By Jonathan Allen, CQ Staff

Chris Van Hollen will remain chairman of the House Democrats’ candidate-recruitment and fundraising arm for a second term — reversing an earlier decision to step down — according to Democratic sources.

Under Van Hollen’s leadership, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee picked up a net of about 20 seats on Nov. 4, with several races still not officially called for one party or the other.

History and the diminished turf Republicans will be defending in 2010 suggest that it will be hard for Van Hollen to match that level of success in a second term.

But there aren’t many rungs open on the Democratic leadership ladder, and Van Hollen would have had to face off against one of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’s anointed picks to win either the chairmanship or the vice chairmanship of the Democratic Caucus.

The agreement between Van Hollen and Pelosi includes an added responsibility for Van Hollen as an assistant to the Speaker, according to the Democratic source.

Just last week, Van Hollen, who won a fourth term representing the wealthy D.C. suburbs of Maryland’s 8th District, told reporters he would not return to the DCCC.

His decision should ease the ascent of Vice Chairman John B. Larson of Connecticut to the chairmanship of the Democratic Caucus, a post being left open by the departure of Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel to become President-elect Barack Obama ’s White House chief of staff.

Pelosi is expected to release a statement later today announcing Van Hollen’s return to the DCCC and his new appointed post in the House leadership.