Pelosi, foes reach deal for her return as House speaker

WASHINGTON — Rep. Nancy Pelosi and fellow Democrats who had tried derailing her effort to become House speaker reached an agreement that would all but ensure her election to the post, aides said Wednesday.

As the price for winning decisive support from her opponents, Pelosi, D-Calif., has agreed to serve no more than four more years as speaker.

Aides said an agreement would all but certainly bring her the votes she’d need to be elected when the House convenes for the new Congress on Jan. 3. They spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private talks.

Pelosi has already been nominated by Democrats to be speaker. To formally win the job, she must win a majority of votes — probably 218 — when the full House votes. Republicans will likely solidly oppose her.