Kevin McCarthy pressured to ‘figure out’ speaker race

Kevin McCarthy talks to colleagues during a sixth round of voting in the House chamber (Alex Brandon/AP)

House Republicans are at a crossroads as leader Kevin McCarthy has failed over and over again to become House speaker – though he remains determined to persuade enough conservative holdouts to vote for him and end the stalemate.

What started as a political novelty – the first time in 100 years a nominee has not won the gavel on the first vote – has devolved into a bitter Republican Party feud and deepening potential crisis.