Trying to thread a political needle, state Senate Democrats are hoping to form a majority when the new legislative session begins next year. But while Democrats have a numerical majority, it's far more complicated than simple math in Albany. Zack Fink filed the following report.

ALBANY - After apparently winning a seat on Long Island last month, Senate Democrats may have 32 members, the numerical majority typically needed to control the State Senate.

"600,000 more voted for Democrats to be in the majority. So we have a number that would make us the majority," said Senate Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. "The question is how to make that happen. And that's the only conversation."

The Long Island seat is currently in court, but Democrats are confident they will win, holding the slim lead they currently have.

That would mean 32 seats. But if only it were that simple.

A group of mainstream Democrats control 24 seats. But a breakaway group of Democrats that sits with Republicans controls seven seats. And then there's Brooklyn Democrat Simcha Felder, who also conferences with Republicans.

"The math is, Democrats are a majority in the state senate. The practice threatens to be that Democrats won't control the Senate despite their majority. And that's really a terrible outcome," said state Senator Daniel Squadron, whose district covers parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Democrats have tried to convince Felder to join them but have so far been unsuccessful.

"Simcha Felder and I have had extremely productive conversations," Cousins said. I think he is a Democrat. I think he has said he is not a particularly loyal Democrat."

On Wednesday, liberal groups protested outside Governor Andrew Cuomo's Midtown office, urging him to try and broker a deal to put Democrats in control.

"Well, the governor is he head of the Democratic Party. He should unite the Democratic Party," said state Senator James Sanders of Queens. "Anyone who is the head of a party should have the business of uniting the party."

In a separate development, lawmakers may be back up in Albany next week for a special legislative session to vote on a pay raise, something they have not received since 1999. Assembly Democrats were told to be available next week.