UPDATE 1-Democrat Pelosi agrees to term limits, smoothing road to be House speaker

After Pelosi's announcement, a group of seven House Democrats who had not previously pledged their support said they would back her when the full House votes on Jan. 3.

Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, said on Wednesday she supports a proposal that would limit the terms of senior Democratic leaders, likely paving the way for her to reclaim the speaker's post in January when her party takes control of the chamber.

By agreeing to limit senior leaders to three, two-year terms, which would apply retroactively, Pelosi hopes to mollify a small group of Democrats who had opposed her bid for the speakership and wanted a new generation of leaders.

"For some time, there have been a number of conversations to advance a proposal to institute term limits for senior leadership positions in our caucus," Pelosi said in a statement announcing her support for the plan.

After Pelosi's announcement, a group of seven House Democrats who had not previously pledged their support said they would back her when the full House votes on Jan. 3.

Pelosi, 78, made history as the first woman speaker, holding the top spot from 2007 to 2011.