Dem
47
GOP
53
Many Democrats think their leaders are too old. Too bad for them, since many of the leaders don't think that way at all. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) is 85 and running for his 18th term. Rep. David Scott (D-GA) hasn't spoken on the House floor for over 2 years, but when filing season opened, the 80-year-old was first in line to file for his 13th term—in a wheelchair pushed by an aide. Rep. Al Green (D-TX) is 78 and running again. Last year, when Donald Trump was addressing a joint session of Congress, Rep. Green rose and shook his cane at him. The House censured him for this. The House doesn't do canings and the Senate hasn't had a good one since 1856.
Some older Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Steney Hoyer (D-MD), are calling it quits. But there seems to be a pattern here. Older white representatives are retiring but older Black ones, like Clyburn, Scott, Green, Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Maxine Waters (D-CA) are hanging on for dear life. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a 29-year-old Black Democrat from Florida summarized this as follows: "These are folks who, when they were younger, it was damn near impossible to get here because of racism in this country. And then when they got here, they were told, 'Wait your turn.' They waited their turn, and now people are saying, 'Get the hell out.'" He could have a point.
However, Amanda Litman, the leader of "Run for Something," said there are plenty of young Black leaders in lower elected offices who are ready to rise. She noted: "The idea that the current C.B.C. members are the only ones who could meet the moment is just not grounded in reality."
Not all old Black leaders have ignored the message from young Democrats. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), who is 81, is retiring. So is Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), who is 84. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the delegate from D.C., is 88 and wanted another term. But it was so clear to her staff that she wasn't up to the job anymore that they basically forced her out. (V)