Source: Gay City News, Associated Press via Newsday, New York Daily News
In a stunning realignment of the New York political status quo in Albany, Democrats have gained control of the state senate for the first time in 43 years.
With all but one of the 62 senate races decided, Democrats now control at least 32 seats in the Legislature's upper chamber, while Republicans will have at least 29, Gay City News reports. Democrats already control the State Assembly and the governorship.
After votes were mostly counted Wednesday, a touch of extra drama was added to the battle for control of the senate when four dissident Democratic senators raised the possibility that they might ally with the Republicans in a coalition majority, but one of them admitted Thursday "it's highly unlikely" his group will support a Republican for majority leader.
Sen.-elect Pedro Espada Jr. (D-Bronx) and three other Democrats formed an independent caucus that had been unwilling to back Minority Leader Malcolm Smith as majority leader come January, New York Daily News reports.
The four independent-minded Democrats -- often called the "Gang of Four" -- historically have not been afraid to break ranks and support Republicans, Associated Press reports. They also have clashed at times with Smith, the presumptive next majority leader, and reportedly refused to attend a Democratic conference Wednesday called by Smith.
But the group did meet Wednesday with Gov. Paterson in Manhattan to discuss the situation, the Daily News reports.
Several sources said Paterson, noting the historic nature of the Democratic takeover of the Senate, asked the four to give Smith a chance for at least a year.
A number of senators backing Smith believe the rogue members eventually will fall into line, according to the Daily News.
"They've made themselves relevant, but right now they don't have an end game," one Democrat said. "We'll have to wait to see what they want."
Despite the post-election maneuvering, LGBT activists in New York were cheered by the results.
"My reaction is that we promised two things as we headed into this election," said Alan Van Capelle, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA), New York's LGBT rights lobby. "That every member of the Assembly who supported marriage equality, transgender rights, and school bullying legislation would win reelection, and that happened, and that we would help deliver two state senate district seats."
If Democrats manage to form a working majority in the Senate, several initiatives benefiting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community -- a marriage equality bill, a transgender rights measure, and a public school anti-bullying law that includes protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity -- will now likely be considered.
Each of the measures has already passed by the Assembly and supported by Governor David Paterson, but stalled in the Senate by GOP resistance, Gay City News reports.
On election night, both Van Capelle and Senator Thomas K. Duane, an out gay Chelsea Democrat who is the lead sponsor of the marriage equality bill, noted that no gay rights legislation has passed in Albany without bipartisan support.
"Now that we are in the majority, some Republicans will follow our lead," Duane said.
Asked whether the Pride Agenda might find a chilly reception among senate Republicans after the group's push for a Democratic flip of the chamber, Van Capelle said, "Look, we're going to have to have conversations with a lot of people. No bill passes without both parties."
Van Capelle called the apparent passage of an anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment in California "sad," but predicted, "It will have virtually no political impact on our ability to win marriage in New York State."
Asked if he worried about that the "Gang of 4" would flip control back to Republicans, Van Capelle said, "Not at all."
Source: Democrats Grab State Senate | Gay City News
Dem Albany rebels hot, but not for GOP deal | New York Daily News
'Gang of Four' Democrats key to NY Senate control | Newsday (AP)