It hadn't happened for 100 years.
The Republican family was torn in the House on Tuesday, with elected Conservatives who failed to elect Kevin McCarthy as Speaker in the first round, with 19 rebels.
Negotiations are currently taking place to organize a second round.
And others if necessary: in 1856, it took two months and 133 votes for a Speaker to be elected.
With 222 elected Republicans, Kevin McCarthy could only lose 4 votes.
But 19 challenged him, voting for the party's right-wing candidate, Andy Biggs, or another elected official.
The Democrats have all closed ranks, with 212 votes for Hakeem Jeffries, who succeeds Nancy Pelosi to lead his party in the House.
“I deserve” to be Speaker
Since November's midterm elections, McCarthy has cajoled elected Trumpists from the Freedom Caucus, a group of about 30 ultra-conservative lawmakers.
He made multiple concessions, including promising that there will be no "blank check" to Ukraine and that a parliamentary committee would investigate Hunter Biden.
But the tone rose during a last chance meeting on Tuesday morning.
According to US media, McCarthy refused their final demands, shouting, "I deserve" the job of Speaker.
Now, several scenarios are possible.
McCarthy will try to put pressure on the dissidents, probably with the help of Jim Jordan, to be elected in the second round.
But other candidates could emerge if he fails again.
A coalition between the Democrats and the moderate Republicans around a centrist candidate is in theory possible… But unlikely given the current divisions in Washington.
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