House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., arrives for a closed-door meeting with the GOP Conference ahead as he pursues the speaker of the House role when the 118th Congress convenes, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The new Congress opens with House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy grasping for his political survival. House Republicans are meeting privately Tuesday behind closed doors at the Capitol amid a party stand off. McCarthy could become the first nominee for speaker in 100 years to fail to win support from his own colleagues in the first round of voting. The showdown could very well devolve into a prolonged floor fight. Some Republicans worry about a spectacle that divides the party. It’s in stark contrast with the other side of the Capitol, where Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell is set to become the longest-serving party leader.