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

Kevin McCarthy is digging in ahead of the coming vote on House speakership, telling reporters he's "not going anywhere."

"I will always fight to put the American people first, not a few individuals that want something for themselves," McCarthy said. "So, we may have a battle on the floor but the battle is for the conference and the country -- and that's fine with me."

McCarthy said holdouts have demanded specific committee chairs, something he said he won't do.

Hard-line conservative Reps. Scott Perry, Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert emerged from the meeting defiant in their opposition to McCarthy.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a member of the House Freedom Caucus who has broken with some colleagues and supports Kevin McCarthy's bid for speaker, blasted colleagues for opposing him.

"This is not anything about the country. This is all about 'Never Kevin,' they just don't like Kevin McCarthy, and you cannot be successful in anything if you aren't able to walk in a room, make what you want, and get a deal done, and then walk away with a W," Greene said.

"This is not about prom king, this is not about a pastor. This about electing a person to sit in the speaker's chair so we can get to work."

Greene also praised the new House GOP rules package.

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."