Electing the House speaker may have been the easy part. Now House Republicans will try to govern. Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces his first test late Monday as the Republicans try to approve their rules package governing House operations. It's typically a routine step on Day One that is now stretching into the second week of the new majority. After that, the Republicans will try to pass their first bill — legislation to cut funding that was intended to bolster the Internal Revenue Service. But it has ran into a snag because the budget office says it would add $114 billion to the federal deficit.

The House stalemate over choosing a new speaker is continuing for a long, excruciating third day of voting with no end in sight. Party leader Kevin McCarthy is determined to win over enough fellow Republicans, but he failed again in ballot after ballot on Thursday. The standoff is between McCarthy and 20 conservative colleagues who are withholding the support the California Republican needs. So far, nine roll call votes have failed to elect a speaker. The impasse has left the House unable to fully form and govern. McCarthy's conservative detractors appear intent on waiting him out, as long as it takes.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats ushered in a new generation of leaders on Wednesday with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries elected to be the first Black …