ALBANY — With all eyes on Washington, it’s easy to overlook the fact that Election Day may mean big changes in the state capital.
A handful of competitive races across New York and a new class of left-leaning lawmakers could shift the power dynamic in the Capitol and set up a one-party rule for a very long time.
Progressives won big in city primaries and are poised to join Democrats in control of both the Senate and Assembly next year as Dems look to retain control and potentially expand their majority in the upper chamber.
Democrats currently control 40 of the 63 seats in the State Senate and are hopeful they can add to their ranks.
State legislators meet in the Senate Chamber on the opening day of the legislative session in Albany, N.Y. (Hans Pennink/AP)
“We learned in 2016 to not count votes before the election’s done, so we’ll wait and see how it goes but we’re feeling pretty good,” Sen. Michael Gianaris, who serves as chair of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, told the Daily News.
Adding two or more members would give Dems a two-thirds super-majority and the ability to overrule vetoes from Gov. Cuomo, exert more control over the budget process and have a greater say over appointments to public authority boards such as the MTA.
Additionally, Democrats would have control over the state’s once-a-decade legislative redistricting process.
“It could radically change the balance of power toward the Legislature,” John Kaehny, executive director of good government group Reinvent Albany, said of a potential super-majority.
Pointing to the sweeping budget control Dems gave Cuomo at the height of the coronavirus outbreak in the spring, Kaehny said only time will tell exactly how assertive they will be next session.
“They’re talking a lot of talk, but it remains to be seen,” he said. “They will have the power to make big changes and basically completely change state law and reorder the balance of power in Albany.”
Republicans meanwhile are railing against Dem-backed bail and criminal justice reforms, hoping that a “law and order” message resonates with suburban and rural voters and are cautiously optimistic they can regain a foothold after dramatic losses and a wave of retirements in recent years.
“I feel very optimistic about our ability to deny them a super-majority and to try to come back to Albany for next session with a stronger and healthier Republican conference,” said Sen. Rob Ortt (R-Lockport), who became Senate Minority Leader this summer following the retirement of John Flanagan. “We’re competing in every region of the state at this point.”
The GOP has taken aim at the likes of Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn), a freshman senator who replaced a long-serving Republican, backing former nightclub owner Vito Bruno who has slammed Dems over criminal justice issues. A similar tact has been taken by Republican Michael Martucci, a former bus company owner running against Sen. Jen Metzger (D-Catskills)
Sen. Pete Harkham (D-Westchester) is also facing a tough race against former Westchester County executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino.
A pair of Long Island Democrats, Sens. Kevin Thomas and Monica Martinez, are also fighting to retain their seats as they contend with Republican challengers.
Cuomo senior adviser Rich Azzopardi, noting that the governor has held several virtual fundraisers for the likes of Thomas, Martinez and other at-risk lawmakers, said he doesn’t see a major shift in power should the governor’s fellow Dems gain a super-majority.
“We’ve accomplished a lot together for the State of New York and I can’t think of anything the legislature would pass that we wouldn’t sign," Azzopardi said. "He fought hard to help elect a Democratic Majority and looks forward to a growing conference.”
Ortt believes the issues of criminal justice and economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic will drive voters to choose Republican candidates across the state.
Gianaris, on the other hand, said Dems have a major fundraising advantage and greater enrollment numbers in some seats left vacant following Republican retirements which will help Dems maintain control of the chamber and even add to their conference.
Dems see a path to victory for the like of Assemblyman Sean Ryan, competing with Joshua Mertzlufft to fill the Buffalo-area seat formerly held by Chris Jacobs, and Michelle Hinchey, who is running against Republican Richard Amedure, a retired state trooper, and longtime child sex abuse victims advocate Gary Greenberg, who’s mounting a write-in campaign. Other empty seats upstate have Dems hopeful they can offset any potential losses.
Gianaris, looking back at the 2018 blue wave that swept Dems to power in Albany, said the conference is focused on building upon the work they’ve done over the past two legislative sessions.
“We are just concluding the most productive and progressive legislative term in the history of New York State," he said. "A super-majority will certainly help us move farther in that direction and I look forward to continuing to make progress because we did a lot but there’s still a lot more to do.”