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

It's the question that's top of mind for everyone on Capitol Hill: How long will this drag out?

"I'd love to know... but we're working through it, we made good progress today, so we'll continue to talk," leader McCarthy told ABC News Thursday night, also saying: "I'm not putting any timeline, I just think we've got some progress going on, we've got members talking. I think we've got a little movement. So we'll see."

Sources tell ABC News that McCarthy is inching closer to a deal that could earn the support of at least 12 more Republicans. But he can only lose the support of four members from his own party.

McCarthy said he's willing to drag it out for as long as it takes.

"I'm not putting any timeline, I just think we've got some progress going on, we've got members talking," he said. "I think we've got a little movement. So we'll see."

He insisted he wouldn't be a "weaker speaker" if he were to be elected because of the concessions he has made.

"We have a five-seat majority. So, it's not one side is going to get more than the other, it's the entire conference is going to have to learn how to work together," McCarthy said. "So, it's better that we go through this process right now so we can achieve the things we want to achieve for the American public, what our commitment was."

"So, if this takes a little longer, and it doesn't meet your deadline, that's OK. Because it's not it's not how you start. It's how you finish, and if we finish well, we'll be very successful," he added.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott, Katherine Faulders and Allie Pecorin

A memo sent to prospective House committees on Thursday night outlined some of the impact the prolonged speaker fight could have on Capitol Hill if it continues to drag out.

The guidance obtained by ABC News states that if the House hasn’t adopted a rules package, which outlines how the chamber runs, committees' payroll payments and student loan repayments would be impacted.

"Committees need to be aware that should a House Rules package not be adopted by end of business on January 13 payroll will not be processed for any committee staff since the committee’s authority for the new Congress is not yet confirmed," the memo, sent by the House's chief administrative officer, states.

The memo also notes that House employees who are enrolled in a student loan forgiveness program may be impacted: "Committees need to be aware that should a House Rules package not be adopted by end of business on January 13 no committee will be able to process student loan payments since the committee’s authority for the new Congress is not yet confirmed."

The House cannot conduct normal business until a speaker is selected, including adopting rules. Possibly further complicating the timeline, sources tell ABC News that a potential new package currently being worked on will include a mandatory 72-hour review time for bills ahead of any votes, which would include the vote on the rules package.

-ABC News' Katherine Faulders and Will Steakin

Donald Trump was formally nominated for House speaker on Thursday -- and the former president went on to win only one vote in the most recent round of the ongoing contest.

The 11th round of the speaker votes resulted in Trump’s most lopsided defeat of his political career, losing 200-13-6-1 (among Republicans), not to mention 212 Democrats who voted against him.

The math works out to only 0.45% of the House Republican conference voting for Trump for speaker. For his part, he has endorsed GOP leader McCarthy, who has so far been unsuccessful in persuading a minority of his party to back him.

Trump's lone vote? Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.

-ABC News' John Parkinson

House Republicans successfully, though narrowly, voted on Thursday night to adjourn until noon on Friday following another day of unsuccessfully trying to choose a speaker.

Talks are ongoing between leader McCarthy and his critics. But the five rounds of votes on Thursday repeatedly showed the same results as Tuesday and Wednesday: McCarthy is opposed by 20 members of his party, depriving him of the gavel.

The vote to adjourn 'til Friday was 219-213, with Democrats and one Republican opposed.

-ABC News' Adam Carlson