Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) was first elected in 1992 and is one of the highest-ranking black lawmakers in history. | Andrew Harnik/AP Photo Congress Clyburn has 150-plus backers for House majority whip bid

Rep. Jim Clyburn has more than 150 backers for his bid to be House majority whip in the 116th Congress, setting up House Democrats to have the same triumvirate in power as they did in 2010.

More than 150 Democrats have signed on to a letter supporting Clyburn that circulated late Tuesday, a day before House Democrats were to begin picking their leaders for the new Congress. Democrats are expected to tap Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as their speaker nominee, while Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) will be majority leader. Along with Clyburn, this is the same trio who held the top three spots before the Democrats' House majority was swept away by the tea party movement eight years ago.


"We write to share our wholehearted support and solicit your vote for Jim Clyburn to serve as Majority Whip in the 116th Congress," said the pro-Clyburn letter, which was being circulated by Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.). "Jim’s thoughtful, deliberate and selfless leadership will serve our Caucus well over the next two years. As the highest ranking African American in Congress and the only Member of leadership from the South, Jim is a powerful voice for millions of Americans that feel left out and communities that are too often left behind."

The letter continued: "In this historic moment for our Caucus and our country, we need Jim’s leadership. His voice and experience are invaluable to our Caucus, the Congress and our country. We hope you will join us in supporting his bid for Majority Whip."

More than 150 Democrats have already signed on to the letter, putting Clyburn well over the threshold needed to win the post. Democrats will have approximately 235 members in the 116th Congress.

Rep. Diane DeGette (D-Colo.) had been challenging Clyburn for the whip post, but she ended her effort last week.

Pelosi will be overwhelmingly elected as the Democrats' nominee for speaker Wednesday, but she'll still have to work to round up enough support to win a roll call vote on Jan. 3. Like Clyburn, majority leader hopeful Hoyer is unchallenged, and he has released a list of more than 180 public supporters.

Clyburn, 78, was first elected to Congress in 1992. The son of a minister, Clyburn first made his mark in the civil rights movement. He later became a teacher, and then served as a state official in South Carolina before being elected to Congress.

Clyburn and former Rep. William Gray (D-Pa.) are the highest-ranking black lawmakers in congressional history, and the ever-growing power of the Congressional Black Caucus means a black speaker or majority leader is possible in the near future. The No. 3 and No. 5 posts in the House Democratic Caucus will be held by African-American lawmakers next year, and minority lawmakers will serve as chairs of several committees, proof of the CBC's influence inside the broader House Democratic Caucus.