House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi brushed off suggestions today that a pair of special election losses this week, including one in a strongly Democratic district, will impede her plans to take back the House next year.

The California Democrat said the loss in Nevada’s special election was predictable because of the seat’s GOP leanings, and she acknowledged that losing a race in New York to replace former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D) “was a disappointment.” But, Pelosi said, “It does not alter our plan for taking back the House.”

“Special elections are aptly named; they’re special,” Pelosi told reporters at her weekly press conference. “They have special aspects in terms of the timing and the timing you have to get your message across and the rest.”

Democrats have sought to brush off the bruising losses since Tuesday, when Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) won a special election for the seat previously held by GOP Sen. Dean Heller, who was appointed to the seat of former Sen. John Ensign.

Ensign resigned earlier this year amid the fallout of an extramarital affair. President Barack Obama narrowly lost the district in 2008.

In New York, Rep. Bob Turner (R) scored a major upset to replace Weiner, who resigned amid a scandal that involved sexual communications with women via social media. Both Amodei and Turner were sworn in today.

Pelosi called the losses a “mogul” and a “bump in the road.”

“We’re optimistic about the recruitment of candidates, of raising of money, of raising of the issues that are out there and that’s positive for us” she said.