Republican leader Kevin McCarthy can’t seem to get enough votes together.

The United States House of Representatives, now GOP-controlled after the midterm elections, is currently in them midst of deciding on its new Speaker of the House to replace outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi. However, in a hitch that has not been seen in the US government in decades, the House has failed to elect a new Speaker even after multiple votes.

Kevin McCarthy arrives at Capitol, ahead of a historic speaker vote for the Republican party. https://t.co/P1hnmQUjJb pic.twitter.com/NMFXUxobwF

— The Hill (@thehill) January 4, 2023

The primary GOP candidate for the position is Republican leader Kevin McCarthy. However, even after three separate votes, McCarthy has been unable to secure sufficient votes to take the position, with a sufficient chunk of the Republican Representative population voting against him.

“This is about saving the country and getting somebody that’s going to cut and get us on a financial path of solvency,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, one of the individuals who voted against McCarthy. “I’ll sit here for six more months — it doesn’t matter.”

Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) faced open revolt in the House chamber Tuesday, failing in three rounds of balloting to earn enough votes to capture the speakership in a once-in-a-century showdown that will now spill into a second day. https://t.co/4StbpMOAVl pic.twitter.com/C0k0pmnsAt

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) January 4, 2023

McCarthy’s supporters fired back. “We have to make a choice today: Are we going to be the party of the radical 2%? Because that’s what it comes down to,” Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., said after a caucus meeting. “Kevin McCarthy will be the speaker of the House — and I don’t care if it’s the first ballot or the 97th ballot.”

“It’s important that we, as the House majority — and the only part of the legislative branch where the Republicans have control — do demonstrate competence and common sense, demonstrate that we are the adults in the room,” Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis. said on the matter. “And if we spend this week or this month or next two years fighting amongst ourselves, I don’t think it will advance that effort.”