McConnell reelected Senate GOP leader; Scott’s bid rejected

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has been reelected as Republican leader, quashing a challenge from Sen. Rick Scott of Florida. Scott was the Senate GOP campaign chief, and he has been criticized over his party’s midterm election failures. Republican senators met privately Wednesday behind closed doors at the Capitol. The vote was 37-10 with one other senator simply voting present. They first rejected an attempt to delay the leadership choice until after the Senate runoff election in Georgia next month. Scott’s challenge came amid fallout from the midterms, when Republicans failed to take the Senate majority. McConnell was reelected leader by a vote of 37-10, senators said, with one other senator voting present.