Pelosi deal wins over Dems
Leader agrees to term limit on speakership
WASHINGTON — Rep. Nancy Pelosi struck a deal Wednesday to limit her speakership to a maximum of four years, all but guaranteeing her path to reclaiming the House’s top spot.
The concession converted at least six rebellious Democrats who had said they would vote against Pelosi. Their opposition has been a potential roadblock to the San Francisco Democrat’s election when the party resumes control of the House next month. “We wish to thank Nancy Pelosi for her willingness to work with us to reach this agreement,” the group said in a statement announcing their support for her. “We are proud that our agreement will make lasting institutional change that will strengthen our caucus and will help develop the next generation of Democratic leaders.”
The agreement caps weeks of doubt about Pelosi’s future. She had the support of an overwhelming majority of her caucus, but a dedicated group of opponents had demanded that Pelosi declare an exit strategy to make way for new party leaders.
No Democrat has announced a campaign for speaker against Pelosi, and she won a yes-or-no vote of returning and incoming
Democratic House members last month, 203-32. While not every member who voted “no” was expected to oppose her on the floor, there was a core group that was numerous enough to deny her the speakership.
With a 235-member majority next year, Pelosi can afford to lose only 17 Democrats’ votes. As of early Wednesday, 14 Democrats were signed onto a letter promising to oppose her on the floor — six of whom have now reversed course. A handful of members-elect also said they would oppose Pelosi but haven’t signed the letter.
The deal Pelosi struck Wednesday won her the support of letter-signers Rep.-elect Gil Cisneros, D-Fullerton (Orange County) — who had already indicated he would accept Pelosi absent a challenger — and Democratic Reps. Linda Sánchez of Whittier (Los Angeles County), Ed Perlmutter of Colorado, Bill Foster of Illinois, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, Tim Ryan of Ohio and Filemon Vela of Texas.
Pelosi, 78, agreed in turn to support a plan to limit the number of terms that Democratic leaders can serve in their positions. Under the proposal, senior leaders would be allowed to serve three two-year terms and could win a fourth with a twothirds vote of the caucus.
The plan is retroactive to the last time the Democrats were in the majority, when Pelosi served two terms as speaker, from 2007 to 2011.
Pelosi said in a statement that the incoming Democratic majority would vote on the proposal in February, but that it was her intention to follow the limits even if the caucus rejects them.
“Over the summer, I made it clear that I see myself as a bridge to the next generation of leaders, a recognition of my continuing responsibility to mentor and advance new members into positions of power and responsibility in the House Democratic caucus,” Pelosi said. “I am comfortable with the proposal and it is my intention to abide by it whether it passes or not.”
Term limits are unpopular among many in the Democratic caucus, including the other leaders who would be affected by Wednesday’s deal — Pelosi’s top deputy, Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, and No. 3 party leader Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina. The plan is also unpopular in the Congressional Black Caucus, a major voting bloc in the House.
Pelosi’s supporters say she risks little by cutting this deal, though, because the caucus can still reject it and even reverse itself in the future.
“Nancy Pelosi is going to be the speaker,” said Rep. Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles. Referring to Pelosi’s televised Oval Office meeting with President Trump on Tuesday, Bass said, “Heck, did you see her yesterday? How could anybody question her ability to deal with that guy?”
Rep. Cedric Richmond, DLa., chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said he opposes term limits and called the opponents’ last stand “silly.” But he added that he supported letting Democrats vote on the idea.
“I think these guys are looking for an exit ramp off of their suicide mission, and this is their latest attempt at it,” Richmond said. “If it gets those six on board, so be it — let’s end this party and get on to something different.”
Arizona Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego said members will have to think beyond Pelosi, Hoyer and Clyburn to how the term limits might affect future leaders. But he said Pelosi herself has little to lose.
“I think many of us in the caucus are going to decide what’s best for the caucus,” Gallego said. “If she supports it and at the end of the day it still goes down, I think she did her best part and we have to do our part to really protect the caucus over time.”
San Mateo Rep. Jackie Speier said anything could be changed in coming years, even if Democrats ratify the term-limits plan now. But she criticized “tyranny of the minority” and said the opposition to Pelosi was offensive.
“I’m really offended, frankly, as a woman that a woman — with all that she has done and delivered for this caucus — is having to put up with this nonsense,” Speier said.