(CNN) -- Kevin McCarthy suffered yet another stinging defeat on Wednesday as he lost in the sixth round of voting to elect a speaker -- a major blow that increasingly imperils his bid and heightens uncertainty over whether he can still secure the gavel or if a viable candidate will emerge as an alternative.The House of Representatives has adjourned until 8 p.m.
ET on Wednesday after failing to elect a new speaker.House Republicans are at a contentious stalemate over who will serve as the next speaker amid what appears to be hardened opposition to McCarthy from a group of conservatives.
The fight, which began on the first day of the 118th Congress, has thrown the new House GOP majority into chaos and undercut the party's agenda.The House convened at noon ET on Wednesday after three rounds of votes on Tuesday.
McCarthy has come up short each time, failing to hit the majority threshold needed to secure the speakership. The House adjourned in the early evening Tuesday after the vote series stretched on for hours with no resolution in sight.Now, Republicans are scrambling to find a path forward.