Republican Kevin McCarthy dramatically lost the first vote for speaker of the US House of Representatives on Tuesday as hard-line conservatives in his own party voted against him, leaving the new Republican majority in limbo, Reuters reported.

In an awkward start to what could turn into a bitter showdown between hardliners and the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, McCarthy fell short of the 218-vote majority needed to replace Democrat Nancy Pelosi as speaker. It was the first time in a century that the House failed to elect a president on the first ballot.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries edged McCarthy by a 212-203 vote, with 19 Republicans choosing another candidate.

McCarthy’s conservative Republican opponent, Congressman Andy Biggs, received 10 votes. A majority of votes, not a majority, is required to determine the president of the Chamber of Deputies.

Republicans won a narrow 222-212 majority in November’s midterm elections, meaning McCarthy — or any other candidate for speaker — will have to unite a fractious group to win the baton. Democrats have a slim majority in the Senate.

McCarthy’s opponents worry that he is less involved in the culture wars and partisan rivalries that have dominated the House, and even more so with fellow Republican Donald Trump in the White House.

Before the vote, McCarthy tried to persuade the abstainers in a closed party meeting, promising to stay in the race until he got the necessary votes.

A drawn-out election could undermine House Republicans’ hopes for quick progress on priorities, including potentially damaging investigations into the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden and his family, as well as legislative priorities related to the economy, US energy independence and border security.

Several Republicans chose to vote for party figures who were not on the ballot, including conservative leader Jim Jordan and Lee Zeldin, a former House Republican who ran for governor of New York last year.

The impasse would leave the House largely deadlocked and could force lawmakers to consider another candidate. Future Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Jordan are being considered as alternatives