As the leader of the newly elected Republican majority in the House of Representatives, McCarthy almost wrote himself for the role.
But he faced resistance within his own ranks — from some members loyal to former President Donald Trump, who feel McCarthy is neither conservative nor tough enough to fight Democrats.
Trump supports
Trump himself also expressed his support for McCarthy on Wednesday.
"It's time for all of our great Republican members of the House of Representatives to vote for Kevin, secure the settlement and victory," the former president stated on social media before the vote, continuing:
"Republicans, don't turn a great triumph into a huge and embarrassing defeat."
Lost vote to Jordan
In yesterday's first and second ballots, McCarthy only managed to gather 203 of the 218 votes he needed to be elected.
In the third round he had lost another vote to fellow party member Jim Jordan.
Before the vote, US President Joe Biden called the disorder within the Republicans in Congress "embarrassing".
During Wednesday's three votes, he also failed to get the required support.
In the evening local time in Washington DC, the House of Representatives voted to continue the process of finding a new speaker at noon on Thursday.