Conservative firebrand Jim Jordan has been chosen as Republican nominee to become Speaker of the House.
The Ohio congressman won 124 votes from party members in the secret ballot held on Friday afternoon, with 81 against.
But Mr Jordan, who has the backing of former president Donald Trump, is already facing mounting opposition from the ranks of his own party.
The week ends with Republicans no closer to successfully installing a Speaker amid continued infighting.
The House has now gone 10 days without a Speaker. Until a new candidate is chosen it will be unable to pass any bills, approve White House requests for emergency aid or pass short-term spending motions.
While Mr Jordan emerged victorious from Friday’s secret ballot against Georgia lawmaker Austin Scott, he quickly failed to consolidate support in the wider party.
Immediately following the vote, Republican representatives held a second motion to determine whether members would support him in a floor vote, before breaking up for the weekend.
The second vote saw 55 members vote “no” on Mr Jordan. As things stand, he has no clear path to the Speaker’s office, leaving House Republicans leaderless and wracked by uncertainty.
Several supporters of Steve Scalise – who was nominated as the party’s candidate for Speaker on Wednesday before withdrawing – have vowed to oppose Mr Jordan at all costs.
Mr Jordan only narrowly expanded the fragile margin Mr Scalise earned on Wednesday of 113 votes to 99.
Among those still opposed to Mr Jordan was Florida’s Mario Díaz-Balart, who told reporters that he faces a “very, very big hurdle” to become Speaker.
“I don’t think he is the one,” Mr Díaz-Balart said. “Ultimately, we’re going to have to have someone who can truly unify us.”
Ahead of Friday’s secret ballot, Mr Jordan expressed confidence, telling reporters that he felt “real good” about the vote.
“I think I can unite the conference,” he said. “I think I can go tell the country what we’re doing and why it matters to them.”
But like Mr Scalise – and ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy before him – Mr Jordan’s path faces significant challenges.
With the Republicans controlling the House by a very narrow margin, he will need 217 of 221 Republican members to vote for him. He can only afford to lose five votes.
Some of his supporters expressed optimism that over the coming days that Mr Jordan would be able to sway many of those who voted against him.
“I think Jim can get there,” said Florida Representative Brian Mast, adding that the weekend would give him additional time to lobby detractors. “Jim has people to speak to.”
Another Florida Representative, Byron Donalds – who is supporting Mr Jordan – said he was surprised that he lost so many votes to Mr Scott, who only decided on and announced his candidacy earlier on Friday.
“I thought it would be higher,” Mr Donalds said
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