withdraw support for the congressman.

But by Sunday, Clyburn said he considers Cuellar, one of his deputies, to be a trusted vote on Democratic priorities and appeared alongside him on Wednesday.

“I credit him so much for the success we’ve had in accomplishing Biden’s agenda… People don’t have to agree with me on everything. He disagrees with me on everything. But he complements my position,” Clyburn said.

And while progressives are sometimes against nationalists trying to shape the outcome of the Democratic primaries, Clyburn says his visits are like providing a check. reference for the job and to tell the voter about his experience working with a certain member.

“When I ran for re-election, as I am running now, I invited people in my work in Washington to validate what I was saying. And that’s all that’s going on here,” he said.

At stake in these races is the Democrats’ chance to retain control in the House, which is in jeopardy this year as the party’s agenda stalls and the redistricting has make some race against their interests. Clyburn said he believes the party’s chances of keeping the House are improving – but said “whether we succeed depends a lot on what happens between now and Labor Day.”

“Nothing is given. So we’re going to work as hard as we can and hopefully, hopefully, we’ll be successful,” he said.