Nancy Pelosi Agrees to Term Limits in Bid for Speaker

Nancy Pelosi, the top House Democratic leader, has made a surprising move in order to secure the votes needed to be elected speaker. Pelosi has agreed to back term limits for the top three Democratic leaders, including herself, which would prevent her from serving as speaker beyond another four years.

This agreement was reached with seven Democrats who had opposed her speaker bid, including Reps. Ed Perlmutter, Linda T. Sánchez, and Tim Ryan. In exchange for Pelosi’s support for term limits, these members have agreed to drop their opposition to her bid for speaker.

The proposal will be brought before the Democratic Caucus for discussion and a vote by Feb. 15. Pelosi has stated that she is comfortable with the proposal and intends to abide by it whether it passes or not.

While this deal may secure Pelosi the votes she needs to be elected speaker, there are still 15 other Democrats who have said they won’t vote for her, and at least four who have yet to reveal their intentions. Pelosi needs at least two of these members to support her in order to secure the 218 votes needed.

The proposal includes a three-year term limit for the speaker, majority leader, and majority whip, with the option of a fourth term if two-thirds of the Democratic Caucus supports it. The deal also includes the creation of a development program for members interested in leadership roles.

The debate over term limits within the Democratic Caucus is expected to be contentious, with leaders like Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn opposing the idea. Pelosi has agreed to abide by the term limits even if the caucus rejects the proposal, meaning she would have to hand over the gavel by 2022.

Overall, Pelosi’s willingness to compromise on term limits in order to secure the votes needed for her speaker bid has sparked debate and divided opinions within the Democratic Party. The outcome of the caucus vote on the term-limit proposal remains uncertain.