Pelosi aims to give more time for House Democratic leadership races

The announcement helps set a timeline for the much-anticipated elections -- a set of contests that will be closely watched, especially if Democrats win back the majority in the midterms this November.

The Democratic caucus elections typically happen while incoming freshmen are in town for orientation -- usually the week before Thanksgiving and the week after Thanksgiving. In 2016, the caucus held its election the week after Thanksgiving.

In a note to her Democratic colleagues on Friday, Pelosi suggested repeating that timeline.

"If the elections were held today, we would win many new seats, putting us into the Majority," she said. "This would mean more leadership positions, more committee assignments and a large freshman class."

"I believe it is important that we follow the schedule for leadership elections that the Caucus set last cycle, allowing additional time for freshmen to get oriented," the California Democrat continued. "My recommendation to the Caucus would be to set leadership elections sometime after Thanksgiving, at a date to be determined by the Caucus."

The recent primary loss of Rep. Joe Crowley, the chairman of the Democratic caucus, caused an unexpected shakeup in leadership races, as the New Yorker had been likely to run for another top spot this fall, potentially the speakership if Democrats win the majority and if Pelosi decides to step down, though she says she won't.

Some Democratic members and aides say privately that holding the leadership elections after Thanksgiving could allow more time for challengers for various leadership positions to gather the support they need. But it could also give current leaders more time to make committee assignments -- an advantage for leaders running for re-election.

Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio unsuccessfully challenged Pelosi for her position as minority leader in 2016, though he won a third of the votes. After Crowley's loss, Ryan announced he was "strongly leaning" toward mounting another challenge this year.

According to two sources familiar with the effort, a small group of Democrats met Thursday night and drafted a letter urging Pelosi to hold the leadership elections after Thanksgiving. The point was to provide more time between the midterms and the leadership races, so that the leadership races wouldn't be too dependent on the results of the midterms and would feel more separate.

The group of Democrats began circulating that letter on the House floor Friday morning during votes, which is when Pelosi sent an email announcing the elections would be after Thanksgiving.

A leadership aide said there have been multiple inquires about the timing of the elections, and felt like the announcement by Pelosi clears up the matter.

"Also makes it clear that this is a long way away and folk should focus on winning the midterms," the aide said.

Drew Hammill, a spokesman for Pelosi, said the announcement shows that "we are open to whatever the caucus wants."