Pelosi strikes deal with rebels, will step aside by 2022

WASHINGTON — Rep. Nancy Pelosi promised on Wednesday to step aside no later than 2022 as party leader in a deal with Democratic rebels, clearing a major obstacle in her bid to be House speaker.

The announcement followed weeks of behind-the- scenes negotiations between Pelosi, D-Calif., and the group of insurgents who wanted to force new blood into the top Democratic ranks. In the end, Pelosi backed off her resistance to setting a date for her departure but avoided becom- ing an immediate lame duck.

“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 in a statement.

Under the accord, Pelosi, 78, will support a three-term limit for the top three House Democratic leaders, with a possible fourth term if Demo- cratic members vote by a twothirds majority to retain them.

The limit would be retroactive, meaning Pelosi, incoming House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and incoming House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C. — all of whom held the same posts from 2007 to 2011 — would be effectively limited to one, maybe two, terms going forward if the policy is adopted.

“I am comfortable with the proposal and it is my inten- tion to abide by it whether it passes or not,” Pelosi said.

At least six Democratic holdouts are expected to back Pelosi following the announcement. Their support likely would be enough to clinch the House major- ity that Pelosi needs for her election to speaker on Jan. 3 — 218 votes if all members are present and voting for an individual.

According to a Washington Post analysis, that would leave Pelosi with no more 16 Democrats openly opposing her. She could weather as many as 17 defections if all members are voting.

Several freshmen and a handful of incumbents are still expected to oppose her.

Already the first woman to serve as speaker, Pelosi would cement her place in history by joining a small group of lawmakers who regained the speakership after losing it. She would be the first speaker to do so since Texas Democrat Sam Rayburn took the gavel back in 1955. No other twotime speaker has taken the gavel back after more than four years out of power.

Pelosi appeared to solidify her standing Tuesday during an Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump. For 17 televised minutes, Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., sparred with Trump over his desire for U.S.-Mexico border wall funding — a clash that highlighted the stakes of the speakership race.

One person familiar with the talks said the incumbents — running in safe Democratic districts — want to “give cover” to freshmen in more marginal districts who want to stick to pledges they made during their campaigns and vote against Pelosi without actually blocking her from the gavel.

Pelosi was nominated as speaker by House Democrats last month on a 203-to-32 vote, but many of the Democrats vowed to oppose her in the decisive floor vote if she did not make further concessions, prompting the negotiations.