California GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy failed to secure the necessary votes to become speaker of the House in a first round of voting after 19 House Republicans voted against him.

McCarthy had the lion's share of Republican votes, however, some conservatives voted for Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs and other nominees.

Democrat Rep. Hakim Jeffries of New York, nominated for speaker by Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, had more votes in the first round, with 211, while McCarthy trailed with 202. Ten Republicans voted for Biggs, and nine voted for other candidates.

McCarthy was nominated by House Republicans for the top leadership job in November but hours before his party takes control of the House of Representatives he's scrambling to lock down a majority to get the gavel.

Previous speakers have faced defections in the first vote of the session to install the top leader, but it's the first time in 100 years a speaker needed multiple ballots to win.

The California Republican faces a bloc of critics who want changes to the way the House operates. Although he's given in to many of their demands, he remains short of the votes needed. Instead of celebrating their return to the majority on the first day, McCarthy and other GOP leaders were sorting out how to respond to an open rebellion that will showcase division and cast doubt on their ability to govern.

https://www.npr.org/2023/01/03/1146600160/mccarthy-scrambles-for-votes-to-be-elected-speaker-of-the-house