Deal ends Democratic leadership fights

By Dana Bash, CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent
November 13, 2010 4:11 p.m. EST

(CNN) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has struck a deal that ends the leadership fight for the number two slot in the new House minority, multiple senior Democratic sources tell CNN.

Under the compromise, Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the current House majority leader will become the Democratic whip, which will be the number two spot in the new Democratic minority.

South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn agreed to end his bid for that spot and instead hold a new, third ranking leadership post that will be created for him. In a letter to Democratic colleagues on Saturday, Pelosi said she plans to designate him "Assistant Leader."

When the Democrats become the minority party in the House they lose the position of Speaker, a shift that left Hoyer and Clyburn jockeying for the House minority whip position.

The deal allows Rep. John Larson of Connecticut to keep his post as Democratic caucus chairman and Rep. Xavier Becerra to remain as the vice chair of the Democratic caucus.

"Over the last week Congressman Clyburn has signaled his concern with maintaining the diversity of leadership, which reflects the diversity of caucus," a senior House Democratic source close to Clyburn tells CNN.

The source says Clyburn believes this deal helps keep that diversity intact.

Speaker Pelosi revealed the deal in a somewhat cryptic statement late Friday night.

"Should I receive the honor of serving as House Democratic Leader, I will nominate Congressman Jim Clyburn of South Carolina to the number three leadership position," Pelosi said.

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