For the first time in more than a century, the US House of Representatives on Tuesday failed to elect a new speaker on the first ballot, and then remained deadlocked after two more ballots.
In the first two ballots, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) received support from an overwhelming majority of his GOP Conference, with 203 votes, but that was short of the 218 needed to win a simple majority of the 434 House members present.
In the third vote, more than five Republicans opposed him, according to NBC News.
When voting was completed on the third ballot, shortly after 5:00 p.m. EST, 202 voted for McCarthy for speaker, 212 voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), and 20 voted for Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), the network reported.
The House adjourned for the day shortly after 5:30 p.m. It is unclear when a fourth vote will take place.
After the second vote, McCarthy made clear he is not giving up his fight for speaker.
"We stay in until we win," McCarthy told reporters, according to CNN, adding that the numbers "will change eventually."
Pushed further, he told CNN, "I know the path."