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Kevin McCarthy was dealt a blow, as he failed to secure enough votes in first-round voting for the new House Speaker.
The vote comes after Democratic House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, resigned from her post following the Republicans securing a Houses Majority in the 2022 mid-term elections.
The loss comes as a historic defeat, as Mr McCarthy is the first nominee in a century to lose in a first-round vote.
Mr McCarthy has also been unable to secure a majority vote in two subsequent rounds.
With several rounds of voting already completed, the Republican-majority House has been unable to elect a new Speaker, deciding to adjourn and regroup on Wednesday (local time).
Mr McCarthy needed 218 votes in the full house to win, however he only secured 203 in two rounds, with the third round seeing him lose 20 votes.
Mr McCarthy has promised a “battle on the floor”.
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida wrote a letter to the Architect of the Capitol, regarding the situation.
“I write to inform you that the Speaker of the House Office located in the U.S. Capitol Building is currently occupied by Rep. Kevin McCarthy,” Mr Gaetz wrote in the letter which was posted online.
“As of this morning, the 117th Congress adjourned sine die, and a speaker from the 118th Congress has not been elected.
“After three undeciding votes, no member can lay claim to this office.” He said.
He also went on to question Mr McCarthy’s claim to the office.
“What is the basin in law, House rule, or precedent to allow someone who has placed second in three successive speaker elections to occupy the Speaker of the House Office?” Mr Gaetz said.
“How long will he remain there before he is considered a squatter?” He said.
Rep. Steve Scalise, second-ranking Republican in the House, however urged others to vote for Mr McCarthy.
“We all came her to get things done.” Mr Scalise said.
“We can’t start fixing those problems until we elect Kevin McCarthy our next speaker.” He said.
19 Republicans did not vote for Mr McCarthy.
Those 19 Republicans were later called the “Taliban-19” by other members of the party.
