Black Republicans who win in November would be welcomed into the Congressional Black Caucus if they want to join, House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said Wednesday.

“If Tim Scott is interested in joining the caucus, he would be welcome,” Clyburn said, referring to the Republican candidate favored to win in South Carolina’s 1st district.

Clyburn, a CBC member, noted that in the 1990s, former Rep. Gary Franks (R-Conn.) joined the CBC while former Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Okla.) declined an invitation. Clyburn, however, said he still worked with Watts, who he said was “very critical” recently in helping to broker a compromise reducing the sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine from 100-to-1 to 18-to-1.