Nov. 18 (Bloomberg) -- House Democrats re-elected Nancy Pelosi of California as speaker and returned other top leaders to their posts after elections in which the party increased its majority by at least 20 seats.

Steny Hoyer of Maryland, 69, was re-elected majority leader, while James Clyburn of South Carolina, 68, will continue in the job of vote-counting whip. Pelosi's selection must be approved by the full House when a new session of Congress convenes in early January.

``We have a very heavy agenda,'' Hoyer said. ``We are prepared to continue our work on behalf of the American people.''

The highest-ranking newcomer to the House Democrats' leadership team is John Larson of Connecticut, who will become chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. Larson, 60, was vice chair under Rahm Emanuel of Illinois. Emanuel is leaving the House to become President-elect Barack Obama's chief of staff.

The architect of the Democrats' election gains, Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, will return to his chairmanship of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. In that job, he will raise funds and recruit candidates for the next House elections in two years.

Van Hollen will also serve in an informal role as an adviser to Pelosi, 68.

To contact the reporters on this story: Laura Litvan in Washington at llitvan@bloomberg.net;

Last Updated: November 18, 2008 16:28 EST