The Hill News

A top House Democrat dismissed the notion that the party is planning for a future without Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as its leader in the House.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said he knew nothing about rumors that Democrats were quietly planning for life after Pelosi, should Democrats lose the House or suffer major losses in this fall's elections.

"This whole notion of us planning a future without Pelosi? I don't know anything about that," Clyburn told liberal talk show host Bill Press on his radio show.

Polls show Republicans within striking distance of picking up the 39 or more seats they need to win back the majority of the House in November's midterm elections, prompting speculation over what the Democratic leadership would look like if there were a shake-up. It has been the recent custom that a speaker, seen as the leader of his or her party in the House, resign from that position and from office if their party inc! urs substantial losses in an election.

Clyburn said that speculation over whether Pelosi would have to resign if Democrats lost the majority was moot, since Clyburn asserted his party would hold onto its control of the House.

"Pelosi will continue to be the speaker of the House," he said. "We are not going to lose the majority, and I am convinced of that with all that I've seen across the country."

The majority whip said he too expected to stay in his current position as the third-ranking House Democrat if his party retains the majority.

Clyburn's confidence, he said, was based on recent polling he'd seen.

"You go district by district, and I am very very comfortable with what our candidates are doing," he said. "I am very comfortable as to where we are."