House Adjourns After Failing To Elect A Speaker On The Third Ballot

Their resistance has left McCarthy short of the 218 votes he needs to secure the gavel, threatening his chances of earning the top post. Republicans now hold 222 seats, and Democrats control 212. Another nine Republicans over the weekend also criticized McCarthy, withholding support for him.

"We offered Kevin McCarthy terms last evening that he rejected," Gaetz said, adding that those opposed to McCarthy's bid also "struggle" with trusting him.

McCarthy, who's been the Republican minority leader for the past four years, won the nomination to lead the conference in a closed-door meeting in November. But since he needs a majority of votes to secure the role, McCarthy has been trying to convince his fellow members to back him.

After the conference met again in a closed-door on Tuesday morning, hours before the vote for House speaker, McCarty emerged insisting that he will fight for the top spot.

"I'm not going anywhere," McCarthy said, adding that he "will always fight to put the American people first, not a few individuals that want something for themselves."