Two Democratic factions have agreed to join forces and wrestle control of the state Senate from a Republican majority, although that will depend on how Democrats fare in the November state elections.
Jeff Klein, a Bronx senator and chairman of the Independent Democratic Conference, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo released a joint statement Tuesday saying the five breakaway Democrats in the conference would leave a coalition leadership with Republicans and rejoin the Democratic Conference after November.
The Senate Democratic Conference is headed by Andrea Stewart-Cousins, of Yonkers.
The IDC has faced increasing criticism for not supporting liberal initiatives and several members are being circled by left-leaning primary challengers. The governor agreed to support a Democratic takeover of the Senate in exchange for the Working Families Party line in his own re-election campaign.
Working Families Party delegates sought assurances from the governor that he would support several pro-union and liberal initiatives before they endorsed him for re-election. He is facing Republican Rob Astorino, Westchester County”™s executive, in November.
