Republican and House leader Kevin McCarthy is a history maker, but not as he would have liked.

The Californian and Donald Trump ally - has lost seven rounds of voting for the US House speakership, after several Republicans voted in opposition to the nomination.

US Correspondent Richard Arnold says there hasn't been multiple votes for the position in a century.

He says back in 1923 it took nine votes for an election, but 1855 is the benchmark when it took 133 votes and two months to choose a Speaker.

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