At a conference with lawmakers in Puerto Rico, plenty of conversations have been taking place about the changing power dynamic in Albany, as plenty of talk in New York politics is underway about the future of the state Senate. Zack Fink filed the following report.
For many Latino lawmakers at the annual Somos conference, there is no bigger priority than the Dream Act, which makes public money available for undocumented students to attend college. But with Republican control of the state Senate, it is unlikely to ever pass.
"Look, I think we had hoped that we would be able to take the majority in the senate. But for issues like the Dream Act, which have a profound impact on who is controlling the Senate, it just means we have to work harder," said Assemblyman Francisco Moya of Queens.
Before Tuesday's election, Senate Democrats were hopeful they would pick up enough Senate seats on Long Island to form a majority.
"Well, we were as surprised as everyone else in the country that Donald Trump did as well as he did. That obviously affected to the coat ails we were expecting to feel in New York," said state Senator Michael Gianaris of Queens. "But we are still in the game. We are ahead in one race that is going to paper ballots because it is so close. We are behind in another race that is also going to paper ballots. We believe at the end of this process, we will be gaining seats."
Republicans currently control 32 seats, plus Brooklyn Democrat Simcha Felder, who conferences with Republicans. If absentee ballots indicate Democrats actually won one of those Long Island races, Felder could be the deciding vote for which party controls the chamber.
"He's a registered Democrat, so technically, we would have a numerical majority," said Bill Lipton of the Working Families Party. "We are calling on him and all the other senate Democrats and the governor to all work together and find a way."
Complicating matters is the Independent Democratic Conference, seven Democrats who have joined a leadership coalition with Republicans. The IDC's two newest members are in San Juan for Somos.
"Under any circumstance, we should find a way to collectively make sure that we are a strong unit that emphasizes what we as Democrats believe," said Andrea Stewart-Cousins, leader of the Democratic conference in the state Senate.
A lot needs to happen before Democrats can plausibly claim to have a majority in the chamber, but it's very close. And even Governor Andrew Cuomo campaigned harder for Democratic control this year than he ever had before.