New Congress live updates: What's next after Kevin McCarthy's speakership win

At least three House Republicans likened the closed-door GOP conference meeting, which lasted over an hour, to tense infighting that did not persuade them to vote for Kevin McCarthy as House speaker.

"Kevin McCarthy was taking the path of Nancy Pelosi and following her precedent with a motion to vacate," said Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., who just narrowly won he reelection to the House. "I will not be voting for Kevin McCarthy."

Rep. Scott Perry, R-Penn., speaking alongside Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., said McCarthy would only get his vote if "something dramatic changes."

"If you vote for somebody else in the first ballot, and nothing changes on the second or third or whatever, what's going to compel you to change?" Perry told reporters.

"This meeting wasn't about trying to inform people about what it takes to get to 218 and ask what you want," he added. "This was about a beatdown and a simulated unity in the room, which really doesn't exist."

Emerging from the closed-door GOP conference meeting, Rep. Matt Gaetz said nothing McCarthy said was enough to get his support.

"Everything I heard hardened my resolve that this town desperately needs change, and if it's a few of us who have to stand in the breach to force it, we are willing to do so for as long as it takes," Gaetz said.

Gaetz said he will vote for Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona to become speaker, arguing McCarthy hasn't done enough to bring change.

"There's very little difference between Nancy Pelosi and her California delegation-mate that seeks the gavel," Gaetz said. "We want to change because this town is broken. And this is a person who has acknowledged, Mr. McCarthy, that the town is broken and he has been a part of that process for many years as a member of the leadership."

In a closed-door meeting with House Republicans, Kevin McCarthy made a last-ditch case for speaker.

"I'm not going to go away. I'm going to stand until the last four friends stand with me," he told the GOP members, according to a source in the room.

"I earned this job," McCarthy said. "We earned this majority, and goddammit we are going to win it today."

Sources said he received a standing ovation from most members in the room, but it may not have been enough to win over Republicans who are on the fence. Other sources indicated that conservative members were "livid" at McCarthy's response.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott

Rep.-elect George Santos, who has faced controversy and national attention for lying about or embellishing details of his background, was spotted by reporters in Congress Tuesday morning.

Santos was walking toward his office in the Longworth House Office Building, accompanied by a staffer, when he stopped and turned the other way once he saw reporters.

He declined to answer most questions, but told ABC News’ Lalee Ibssa he will vote for Kevin McCarthy for speaker.

Santos faced calls for accountability from some Republicans, but not from current Republican House leadership. He has said he will serve out his term in the House.

New members of the House will not be sworn in until a speaker is elected.

-ABC News’ Hannah Demissie, Lalee Ibssa, and Oren Oppenheim