After failing to elect a new speaker for the eleventh time, the US House of Representatives adjourned.

Republican Party leader Kevin McCarthy failed to get the 218 votes required to win. The House will now hold a 12th round at noon on Friday.

This loss means that the race is tied for fifth in the history of the longest speaker selection process. It was held more than 200 years ago in 1821.

Continue reading: There are many parallels between the chaos in the US Republican Party and UK Conservatives. Adam Boulton

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After the midterms, the Republicans took control of Congress. They secured a slim 222-212 majority.

The stalemate in voting for a new speaker exposed the divisions within the party, which is normally a routine vote at a beginning of a legislative session.

In each of the votes this week, at least 200 Republicans voted for Mr. McCarthy. Although less than 10% of Republican legislators voted against him in the vote, it is enough to deny him 218 votes that he needs to succeed Nancy Pelosi.

A group of 20 hardliners refuse to support McCarthy and have prevented him from gaining the support he needs in order to be elected speaker.

House sat eight hours to try and get result

The session was continued for eight hours non-stop on Thursday. It included a speech from Matt Gaetz, a Florida politician, naming former president Donald Trump as his nominee. This was a symbolic, but clear sign of the wide divisions within the party.

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Since 2019, Mr. McCarthy has been the House Republican’s top representative and has led the party’s successful campaign to take control of the chamber during the 2022 midterm elections.

Trump supported him, but he is now under increasing pressure from Republicans, Democrats, and other Republicans to win the votes so that the House can continue business.

McCarthy will not budge on

McCarthy, in order to win support, has already accepted many of the demands from his opponents but has refused to implement one of the key requests, which is to restore a rule that would allow one lawmaker to request a motion to remove the chair.

This would allow a lawmaker, to call a House voting to remove the speaker.

Scott Perry is one of McCarthy’s most prominent enemies. He is the Chair of the House Freedom Caucus, which is the farthest right ideological group within the House and home to almost all his opponents.

Given his party’s small majority, McCarthy can’t afford to lose support from more than four Republicans. Democrats unite around Hakeem Jeffries, which is their candidate.

The House, which represents one-half Congress, is at a standstill. It is unable to launch a new session, swear in members, or conduct official business.

The US House speaker is responsible for setting the agenda of the chamber and is second in succession to the presidency, behind Vice President Kamala Harris.