After delivering a 20-seat pickup for House Democrats on Election Night, Rep. Chris Van Hollen wanted out of his grinding campaign job and into a more powerful leadership post.

“The one option I am not exploring is continuing as the chairman” of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, an exhausted Van Hollen (D-Md.) said the day after the election.

It sounded like a reasonable plan — until Speaker Nancy Pelosi got wind of it. Pelosi already had someone else in mind for the Democratic Caucus chairmanship that Van Hollen sought.

“Whatever Nancy wants, Nancy gets,” a Democratic lawmaker said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Indeed she does. Van Hollen backed down and took the job he didn’t want. Pelosi had all but decided her leadership lineup for the 111th Congress and wanted no power plays and no drama. Van Hollen re-upped as DCCC chairman. Pelosi ally John B. Larson (D-Conn.) was tapped to take over as Caucus chairman to replace outgoing chairman Rahm Emanuel, the new White House chief of staff. As a consolation, Van Hollen was appointed assistant to the speaker, making him a policy liaison to the Obama administration, something Pelosi knew would appeal to the wonkish Maryland lawmaker.

The maneuvering was vintage Pelosi.

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