Jim Clyburn warns Black voters not to be ‘fooled’ by Trump as midterms near
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The longtime South Carolina congressman says Democrats need to focus on affordability and stronger grassroots outreach to reconnect with Black voters.
Rep. Jim Clyburn is warning Black voters not to be “fooled” by President Donald Trump as Democrats try to improve participation ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Clyburn said Black voter turnout will depend in part on whether Democrats speak directly to everyday economic pressures and organize voters in person. His comments come weeks after Black political leaders launched a multimillion-dollar mobilization campaign and after South Carolina Republicans considered a redistricting proposal that would have weakened Black voting power in his majority-Black district.
The Financial Times reported that Clyburn, 86, wants Democrats to put affordability and the cost of living at the center of their appeal to Black voters.
Clyburn made a similar argument in September while helping launch the “SO VOTE” campaign. He said Democratic outreach had been inadequate, not necessarily because too little money was being spent, but because resources were not being targeted well. He called for more “boots on the ground,” particularly in rural and Black communities.
The concern follows weaker Black voter turnout in the 2024 presidential election. Census Bureau data show turnout among Black citizens was 59.6%, compared with 70.5% among white non-Hispanic citizens. Pew Research Center’s validated-voter study found that 15% of Black validated voters backed Trump in 2024, up from 8% in 2020, while 83% backed Kamala Harris.
Clyburn told the Financial Times that Black voters should not be misled by Trump’s political style or promises. He also criticized Republican policies and Project 2025, describing the agenda as “Jim Crow 2.0.”
The South Carolina Democrat pointed to Republican-backed redistricting efforts across the South. He said Republicans could face a voter reaction to maps that reduce the political influence of Black communities.
Clyburn has represented South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District since 1993 and is serving his 17th term.
Clyburn’s message to Democrats is centered on turnout and economic concerns. He said the party needs to give Black voters a clear reason to participate and pair that message with direct contact in the communities it is trying to reach.