U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn has lost out in her bid for the number three GOP leadership position in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Blackburn, once seen as the favorite for the job of Conference Chair of the Republican Caucus, lost in the second round of balloting.

In the first round of votes, Blackburn received only 31 votes, barely avoiding elimination, and she only survived by edging out Rep. Dan Lungren (Calif.) by two votes. Rep. Adam Putnam (Fla.) and Rep. Jack Kingston (Ga.) led with 81 and 58 votes respectively.

In the second round, Blackburn was only able to garner 30 votes, as all of Lungren's votes went to Putnam and Kingston, and Blackburn lost one as well. Putnam won on the final ballot, 100 to 91. 

Blackburn is the second Tennessean to lose out on a leadership post this week that once seemed a sure thing. Sen. Lamar Alexander was edged out by Sen. Trent Lott (Miss.) for the minority whip post in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday.