WASHINGTON Despite a group of Democrats vowing to block her, Nancy Pelosi cruised through an internal House Democratic Caucus vote Wednesday to effectively secure the nomination of her party to return as speaker.

In an uncontested race, Pelosi won the caucus vote 203-32, with three blank ballots and one absence. (A total of 239 votes were cast because Democrats allowed ballots from delegates, who wont get to participate in the House floor vote. Democrats are likely to have 235 voting members next Congress.)

Pelosi came away with a slightly stronger vote than expected, but, as the 35 votes against the Democratic leader indicate, her work isnt done.

Pelosi will face a floor vote on Jan. 3, when she must get a majority of the whole House, 218 votes. With 235 members, Pelosi could lose only 17 Democrats to still be elected speaker if every Republican votes against her and none of the Democrats currently opposing her vote present. (A present vote would, in effect, be a half-vote for Pelosi, as it would lower the majority threshold.)

Pelosis Democratic detractors promise they wont vote for her on the floor, and with 16 Democrats currently signed onto a letter making that promise, on top of about a half-dozen freshman Democrats who ran for Congress by vowing to not support Pelosi and continuing to say theyll uphold their promise, Pelosi still has a vote problem albeit one that she potentially has ways out of .