Two years after a failed attempt to capture a majority in the New York State Senate, Democrats made strong efforts Tuesday, culminating in their success in regaining control over the bicameral legislature.
The 2006 elections proved disappointing for Democrats when Republicans were able to defend their majority in Albany, losing only one seat to a Democratic contender and maintaining a three-seat majority in the 62-seat house. As Democrats dominate the Senate for the first time in 43 years, they also take charge of both the bicameral assembly and the governor’s office for the first time since the Depression era.
In shooting for the Senate, Democrats pitted the party’s nominees against long-standing Republican incumbents.
Caesar Trunzo, the state senator for 36 years from Long Island’s third district, was unseated by Brookhaven Supervisor Brian Foley, according to the New York Daily News.
In the 11th district of Queens, City Councilmember James Gennaro (D-Queens) faced off against Republican Frank Padavan, who has also been in the seat for 18 terms. While Padavan’s position was previously thought to be relatively secure, he and Gennaro were locked in a close race as of Tuesday night. Padavan proved victorious, according to the Daily News .
Meanwhile, the race in the 15th district of Queens placed Republican Senator Serphin Maltese, in his seat for 20 years, against City Councilmember, Joseph Addabbo (D-Ozone Park and Woodhaven). Tuesday night, Senator Maltese conceded defeat to Addabbo, according to the New York Times .
State Senator Bill Perkins (D-Harlem) was confident about the Democrats’ chances at his Take Back the State Senate Election Night Party in the Harlem State Office Building Tuesday night. Perkins ran uncontested this year.
“I’m feeling great about this,” he said, likening the victories for the Democrats in Albany and the national elections to the end of a long marathon.
More than winning, though, he was eager Tuesday night to express just what a Democratic majority might have in store for Albany.
“We’re also looking forward to much greater efficiency,” he said, “[and] much greater productivity.”
“There will be a strong focus on recognizing the economic challenges, and reconciling the divisiveness we’ve seen.” Perkins said. “This divide between upstate-downstate will be erased.”
A Democratic majority in Albany would shift power from the upstate and Long Island suburbs to the boroughs of Manhattan, according to the New York Times , with the possibility of all the state and assembly leaders coming from New York City’s five boroughs.
