The Wave That Keeps On Giving, Even In Deep Blue NY

Things got a little weird in the NY State Senate over the last year, even by the standards of NY politics. With a judge certifying a Long Island based race, it looks like the GOP has regained the majority they held for decades after losing it in 2008.

The final vote tally gave Republican Jack Martins a narrow win over Democratic Sen. Craig Johnson in the 7th Senate District in Nassau County.

Democrats went into the November elections with a 32-30 majority in the chamber.

They have controlled the Senate for two tumultuous years.

Justice Ira Warshawsky (war-SHAW-skee) finished the re-count Saturday morning.

Big deal, NY is a lost cause you might say. Well yes, that's the case on the statewide level for the foreseeable future. Right now Democrats control all statewide offices....both Senate seats, the Governor's Mansion, and the Attorney General and State Comptroller's offices. However, despite no support from the top of the ticket (remember crazy Carl Paladino?) the GOP managed to go from 2 seats to 8 and possibly 9 (NY-1 is still undecided).

Control of the state Senate means Republicans will have a seat at the redistricting table. With NY set to lose at least one and possibly two seats, drawing the new district lines is a big deal. If Democrats controlled the process entirely, you can be sure some of these new GOP Representatives would find themselves out in the cold and maybe fighting each other in newly created districts. Yes, those seats will go south and west to more reliably conservative areas but it still important that we have as many seats as possible and more importantly...maybe take out a reliably Democratic seat along the way.

Now, if the newly returned GOP majority can actually stand up to some of the Democrats more asinine proposals on the state level (I'm not holding my breath for that), that would just be gravy.

posted by DrewM. at 04:16 PM

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