On Tuesday, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy suffered a seventh consecutive loss in his bid to become Speaker of the House. McCarthy, who has served as the House Majority Leader since 2014, has been fighting for the position since the previous Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, ended her term.

However, despite McCarthy’s extensive experience and leadership roles within the party, he struggled to secure the necessary votes from his colleagues. McCarthy has been unable to garner the support of a group of conservative House members known as The Freedom Caucus, which has consistently blocked his path to the Speaker’s chair.

This latest round of voting highlights the deep divisions within the Republican Party, as McCarthy has struggled to unite the various factions within the caucus. McCarthy has been unable to win over the support of both more moderate and more conservative members of the party, leading to his inability to secure the necessary votes.

One of the main points of contention between McCarthy and the Freedom Caucus has been his perceived lack of commitment to conservative principles. As The New York Times reports, the Freedom Caucus has been pushing for a more hardline approach to issues such as immigration and health care, while McCarthy has been seen as more willing to compromise with Democrats.

This latest round of voting also underscores the challenges facing the Republican Party as they look to regroup following the midterm elections. With Democrats now in control of the House, McCarthy’s inability to secure the Speaker’s position could have significant implications for the party’s ability to govern and pass legislation.

Despite the setbacks, McCarthy has vowed to continue his bid for the Speaker’s position. As he told reporters after the vote, “I’m not going to give up. I’m going to continue to work and earn the support of my colleagues.” However, with no clear path forward, it remains to be seen whether McCarthy will be able to overcome the divisions within the party and secure the necessary votes. Until then, the future of the Republican Party and its leadership remains uncertain.