Washington DC - Mitch McConnell beat back a long-shot challenge from Senator Rick Scott of Florida to remain the leader of Senate Republicans.

McConnell was re-elected by a majority of his 49 colleagues after a failed attempt by a group of senators to delay the vote until after Georgia’s Senate run-off election on December 6.

The motion to delay the vote for Republican leader gained just 16 votes. Scott’s bid against McConnell got even fewer votes, just 10.

In the week since the midterm elections, Republicans from all corners of the party have been assigning blame to the disappointing outcome. Democrats maintained control of the Senate, while Republicans will only have a narrow majority to work with in the House.

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The quiet hostilities between McConnell and Scott burst out into open as the two men traded accusations about their dueling unsuccessful political strategies.

On Tuesday, the Kentucky senator said Republicans fell short of expectations due to independent and moderate voters being turned off by candidates who were "involved in chaos, negativity" and "excessive attacks" – an apparent jab at Trump-endorsed politicians.

McConnell, who has led the caucus since 2007, is the longest-serving GOP leader in Senate history.